The 77.73-acre Sinnickson Tract in Pennsville Township, Salem County, New Jersey lies within the Supawna Meadows National Wildlife Refuge acquisition boundary and is almost entirely open field. The property provides an important opportunity for restoring native early successional habitat in Salem County.

Approximately 90 percent of the site has substantial wetland and wet meadow restoration potential. Wetland restoration benefits wildlife by providing ideal habitat and a buffer to important waterways that wildlife use. In addition, these wetlands enhance the water quality in the adjacent tidal marsh and the Delaware Estuary by filtering out pollutants from potentially contaminated run-off resulting from heavily developed areas surrounding the refuge.

The property has been given the highest priority ranking for emergent wetland, wetland forest and upland forest habitat by the New Jersey Landscape Project. Additionally it has been granted NJ highest status as grassland habitat. It is part of a large wetland complex that contains a bald eagle nest and is in a critical foraging area for two other nesting pairs.

There are eight other state listed bird species that occur on the refuge, including the State-listed endangered vesper sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus), Upland sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda), the threatened Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) and the Grasshopper sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum). This site has also been designated a NJ Natural Heritage priority site (B-4) due to the record of the only known state occurrence of a state endangered plant species, Floating pennywort (Hydrocotyle ranunculoides). Refuge staff will work with the state and the USFWS New Jersey Field Office to allow this plant to thrive if the land becomes part of the Refuge. A habitat restoration plan that may also benefit several other rare plants that occur in similar habitats on the Refuge will be developed.

Floating pennywort

The Conservation Fund will be working with The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program.  Approximately seventy-five acres of the property will be seeded with native warm-season grasses and wildflowers to create important habitat for migratory birds.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Environmental Contaminants Program will provide funds collected as natural resource damages, to purchase 450 pounds of warm-season grass seed. Native warm-season grasses will include a mix of Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), and possibly Eastern gamma grass (Tripsacum dactyloides). These three species of grasses are tolerant of wet meadows and are tall, deep-rooted, clump forming, summer grasses that remain standing during the winter, reduce erosion, and provide excellent habitat for migratory birds.

In addition The New Jersey Audubon Society Stewarsdhip Program will be providing funding for herbaceous species seeds. Wildflower species may include Milkweeds (Asclepias spp.), Partridge pea (Chamaecrista nictitans), Joe Pye weeds (Eupatorium spp.), Asters (Aster spp.), Tickseeds (Coreopsis spp.), Wild columbine (Aquilegia canadensis), Burr marigolds (Bidens spp.), and Grass-leaved goldenrod (Euthamia graminifolia). These are mostly easily established and hardy native species with known benefits to pollinators and migratory birds. At a later date establishment of additional species may be warranted.

Ecosystem Services Provided:

Water Protection, Filtration & Control: Water quality- reduction of runoff, protection of groundwater recharge areas and riparian lands

Climate Stabilization and Air Pollution Mitigation: Carbon sequestration- grassland restoration

Biological Diversity: Habitat- federal threatened species habitat protection, restoration of native vegetation, Natural Heritage Program, New Jersey Landscape Project

Total Project Cost: $4.4 million

Status: The Conservation Fund expects to close on this property in late 2011.

If you would like further information about this project, please contact Conservation Resources.

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