NJCF Newsletter Fall 2015-F_Layout 1 11/12/15 12:56 PM Page 2 Fall/Winter | 2015 ConNews Jeersrvationey MARCH 18, 2016 • MARk YouR CALeNdAR • MARCH 18, 2016 20TH ANNuAL New Jersey Land Conservation Conference Friday, March 18, 2016 The ken Lockwood Gorge is a paradise for fishermen, hikers, nature lovers, runners, Wyndham Garden Hotel, bicyclists and photographers – including Penny Carlson, who took this cover photo. New Jersey Conservation Foundation recently preserved land adjacent to the Gorge Trenton, NJ that protects water quality in the South Branch of the Raritan River. Read about it inside! Your Land. Your Water. Your Food. Your Future. Join us at the Rally for a full day of 3 The Campaign for Conservation has been launched to save thousands of acres of open space and educational workshops and discussions farmland in New Jersey. centered around the theme, “The Future A Win-Win for the Palisades of Land Conservation … the Next 20 Years.” 8 A compromise reduces the height of an office building along the Hudson River Palisades, preserving an iconic view. The Hunt for Chinese Pond Mussels 13 When you’re searching for an invasive species, you hope to come up empty-handed. For information and registration, go to www.njconservation.org/rally NJCF Newsletter Fall 2015-F_Layout 1 11/12/15 2:09 PM 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 Robert J. Wolfe Executive Director TREASURER ADVISORY COUNCIL Pamela P. Hirsch Michele S. Byers SECRETARY Edward F. Babbott Nancy Becker Penelope Ayers ASSISTANT SECRETARY C. Austin Buck Bradley M. Campbell Christopher J. Daggett Preserved land: Good for body and mind Cecilia Birge John D. Hatch Roger Byrom H. R. Hegener In today’s online world, some might say that time spent in nature is a luxury. Theodore Chase, Jr. Susan L. Hullin Jack R. Cimprich Cynthia Kellogg But a growing body of evidence shows there are measurable and significant mental Rosina B. Dixon, M.D. Blair MacInnes Clement L. Fiori Thomas J. Maher health benefits to spending time in green places like forests, parks and natural areas. Chad Goerner Scott McVay Neil Grossman David F. Moore One Stanford University study found that people who walked in natural settings were Joseph Lemond Mary W. Moore happier and more attentive than those walking in places without trees or flowers. Further Michael S. Maglio John Parker research showed why: it turns out that being in green places decreases neural activity in a Gordon A. Millspaugh, Jr. L. Keith Reed Stephen W. Parker Ingrid W. Reed part of the brain associated with harmful mental “rumination,” or brooding. Kathryn Porter Jamie Kyte Sapoch Fran Raymond Price Leslie Sauer Other studies have shown that spending time in nature boosts vitality – having both Samantha Rothman Tama Matsuoka Wong physical and mental energy – and the ability to function effectively at work. Louise Currey Wilson EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR New Jersey Conservation Foundation is happy to promote this “eco-therapy” by Michele S. Byers preserving serene, natural places for relaxing and rejuvenating. This year, thanks to YOU, we preserved many such places. Donors are giving generously to the Campaign for Conservation, which aims to New Jersey Conservation Foundation is raise $30 million to preserve thousands of acres of open space and farmland throughout a private, non-profit organization whose mission is to preserve land and natural the state. resources throughout New Jersey for the Read on to learn about the Campaign and its lands, including a former office benefit of all. park that is being converted into a public preserve, a wooded hillside abutting the Ken Lockwood Gorge and a major expansion of the Franklin Parker Preserve in the Pine Barrens. There are many more special places that need protection … and we’re excited to We protect strategic lands through acquisition and stewardship, promote strong land use policies, and forge enter the next phase of the Campaign for Conservation. Every gift, large and small, helps partnerships to achieve conservation goals. Since 1960, save places to connect with nature, lands that protect clean water, farms that grow our we have worked to protect the state’s farmland, forests, parks, wetlands, water resources and special places. food, and habitats where native plants and animals can thrive. For membership information, please visit our website at Thank you to our members, friends and supporters. You are our lifeblood, www.njconservation.org or call us at 1-888-LANDSAVE. and together we can make a difference! Our mailing address is 170 Longview Road, Far Hills, NJ 07931. NJCF Newsletter Fall 2015-F_Layout 1 11/12/15 12:56 PM Page 4 New Jersey Conservation Foundation | 3 CAMPAIGN CONSEForRVATION Your Land C Your Water C Your Food C Your Future IN