The Land Conservancy of New Jersey Preserves 43-Acres in Lafayette Township

BOONTON, N.J. - Oct. 30, 2018 - PRLog -- The Land Conservancy of New Jersey, a non-profit, member-supported organization dedicated to preserving and protecting New Jersey's vital natural lands and drinking water resources, recently assisted in the preservation of 43-acres of land in Lafayette Township, New Jersey.

The property known as Statesville Quarry Ridge Preserve Addition was preserved with funding from Lafayette Township Open Space Trust, the New Jersey Green Acres Program and the Sussex County Open Space Trust. It will become part of a block of 253 acres of contiguous preserved lands and waterways situated between two previous preservation acquisitions – the Wintergreen Tree Farm and Statesville Quarry Ridge Preserve. These two properties were acquired in 2014 and 2015, respectively.

The on-site riparian buffers are associated with two tributaries to Papakating Creek that flow through the 43-acre property. These waters are classified as Category One Waterways, with protection of the riparian buffer critical for both water quality and bog turtle habitat. The western portion of the property includes the Statesville-Quarry ridgeline. This forested ridgeline and edge provides important habitat for both federally and state listed threatened and endangered species associated with the project site.

"Aside from preserving 43-acres of land and waterways, there are federal and state endangered wildlife species associated with this site including the Indiana Bat and Bog Turtle," says Linda Gloshinski, land preservation specialist, The Land Conservation of New Jersey. "There is also habitat for State Endangered Bobcat and State Threatened Barred Owl and Wood Turtle, so the preservation of this property is beneficial to wildlife as well," said Gloshinski.

In 2004, Lafayette Township formed an Open Space Advisory Committee and established several goals within their open space plan that includes the preservation of its riparian buffer zones, scenic ridgelines and priority wildlife habitat areas in the township. This recent project is aligned with these goals.

"The Open Space Advisory Committee and the Township Committee thank the property owners for their willingness to sell a 43-acre portion of their property to enhance the Statesville Quarry Ridge Preserve," says Kevin O'Leary, vice chairman, Open Space Advisory Committee of Lafayette Township.

"With this acquisition, over 3,800 linear feet of ridgeline is now permanently protected preventing fragmentation of the forested ridgeline in line with the Township's goals outlined in the Open Space and Recreation Plan and the Ridgeline and Hillside Viewshed Protection Ordinance. The Township also thanks Sussex County for partnering with the Township to bring this latest project to fruition," added O'Leary.

About The Land Conservancy of New Jersey

Founded in 1981, The Land Conservancy of New Jersey is a non-profit member-supported organization dedicated to preserving and protecting New Jersey's vital natural lands and drinking water resources. It is working to inspire and empower individuals and communities to take action to save the land that is important to New Jersey. To date, The Land Conservancy has helped preserve over 24,000 acres and helped towns receive more than $235 million for their land preservation projects. It has worked in 100 municipalities in 13 counties, benefiting millions of people who live in, work in, or visit New Jersey.

Accredited by the National Land Trust Accreditation Commission in 2009, The Land Conservancy meets the highest quality standards for protecting open space, upholding the public trust, and ensuring that our conservation efforts are permanent. For more information visit http://www.tlc-nj.org