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Spring | 2015
ConservationNew Jersey
Of New Jersey’s native wild animals, few are more shy and elusive than the bobcat, captured in this photo by Tami Hrycak. Bobcats are on the state’s endangered species list, and are one of the many reasons New Jersey Conservation Foundation preserves and stewards natural lands.
Stewarding the Land 4 What does it take to care for 24,000 acres of land across New Jersey? Find out how the stewardship team does it!
Keeping Dreams Alive 8 For Lisa Perozzi, permanently preserving her horse farm in Salem County has put it on a stronger financial course
Welcome, Governors! 13 James Florio and Christine Todd Whitman, have joined the roster of honorary trustees. 20225_newsletter_nl 5/13/15 8:00 AM Page 3
Trustees
Kenneth H. Klipstein, II HONORARY TRUSTEES PRESIDENT Hon. Brendan T. Byrne Wendy Mager Catherine M. Cavanaugh FIRST VICE PRESIDENT Hon. James J. Florio Catherine Bacon Winslow Hon. Thomas H. Kean From Our SECOND VICE PRESIDENT Hon. Christine Todd Whitman Executive Director Robert J. Wolfe TREASURER ADVISORY COUNCIL Michele S. Byers Pamela P. Hirsch Edward F. Babbott SECRETARY Nancy Becker Penelope Ayers C. Austin Buck ASSISTANT SECRETARY Christopher J. Daggett 24,000 Acres and Counting John D. Hatch Cecilia Birge H. R. Hegener Roger Byrom Susan L. Hullin In the conservation business, every acre of land permanently preserved is cause for Theodore Chase, Jr. Cynthia Kellogg celebration. But the completion of a preservation project isn’t the end of the story. Blair MacInnes Jack R. Cimprich Often, it’s just the beginning! Thomas J. Maher Rosina B. Dixon, M.D. Scott McVay Clement L. Fiori David F. Moore The next step is stewardship. When New Jersey Conservation Foundation acquires Chad Goerner Mary W. Moore Joseph Lemond land, it is important to develop a plan to care for it in perpetuity. John Parker Michael S. Maglio Ingrid W. Reed Gordon A. Millspaugh, Jr. That means considering each property’s attributes carefully. Is it home to threatened Jamie Kyte Sapoch Stephen W. Parker Leslie Sauer or endangered animals or plants? Is there a river or stream that’s a drinking water Kathryn Porter Tama Matsuoka Wong resource? Are there great views or special spots where a new trail can be routed? Fran Raymond Price Samantha Rothman Are there problems that should be remediated? EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Louise Currey Wilson Michele S. Byers There’s no one-size-fits-all approach; every property is judged on its own merits. New Jersey Conservation Foundation’s top-notch stewardship team has deep expertise Photo by Olivia Glenn by Photo in evaluating and managing lands for recreation and natural resources. New Jersey Conservation Foundation is a private, non-profit organization whose We currently own and manage about 24,000 acres all over New Jersey, including mission is to preserve land and natural over 50 miles of trails. To learn more about the stewardship staff, volunteers and their resources throughout New Jersey for the work, check out the story and photos on pages 4–7. benefit of all.
Speaking of good stewards, I wish to note that L. Keith Reed retired from our Board of Trustees in late April after eight years as president. Keith remains a stalwart
We protect strategic lands through acquisition and champion of New Jersey Conservation Foundation and we couldn't ask for a stewardship, promote strong land use policies, and forge better friend. We will miss him. partnerships to achieve conservation goals. Since 1960, we have worked to protect the state’s farmland, forests, parks, wetlands, water resources and special places. Thank you for your steadfast support over the years! We could not preserve land –
For membership information, please visit our website at and steward it – without you! www.njconservation.org or call us at 1-888-LANDSAVE. Our mailing address is 170 Longview Road, Far Hills, NJ 07931.
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New Jersey Conservation Foundation | 3 Photo by Olivia Glenn by Photo GO OUTDOORS AND DISCOVER THE WONDERS OF NATURE!
New Jersey’s native spring flowers are a treat for the eyes and senses after a long, cold winter!
Photographer and naturalist Blaine Rothauser, a longtime volunteer for New Jersey Conservation Foundation, provided these two striking spring views.
