Ruddy Turnstones on Gandy’s Beach. © TNC (ERIKA NORTEMANN)
The Nature Conservancy in New Jersey
Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2016
Land, Water & Communities
A Message from the State Director
It was quite a year – full of exciting progress!
Who wouldn’t love accelerating land
acquisition within “Bobcat Alley” stretching
from the Kittatinny Ridge to the Highlands;
wading into Delaware Bay to create a reef of
oyster shells and oyster castles; restoring
coastal marshes; deploying data loggers in the
Paulins Kill; and planting thousands of trees?
Or helping create an interactive map of New
State Director Barbara Brummer
Jersey with layers of data on things like water
© Bernard DeLierre
quality and rare species; working on concepts
for green infrastructure along vulnerable coastline and better management of
stormwater in cities; figuring out how to measure the results of all this work?
It takes time. It takes money. It challenges our expertise and ingenuity.
But it is immensely satisfying because each piece fits into a vision of what
New Jersey can look like—if we and our partners succeed in conserving
thousands more acres of critical natural lands, restoring miles of rivers,
transforming management of our coastline, and figuring out green
solutions to make our cities and towns more resilient.
People who share a passion for New Jersey and conservation make this
possible. People like you.
Yours in conservation,
Dr. Barbara Brummer
Financial Overview
The Nature Conservancy in New Jersey ended FY
2016 in a good financial position. Operating revenue
was $6,662,866, of which private contributions made
up $4,888,790, with the balance from investment
income, private and government contracts and other
sources. Operating expenses stood at $5,845,609.
The pie chart shows primary sources of operating
and capital revenue. For more information, please
contact Erin Daly at 908-879-7262.
2 | New Jersey Annual Report FY16
The Nature Conservancy’s story in New Jersey
began with sustaining our state’s land resources;
it is our legacy and our future. We have preserved
more than 55,000 acres of forests, fields, marshes,
beaches and swamps and are working now to conserve
priority lands at an unprecedented scale for all living
things that depend on our state’s rich habitats.
Elizabeth “Betty” Merck was a dedicated conservationist
and a founding Trustee of The Nature Conservancy’s
New Jersey Chapter. Her three children, Antony,
Josephine and George “Laddy” Merck, are continuing
Betty’s legacy of conservation and recently directed
a major bequest from her estate to support the
Conservancy’s land protection work at Blair Creek
Betty Merck with State Director
Barbara Brummer in 2010. © TNC
in northwestern New Jersey. A key link in Bobcat
Alley, an important land protection effort now underway will help to create the
Elizabeth Merck Preserve to celebrate Betty’s great contributions to conservation.
LAND
“
—Josephine Merck
Protecting
Bobcat Alley
DEVELOPING
Shared Priorities
With a committee of 20 leading land
trusts, agencies and strategic thinkers,
the Chapter and New Jersey
Conservation Foundation spearheaded
development of maps that combine data
on the attributes of land in the state.
Built into NJ MAP, a web-based
interface created by Rowan University,
the ability to view various combinations
of this information allows a full range
of users to prioritize land to protect
for conservation goals ranging from
clean water to plant diversity. This
blueprint will also support ongoing
development of a statewide land
protection vision and basis for
working together on shared priorities.
Our mother is a continual inspiration—from her deep interest and delight in
all living things and their natural habitats down to the vibrant zinnias and
bright red geraniums she grew. We are so pleased she will be remembered
in a landscape that honors her name and her land ethic.
Blair Creek Preserve © TNC (Ellen Creveling)
SOURCES OF OPERATING
AND CAPITAL REVENUE
Remembering Betty Merck
”
One of the Conservancy’s top priorities
is protecting land within Bobcat Alley,
a corridor in northwestern New Jersey
that connects the Highlands to the
Kittatinny Ridge, our Johnsonburg
Swamp and Blair Creek Preserves.
Conserving Bobcat Alley will protect
Bobcat © Kent Mason
water quality in Blair Creek and the
Paulins Kill, as well as important
forest habitat for species like bobcat, which migrate along the corridor. In late 2015,
the Conservancy worked with the Ridge and Valley Conservancy to protect a 176-acre
property at their Lightning Bug Hollow Preserve. In June 2016, we purchased
55 acres to add to our Blair Creek Preserve. Several more exciting additions to
Bobcat Alley are now underway.