MeRCeR CouNTY, a former office park is being returned to its natural state as a new preserve. IN HuNTeRdoN CouNTY, one of the state’s top trout fishing rivers is being protected by newly-preserved land. IN THe PINe BARReNS, a large acquisition has expanded the natural ecological treasure known as the Franklin Parker Preserve. Continued on next page NJCF Newsletter Fall 2015-F_Layout 1 11/12/15 12:56 PM Page 5 4 | New Jersey Conservation Foundation (continued from previous page) These land preservation projects With many more special places in need Mount Rose Preserve: were made possible by the early success of protection, New Jersey Conservation From Corporate Campus of the Campaign for Conservation, an Foundation entered the “public” phase of effort by New Jersey Conservation the Campaign for Conservation, which was to Public Park Foundation to raise $30 million in public kicked off on November 15 at a reception at An innovative project to convert a and private funds to preserve thousands Morven, the former governor’s mansion 1950s corporate campus in Hopewell of acres. in Princeton. Township, Mercer County, into a public The “quiet” phase of Campaign for “We hope New Jersey Conservation’s park took a big step forward with the April Conservation was launched in 2012. With members, friends and supporters will be land purchase that saved 320 acres from land prices flat for the previous few years, part of this exciting effort to create a legacy major development. The property has and an array of exciting land preservation of preserved lands throughout the state,” been named the Mount Rose Preserve opportunities available, campaign donors said Kenneth H. Klipstein II, board after a nearby historic village and ridge. responded with astounding generosity. president. “All gifts, large or small, help A partnership of a dozen public “New Jerseyans genuinely care about protect our drinking water, save lands that agencies and nonprofit organizations, led preserving what makes their home state grow our food, safeguard wildlife habitats, by New Jersey Conservation Foundation a special place,” said Michele S. Byers, and provide places where people can and the Hopewell Valley Citizens Group, executive director. enjoy nature.” worked together to purchase land located Since then, private donors have The Campaign for Conservation at the former Western Electric/AT&T given $7.8 million to the campaign, and focuses on seven geographical areas: the property on Carter Road from owner $19.3 million was received in federal, Highlands in the northwestern part of the Equus Capital Partners. state, county and municipal open space state, the Hopewell Valley in Mercer County, In a separate transaction, Mercer and farmland preservation capital grants. Central Jersey’s Sourland Mountains, the County and Hopewell Township purchased This funding enabled New Jersey Wickecheoke Creek region of Hunterdon r an additional 11 acres on the east side of e a g Conservation Foundation to complete County, parks and greenways in the city of e Carter Road. New Jersey Conservation d n a V 10 preservation projects totaling nearly Camden, the Pine Barrens, and the Delaware holds a right of first refusal on another d i r g 2,000 acres. Bay watershed in southern New Jersey. n I 11 acres on the west side of Carter Road, y b o t o h P THANk You MOUNT ROSE PRESERVE PROJECT PARTNERS! Mercer County Hopewell Township New Jersey department of environmental Protection Green Acres Program Friends of Hopewell Valley open Space Hopewell Valley Citizens Group Columbia environmental Law Clinic Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association Friends of Princeton open Space Hopewell Borough Pennington Borough Princeton d&R Greenway Land Trust Lawrence Township THe MouNT RoSe PReSeRVe IN HoPeWeLL ToWNSHIP, MeRCeR CouNTY, PRoVIdeS LANd To eXTeNd THe LAWReNCe h c HoPeWeLL TRAIL WHILe PReVeNTING LARGe-SCALe deVeLoPMeNT o p a S k c a J THAT WouLd Add THouSANdS oF CARS To RuRAL RoAdWAYS. y b o t o h P NJCF Newsletter Fall 2015-F_Layout 1 11/12/15 12:56 PM Page 6 New Jersey Conservation Foundation | 5 HIkING oN THe uNPAVed LANe ALoNG THe SouTH BRANCH oF THe RARITAN RIVeR IS A PoPuLAR ACTIVITY IN THe keN LoCkWood GoRGe. r e a g e NeW JeRSeY CoNSeRVATIoN FouNdATIoN ReCeNTLY PReSeRVed 50 ACReS d n a V d i r g n oF Wooded HILLSIde PRoPeRTY ABuTTING THe GoRGe. I y b o t o h P where an abandoned, derelict hotel- save this land from development and blue herons, mink, kingfishers and other conference center is being demolished. protect our natural resources,” said wildlife. Walkers, joggers, hikers and The project settles years of litigation Katherine V. Dresdner, general counsel bicyclists are drawn to the Columbia Trail, brought by the Hopewell Valley Citizens for the Hopewell Valley Citizens Group.