Ridge and Valley Conservancy is honored to have been part of the preservation of this property, and for the opportunity to own and steward this preserve as part of our portfolio of land within the climate corridor from Blair Creek to White Lake.
On April 27, The Land Conservancy of New Jersey (TLCNJ) acquired [and transferred ownership] of a 36-acre parcel of forested land in Hardwick that will be owned and managed by Ridge and Valley Conservancy (RVC) as the new Millbrook Seeps Preserve.
Millbrook Seeps Preserve is a significant parcel in the climate and wildlife corridor along the Kittatinny Ridge, part of what is known as Bobcat Alley. RVC named the 36-acre property after the many forest seeps found throughout the landscape. This unique habitat supports a diverse array of flora and fauna with several species of amphibians, including spotted and Jefferson salamanders. Combined with TLCNJ’s Yards Creek Preserve properties, it represents 337 acres out of [TLCNJ’s] 850-acre goal for Bobcat Alley. In addition, TLCNJ has its own goal to grow Yards Creek Preserve to 1,000 acres.
The objective is to preserve forests in northwestern New Jersey that would likely be developed. This protected area will help wildlife in a variety of ways: creating a corridor for wildlife to roam freely away from busy roads and residential areas; lowering water temperatures to improve quality and fight climate change; and nurturing sustainable land for animals and forests to thrive.
Many different organizations are working in concert to keep this conservation momentum going. The Millbrook Seeps project was funded by Green Acres, the Open Space Institute, William Penn Foundation, and The Nature Conservancy. This is The Land Conservancy of New Jersey’s seventh land preservation project funded by the Delaware River Water Initiative.
TLCNJ’s Vice President of Land Preservation and Stewardship, Sandy Urgo, is grateful for these productive partnerships: “As conservationists working along the Kittatinny Ridge, we are very fortunate to have partners who share our vision. This area is critical to maintaining water quality in the Delaware River, and to the diverse array of species that call the ridge home. Pressure from development is intense and the time to preserve what is left is now. I know that each non-profit involved in this transaction is tremendously grateful to the William Penn Foundation for their support of the Delaware River Watershed Initiative which generously provided funding.”
Ridge and Valley Conservancy's Land Projects Manager, Doug Vornlocker, emphasized how important close collaboration amongst all stakeholders was to the acquisition process. He says, “We are excited about the latest addition to our preservation land portfolio and grateful to the partners who assisted with this property acquisition, including the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Green Acres Program, The Open Space Institute, The Nature Conservancy, and The Land Conservancy of New Jersey, who took the lead on this project. This land is now preserved thanks to their energy and collaboration.”
It's also fortunate that the landowner shares a commitment to conservation. The property was sold from the estate of Clegg Stewart, with his daughter Deborah Arace helping broker the deal. Deborah says, “What a great way to honor a loved one, to ensure that future generations will be able to enjoy these 36 acres of woods and nature in New Jersey. My father loved that property from the moment he purchased the first lots in 1978. It has been an honor and privilege to help RVC and TLCNJ save this land. I believe more people should consider the opportunity to do the same.”
The Delaware River Basin is one of the most important watersheds on the East Coast. Fifteen million people rely on the basin for clean drinking water—including the cities of Trenton, Philadelphia, Wilmington, and New York City. It contains the Appalachian Trail and more than 76,000 acres of public land that comprise the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. The ultimate goal is for the watershed to act as a carbon sink using native vegetation, mature forests of oak and hickory, and healthy soils. Conservation of this ecologically sensitive land is creating a resilient ecosystem that will better adapt to climate change while supporting diverse populations of native plants and animals. Slowly but surely, these efforts are connecting significant amounts of green forested habitat along the slopes of the Kittatinny Ridge to enable the movement of wildlife without interference by human activity.
This project was supported by the Open Space Institute’s Delaware River Watershed Protection Fund. The Fund is made possible by the William Penn Foundation’s Delaware River Watershed Initiative, which seeks to protect water quality in the Delaware River Basin.
“The Open Space Institute is exceptionally proud of our role supporting the creation of MillbrookSeeps Preserve, which will safeguard critical clean drinking water within the Delaware River Watershed,” said Bill Rawlyk, OSI’s Mid-Atlantic Field Coordinator. “This project is the seventh property secured with OSI’s support by the Land Conservancy of New Jersey in the Paulins Kill watershed, an important tributary of the Delaware River Watershed. We applaud TLCNJ and the Ridge and Valley Conservancy’s vision and commitment to protecting these critical lands for clean water.”
Launched in 2014, the Delaware River Watershed Protection Fund has protected more than 21,000 acres of forested land in the Delaware River Watershed. These forests act as a natural filter for clean water in the headwater streams of the Delaware River Watershed, which provides drinking water for approximately 15 million people — including residents of Trenton, Philadelphia, Wilmington, and New York City.