Indian Trail Swamp Preserve. © TNC (Damon Noe)
Committing
for the Long-Term
In an area known for its pristine freshwater
resources, the Conservancy reached a
16-year goal to protect uninterrupted forest
at Lummis Ponds Preserve in Cumberland
County and connect it to 50,000 protected
acres stretching 10 miles to Delaware Bay.
The Chapter completed purchase of a
49-acre parcel and acquired 125 acres
through a bequest. These represent the last
of 29 acquisition projects that safeguard
this 1,490-acre haven for some of our
state’s most threatened plants and
animals, including swamp pink and the
southern gray treefrog.
At Indian Trail Swamp in Cape May
County, where we have been protecting
land for 18 years, we moved forward on
projects totaling more than 500 acres.
The area is known for rare species,
migrating raptors and songbirds, clear
creeks that feed Delaware Bay and supplying
drinking water for nearby shore towns.
New Jersey Annual Report FY16 | 3
Our work in the Paulins Kill is adding up:
24,000
NATIVE TREES & SHRUBS
MILES OF RIVER
MORE
THAN
300
VOLUNTEERS
RIVERS &
STREAMS
The Conservancy accelerated on-the-ground restoration in the Paulins Kill watershed; we and our partners
planted more than 8,600 native trees and shrubs this year throughout key floodplains, surpassing last year’s
record! We are also looking beyond the Paulins Kill to address other vital freshwater issues affecting New
Jersey. We are working with the City of Newark on a feasibility study exploring ways to fund much-needed
stormwater management improvements. Conservancy staff are also talking with partners in the Raritan
River watershed about ways in which our expertise can add the most value to conservation efforts there.
4 | New Jersey Annual Report FY16
To improve the health of the entire Paulins Kill watershed—water quality,
habitat and recreation—we have to think both large-scale and long-term. Our
floodplain restoration work now spans more than four miles of the river and is
growing; we are nearly halfway to our goal of planting 50,000 trees! At the same
time, removing the Columbia Dam will have a huge impact, not just improving
water quality and fish habitat, but reconnecting the Paulins Kill to the Delaware
River. A feasibility study for dam removal is complete and engineering is
nearly complete. We are continuing to engage the surrounding community to
determine what recreational features to include as the river and its banks are
restored. The Conservancy is also in the preliminary stages of a major project to
restore the headwaters of the Paulins Kill (see right). Ongoing water quality and
species monitoring will measure the positive impacts of all these efforts.
Before
After
Hyper-Humus section of the Paulinskill River Wildlife Management Area
© Jim Wright/The Nature Conservancy/LightHawk
Restoring Headwaters
The Conservancy has taken on our most ambitious Paulins
Kill project to date: restoration of a 2,448-acre former
peat mine at the river’s headwaters, known as Hyper-Humus.
Mining operations made significant alterations that
disconnected the river from its floodplain and changed the
way water flows through the site. Until the headwaters are
restored, the quality and quantity of water flowing downstream
in the Paulins Kill will be compromised. The Conservancy
is working closely with the New Jersey Department of
Environmental Protection, which owns the site as part of
the Paulinskill River Wildlife Management Area, to start
developing plans for this transformative project. A generous
foundation gift has enabled us to begin a feasibility study on
the best ways to improve the floodplain’s ability to absorb
and filter stormwater, water quality and flow, wildlife habitat,
and opportunities for people to hike, fish and bird-watch.
Before and after rendering of proposed Columbia Dam removal © Princeton Hydro
© Holly Golden
PLANTED
Along 4
Paulins Kill near Blairstown © TNC (Eric Olsen)
54.5
ACRES
Working Throughout a Watershed
“
We don’t often have the opportunity to restore so much of a river’s headwaters. The New Jersey
Department of Environmental Protection is excited to work with The Nature Conservancy to restore
river function and enhance habitats at Hyper-Humus. This will have a tremendous impact on water
quality, fish and other species, and recreation along the Paulins Kill.
—Dave Golden, Chief, Bureau of Land Management, NJDEP Division of Fish & Wildlife
”
New Jersey Annual Report FY16 | 5
COASTS
When the Chapter launched its coastal program three years ago,
the question was how best to use our resources to increase our
coastline’s resilience to erosion, flooding and sea level rise. Fast
forward to 2016: major projects showcasing nature as part of the
solution are being implemented, and coastal communities are
recognizing the potential for these cost-effective techniques to
protect their towns and bring additional benefits like improved
habitat and increased ecotourism.
