454 acres protected in Sussex, Warren

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) has preserved one site and supported the protection of two other parcels totaling 454 acres in Warren and Sussex counties as part of a habitat preservation project called Bobcat Alley.

The 96,000-acre corridor, along and between the Kittatinny Ridge and Highlands, contains mature forests, cold-water streams and rock outcrops that provide ideal conditions for animals such as state-endangered bobcats and wood turtles to thrive while protecting drinking water for residents of northern New Jersey.

The area is important on a continental level as a vital link in the 2,000-mile Appalachian Mountain range, one of the most resilient and species-rich landscapes in the world.

TNC and the Land Conservancy of New Jersey (TLC-NJ) in Montville secured $2.9 million in public and private funds toward the total cost to secure the land, and the Big G Foundation of Basking Ridge supplied the remaining $321,400.

Other partners in the project included the Delaware River Watershed Protection Fund, a joint initiative of William Penn Foundation in Philadelphia and Open Space Institute in New York City, as well as the New Jersey Green Acres program, Warren County and Knowlton Township.

TNC led the protection of the first parcel: 189 acres of field and forest in the Mount Pleasant section of Knowlton in Warren County. The property is an important link in habitat connectivity between the Kittatinny Ridge and the Paulins Kill valley and contains Yards Creek and Paulins Kill Category One streams. The new preserve will be reforested and managed by Warren County.

For more than 20 years, TLC-NJ has been working to permanently safeguard the second site, 248 acres of rolling hills and forest in Hampton Township in Sussex County.

With this goal achieved, TLC-NJ will complete restoration work before donating the property to New Jersey Natural Lands Trust.

Working together, TNC and TLC-NJ protected an additional 17 acres of limestone forest in Frelinghuysen Township, Warren County, adjacent to a parcel conserved in 2024.

Both properties flank the Paulins Kill and contain hemlock forest habitat that is becoming increasingly rare in the New Jersey Appalachians. They will be held publicly by Warren County as part of the White Lake Natural Area.

“We are building Bobcat Alley piece by piece in a state where the land parcel sizes are modest, but cost is at a premium,” said Barbara Brummer, TNC’s New Jersey state director. “The project takes patience, commitment and teamwork, and we truly appreciate the partners that stepped up to help us protect these beautiful and critical natural areas for wildlife and people.”

Sandy Urgo, TLC-NJ’s vice president of land preservation, said, “Simultaneously preserving three outstanding properties is the ultimate finale for the effort we have known as the Delaware River Watershed Initiative.

“We commend the William Penn Foundation, the Open Space Institute, the Nature Conservancy and New Jersey Green Acres for their partnership and support in completing these and so many other land protection projects, which have permanently changed the landscape of New Jersey, in the last few years.

“The importance and relevance of the Delaware River in the region, cannot be overstated. The effort to protect the Delaware and its major tributary, the Paulins Kill, was more than a worthy idea; it was momentous. Clean and abundant water is a prerequisite for a thriving economy, and healthy cities, counties and residents.”

Mike Galesi, founder of the Big G Foundation, supported the project in memory of his father, who introduced him to the beauty and wonder of the wilderness.

“Now more than ever with our technological and industrial societies, it is absolutely crucial to preserve what is left of these undeveloped areas. We were happy to help bridge the funding gaps on these three parcels, which - now protected - will move this migratory corridor in northwestern New Jersey closer to completion.”

TNC has conserved more than 60,000 acres of land in New Jersey and aims to double that total by 2030, including 10,000 acres in Bobcat Alley and 50,000 in other priority landscapes throughout the state.

Jason Sarnoski, director of the Warren County Board of County Commissioners, said, ”These two open space projects demonstrate our commitment to preserving the natural beauty and ecological value of Warren County.

“We’re proud to be part of these efforts and are grateful to all the collaborators. The addition of this property and the land along the Paulinskill will enhance our parklands and provide new opportunities for conservation, recreation and environmental stewardship throughout the Warren County community.”

Corey Tierney, director of the Warren County Land Preservation Department, said, “Preserving these resilient and connected lands will not only help to protect the Paulinskill and Delaware River - a vital source of drinking water for millions - but it will also help protect critical forests, meadows and wildlife habitat.

“New Jersey’s portion of the Appalachian range is crucial to the survival of many vulnerable plant and animal species, so it’s important that we protect this amazing landscape before it’s too late.”