Ecological Restoration Gains Foothold in New Jersey;
GSWA Creates a Refuge of Biodiversity

September 10, 2007 — Harding Twp — What wonders we miss when zipping along the highways of New Jersey. Take, for instance, the Great Swamp Watershed Association Conservation Management Area (CMA) in Harding, which is becoming one of the most successful ecological restoration projects in the state.

Visitors can find it at the end of Tiger Lily Lane, just off Route 287 North at the Harter Road exit. It’s hard to imagine that just yards from the highway you can step onto a narrow pathway and be transported into a tranquil, natural portion of forest slowly becoming home, again, to some native New Jersey flora and fauna — thanks to a federal grant and hundreds of hours of volunteer labor.

Much of the 23-acre parcel of land — portions of which were donated over the years by private landowners to GSWA — was heavily invaded by non-native plants. Having no natural predators, the invasive species slowly smothered or choked off the natural trees and plants, which were further decimated by grazing deer, roaming in numbers larger than the area could naturally support.

“The entire natural balance of the ecosystem was thrown off, which changes the biological makeup,” explains Hazel England, Director of Outreach and Education for GSWA. “It’s our job now to restore the land we are seeking to preserve and bring back the plants, animals, insects and birds that are native to our region. It’s an ongoing process.“

This is no small task. GSWA, a nonprofit organization charged with protecting the land and water throughout the Great Swamp Watershed, has been working on this parcel of land diligently since 1998. “It’s become a model of public-private partnership,” points out Joan G. Fischer, GSWA Executive Director. “We’ve tapped resources from the federal government, local corporations, assorted volunteers and our own in-house environmentalists to aid in the recovery of this fragile ecosystem.”

Federal grant & corporate workdays speed progress.
A significant milestone for the project was a $27,000 grant from the US Fish and Wildlife Service, which enabled GSWA to construct a fence along the property’s perimeter, creating a 23-acre “exclosure” to manage the deer population. The finishing touches were completed this spring, and with deer grazing reduced, GSWA has been able to bring in teams of volunteers from companies such as Goldman Sachs, HSBC and Pfizer to clear out the non-native invaders (Russian olive and multi-flora rose bushes, Japanese stilt grass, and the like) and replace them with native shrubs and grasses (e.g., high bush blueberry, silky dogwood and chokeberry).

“Many corporations arrange volunteer workdays for their employees and they often call us to see how they can help beautify the area where they work and live,” notes Ms. England. “We’ve had all kinds of business professionals in here pulling weeds, mulching trails and hanging bird houses.” Two more corporate workdays are scheduled for the week of September 17, to correspond with the United Way Day of Caring.

Assorted independent volunteers, from area residents to scouting and religious organizations, have pitched in as well. “We’ve had Boy Scouts and Bar Mitzvah candidates clearing brush and building boardwalks across marshy areas,” adds Ms. England. “Everyone loves to pitch in because they can see the impact of their efforts.”

A living educational tool.
About 1.5 miles of walking trails are clearly marked within the refuge and will take visitors past a variety of streams, wetlands and vernal pools — those fish-free large pools of standing water that eventually dry up after giving rise to all manner of frogs, toads, turtles and salamanders. Native tree species are marked, as are the trails. Visitors can pick up a map in a mailbox at the trailhead. They can also check the covered message board, maintained by GSWA volunteer and naturalist Blaine Rothauser, to find out what flora and fauna to look for. The display changes monthly.

The area serves as an educational tool to inform area students, residents and others about the need for, and importance of, ecological restoration. Through this and similar efforts, GSWA is developing a body of knowledge on the impact of invasive species, different techniques for dealing with them, encouraging the re-growth of native species, how stream banks can be stabilized and restored, and how homeowners can use these techniques on their own properties.

“It’s one thing to acquire land to protect it from development,” emphasizes Ms. Fischer, “but real stewardship demands that we manage the land so it can recover and heal over time. Our mission is tangible. We’ll see more biodiversity in the types of birds, plants and animals that live here; and we’ll improve the water quality throughout the Great Swamp Watershed.”

 

#######
Founded in 1981, the Great Swamp Watershed Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and protecting the water and land of the 36,000-acre watershed region in Morris and Somerset counties. We work to maintain the beauty and health of our open space, and to monitor and protect five streams — Loantaka Brook, Great Brook, Primrose Brook, Black Brook, and the headwaters of the Passaic River — which feed the Passaic River, providing drinking water to more than a million people.
#######