DEP PRESERVES
170-ACRE DELAWARE RIVER BLUFFS PROPERTY
Property will Expand
Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park
(05/29) TRENTON - Emphasizing the importance of preserving
the Delaware River Bluffs, Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell today
announced that the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
purchased a 170-acre parcel of land in Kingwood Township, Hunterdon
County. The DEP Green Acres Program purchased the property from
Trap Rock, Inc. for $1,100,000.
"The Delaware River Bluffs area has so much to offer New
Jersey residents," said Acting Governor Richard J. Codey.
"Preserving this area means that children will have places
to run, scientists will have places to study and wildlife will
have places to roam."
DEP will manage the property as part of the Delaware and Raritan
Canal State Park. The acquisition of this property expands the
Delaware River Bluffs greenway and provides scenic vistas and
opportunities for geologic study.
"The acquisition of this property is critical to the assemblage
of the Delaware River Bluffs greenway," said Commissioner
Campbell. "Their protection through the Green Acres program
will help safeguard geologic resources, biodiversity, recreation
space and the scenic vistas of the Delaware Valley."
The tract encompasses a portion of a Natural Heritage Priority
Site, which delineates important areas for the state's biodiversity.
The site consists of wooded bluffs, dry woods, steep rocky slopes
and a small stream within a deep ravine. The tract supports threatened
animals including the Cooper's hawk and barred owl. The newly
preserved tract is underlain by a trap rock called diabase, which
is limited in distribution in New Jersey and supports diverse
plant species. Rare plant species documented at this site include
the State endangered tree wafer ash and the spring wildflower
wild comfrey.
The DEP Green Acres Program purchases land to protect environmentally
sensitive open space, water resources and other significant natural
and historical open space. Land acquired becomes part of the statewide
system of parks and forests, wildlife management areas and natural
areas.
In 2005, the Green Acres Program has preserved 1,344 acres of
open space. To date, Green Acres has protected 558,632 acres of
open space and provided funding to develop hundreds of parks statewide.
The statewide system of preserved open space and farmland totals
almost 1.3 million acres.
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