Open Space Committee Quarterly Report

Period Ending September 30, 2003

Open space preservation in West Amwell continued apace, with two major projects at opposing ends of the Sourlands region coming to fruition. The completion of these two projects brings the total of permanent open space in West Amwell to just about 3,000 acres.

On the west end near Lambertville, the United Water Company property acquisition was completed by Green Acres with D&R Greenway functioning as facilitator. The township did not participate in funding the acquisition. Of the approximately 460 acres in total, about 290 acres were purchased in fee by the state and will be managed by the Parks Division of DEP. United Water retains title to the remaining 170 acres, which is divided between conservation easement areas with and without public access, and areas used in the company’s operations which were not included in the deal. A map depicting public access areas and trails will be available at the municipal building. Please note that there is no public access to the reservoir, and public use is currently strictly limited to hiking and other pedestrian activities in the designated areas. No motorized vehicles are permitted on the property.

At the other end of the township near the Route 31 corridor, West Amwell, Green Acres and the Hunterdon Land Trust Alliance (HLTA) cooperated in the acquisition of the Risi Acres and Good Shepard properties, comprising about 160 total acres. The state was the major funding source, but the township contributed $116,500 out of the $1,625,000 total purchase price. The West Amwell funding allowed HLTA to access $150,000 from their Green Acres Alexauken Creek project account. The three partners retained undivided interest in the properties in proportion to their funding contributions. The properties will be managed by the Department of Fish and Wildlife as part of the Alexauken Creek Wildlife Management Area (WMA) and the management plan will be prepared and approved by all partners. Maps of the area will be available at the municipal building and also on the DEP website, and rules for use of the area are posted at the parking lot on Rocktown-Lambertville Road.

Green Acres also completed an acquisition on adjacent property owned by Robert and Barbara Blanche totaling 136 acres, including conservation easements on 112 acres and a fee simple purchase of an 11 acre trail corridor connecting Rocktown-Lambertville Road near the WMA parking lot to the Risi Acres and Good Shepard properties. The Blanches worked directly with Green Acres, and the land was preserved at no cost to the township.

In the area of funding going forward, West Amwell was recommended by Green Acres for an additional planning incentive grant of $400,000 for the 2003 funding round. The grant requires Garden State Preservation Trust and Legislative approval before it is available for use. This would bring West Amwell’s total approved funding from Green Acres to $2,550,000.