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Hemlock Ridge Preserve
The Hemlock Ridge Preserve was purchased March 2009 by the Ridge and Valley Conservancy. Located in the Upper Delaware Watershed Management Area (WMA – 1) in Blairstown, NJ, the preserve is a 146 acre Limestone Forest. The property consists of a mature, diverse deciduous hardwood forest with dense stands of Canadian hemlock atop limestone. The Rock limestone prominences on the property give a dramatic view of the Paulins Kill Valley. Ridge and Valley took ownership of the property which has a network of hiking trails formerly used for forestry. The ONRR contributed $12,000 towards the purchase from two natural resource damage settlements (Hope Auto Care and Thomas and Betts) also located in WMA-1.
Due to a discharge from two leaking underground storage tanks at the Hope Auto Care Facility in Hope Township, Warren County, a natural resource damage settlement was finalized for a groundwater plume that impacted two private potable wells. The balance of funding for the preserve was from the Thomas & Betts (Washington Twp/Morris County) settlement which also injured groundwater. The preserve provides good groundwater recharge while offering the public a scenic place for hiking and bird watching.
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Posting trail signs at
Hemlock Ridge Preserve |
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