Above is a luna moth landing on a native iris in the Great Swamp of Morris County, and at right are the delicate blossoms of a red maple tree. 20225_newsletter_nl 5/13/158:00AMPage5 Photo by Russell Juelg 4 | New Jersey Conservation Foundation 24,000 What doesittake acres of land? to care for to care
Photo by Scott Breeman Ste w Photo by Mike Pavarini 20225_newsletter_nl 5/13/15 8:00 AM Page 6
New Jersey Conservation Foundation | 5 Photo by Mike Pavarini Mike by Photo Tim Morris by Photo ewarding Natural Lands
New Jersey Conservation owns about 24,000 acres of land across the Garden State … everything from rugged mountain terrain in the Highlands to tidal marshes in the Delaware Bay watershed to pitch pine forests and cedar swamps in the Pine Barrens.
Managing these geographically keeping an eye out for bald eagle nests, Emile DeVito, Marie Newell, Mark Barrick diverse places for outstanding recreational installing “beaver deceiver” pipes to and Steve Jack is a versatile bunch. and educational experiences – while route water around dams, restoring “We need to be able to understand protecting and enhancing their plant degraded wetlands to their natural science and ecology, and identify species,” and animal communities – presents hydrology, teaching kids about nature, explained Bill Scullion, “but also know how many challenges. removing invasive plants and replacing to run and maintain tractors, chainsaws, “It’s an interesting job because them with native species, leading a and countless other tools.” it’s a combination of everything hike, cleaning up litter and dumped New Jersey Conservation’s 16 nature from the physical work of creating materials, or helping out with scientific preserves across the state include blazed trails to dealing with complex legal research like tracking endangered trails, parking areas and information issues,” said Tim Morris, director pine snakes. kiosks. Over 50 miles of trails – many of stewardship. By necessity, the land stewardship leading to scenic vistas, streams and lakes On any given day, staff and volunteers team of Tim Morris, Russell Juelg, Bill for fishing, and serene spots for nature might be building and maintaining trails, Scullion, Gerard Sauchelli, Scott Breeman, observation – are found at the preserves. 20225_newsletter_nl 5/13/15 8:01 AM Page 7
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And with our land preservation staff vegetation. The largest freshwater term forest health project to find out preserving over two thousand acres each wetlands restoration of its kind in the if native trees and vegetation – under year, the challenges are multiplying! northeast, the project was recognized pressure from overabundant browsing with a Governor’s Environmental deer – will come back if the deer are Achievement Award. kept out. Award-Winning In the ensuing years, wildlife In 2010, staff, contractors and Ecological Restoration habitat for birds, fish, turtles and frogs volunteers built a wire-mesh fence around The Franklin Parker Preserve rebounded. “There’s a lot more open 300 acres of the 576-acre preserve. We in Burlington County is the largest water now,” said Russell Juelg. “As our then held a “Volun-Deer Hike” in which preserve at 9,700 acres. About 15 plan is implemented, we’re seeing more hikers walked in a long line to push deer square miles, it’s bigger than many of the wildlife we wanted to see.” out of the exclosure. Later, staff and New Jersey towns, including Newark, It’s continually improving as a student volunteers inventoried plants, Livingston and Moorestown! And it’s destination for visitors. Staff and laying the groundwork for a before-and- an all-season showcase for a broad volunteers have built about 28 miles after comparison. Research slowed when range of stewardship projects. of trails, and converted two abandoned large sections of fence were damaged by When New Jersey Conservation pump houses into wildlife observation storms, but in a few years we should be Foundation bought the former cranberry platforms. This summer’s project is able to compare native plant growth and blueberry farm in 2003, its hydrology to add interpretive signs. inside and outside the fence. had been altered from decades of using We’ve also improved habitat through- water control structures to operate the out the Apshawa Preserve. In the center cranberry farm. Native Species Comeback of the preserve is the Butler Reservoir, Over the course of several years, At the opposite end of the state is the a scenic lake formerly used as a drinking we removed the water control structures, Apshawa Preserve in West Milford, which water supply. Several years ago, its loosened compacted soil, re-sculpted is co-owned with Passaic County. Here in water level was lowered with the the land’s contours and planted native the Highlands, we’re working on a long- construction of a new dam, leaving 20225_newsletter_nl 5/15/15 3:06 PM Page 8
New Jersey Conservation Foundation | 7
“I've always felt at home in the woods. Now I get Photo by John Nardone by Photo Bill Scullion by Photo to be out there as my work day. At this job, I'm really just being myself – enjoying and protec ng nature.”