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State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 30
, 2005

Contact: Erin Phalon
(609) 984-1795

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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Last Updated: March 31, 2005