Swamp Pink Fence Installation (2014)
 LOCATION: Washington Township, Gloucester County.
BACKGROUND: Swamp Pink is a federally listed threatened species in NJ that cannot survive in the open sun and is generally found in shady, forested wetland areas. It once inhabited wetlands from New York to Georgia but is now generally found on the coastal plain of New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland and in isolated spots inland in the southern Appalachian Mountains. One of the threats to its survival in NJ is deer browsing.
PURPOSE: To restore forested wetland habitat for the federally listed threatened species swamp pink (Helonias bullata) by fencing approximately 2300 linear feet of wetland area around the Goodwin Tract.
PROJECT SUMMARY: The wetland enhancement project protected and enhanced five acres of forested wetlands supporting swamp pink (Helonias bullata). This tract which supports a core population of swamp pink was being adversely impacted by off-road vehicles and by browsing white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). The project installed deer exclusion fencing around the core habitat for swamp pink to prevent deer brow se on this plant species. The fencing which is a minimum of 7 feet tall and approximately 2300 feet in circumference is supported by trees and installed posts surrounding the wetland area.
FUNDING: Materials were provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, ONRR provided funding for the labor and installation.
PARTNERS: the project was a partnership between ONRR, U.S. F&WS, the South Jersey Land and Water Trust (SJL&WT) and Washington Township. Washington Township has an agreement with the SJL&WT to monitor and maintain the fence for a 5 year period to support the swamp pink population.
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