“
Photo courtesy of
R. Jay Gerken
Protecting with Nature
Staff, partners and volunteers got in the
water for a project to test the effectiveness
of an experimental “living” reef in stemming
marsh erosion at our Gandy’s Beach Preserve
on Delaware Bay. In fall, spring and summer,
with a break during shorebird migration, we
installed bagged oyster shells and built reef
sections of cement “oyster castles”—future
homes for oysters and habitat for nearshore fish.
Installing oyster castles for the Gandy’s Beach oyster reef © TNC (Mary Conti)
Working with staff, partners and other volunteers to
install part of the experimental oyster reef at Gandy’s
Beach was amazing. Having witnessed the long lead-up
of planning, data gathering, funding and permitting,
I was reminded of the depth of the Conservancy’s
talent and exhilarated to see this project get in the water.
It brought home to me what a dedicated group of people
the Chapter has working for it and with it.
6 | New Jersey Annual Report FY16
—Jay Gerken, New Jersey Chapter Trustee
”
Aerial view of Gandy’s Beach oyster reef installation © TNC (Damon Noe)
Eroding shoreline in West Wildwood, NJ. © TNC (Tom Flynn)
The Conservancy’s Restoration Explorer, a web-based tool that helps identify place-appropriate
living shoreline techniques, was introduced to municipalities along New Jersey’s Atlantic
coastline. They liked what they saw. Among projects being considered: one using coconutfiber logs to absorb wave energy, reduce erosion and enhance habitat near municipal boat
ramps and another rebuilding and stabilizing an eroding marsh to absorb wave energy before
it reaches nearby homes. The new marsh would also attract birders and kayakers and
potentially increase revenue from nature-based tourism.
Understanding
Nature’s Value
Many decision makers are unaware of the tremendous
financial value of nature, from reduced flood damage
costs near healthy salt marshes to increased revenues
for fisheries and money spent by birding, fishing,
boating and hiking tourists. To make the case and
Coastal marsh © TNC
increase local support for protecting nature and
implementing “green” projects, the Chapter created and has been promoting a guidebook to help
assign a value to benefits generated by healthy coastal habitats. On a similar theme, a study is
underway to assess the ability of healthy coastal marshes to store carbon and mitigate climate
change. If the result is positive, protection and restoration might create saleable carbon credits
and generate funding for marsh restoration.
New Jersey Annual Report FY16 | 7
COMMUNITIES
Our efforts to protect land, safeguard clean water and strengthen New
Jersey’s coasts benefit both nature and people. But we want to do more
than just benefit people; we also want to get them involved! Here are
some of the ways the Conservancy is engaging New Jersey communities.
Walk Green 2016
NJ Chapter Trustees, Conservancy Council members
and staff in Cartagena, Colombia on a winter 2016
trip. Photo courtesy of Warren Cooke.
Through a new partnership with BAPS Charities (www.bapscharities.org),
more than 15,000 people across the country participated in walkathons to
benefit The Nature Conservancy’s Plant a Billion Trees initiative in North
America. BAPS Charities is dedicated to “a spirit of selfless service” and
supports five major initiatives, including Environmental Protection and
Preservation. Nature Conservancy-New Jersey staff joined walkathons in
Robbinsville, Edison and Clifton. We so enjoyed getting to know these new
partners and thank the many volunteers who participated in Walk Green 2016!
In April, the Chapter launched the
Conservancy Council, a group of
conservation-minded leaders who
care deeply about the Conservancy’s
work. Members serve as ambassadors,
advisors and connectors, expanding
our circle of friends in communities
across the state. Chapter Trustee Anne
Jacobson, who was instrumental in
developing the council and serves as its
co-chair, remarked, “What an honor
it has been to get to know so many
thoughtful and committed conservationminded people. I’m so impressed
that in just a few months the group is
already helping the Chapter through
expertise, resources, and introducing
their friends to the Conservancy.”
8 | New Jersey Annual Report FY16
© TNC (Adrianna Zito-Livingston)
Expanding Our
Circle of Friends
The Nature Conservancy in New Jersey
Elizabeth D. Kay Environmental Center
200 Pottersville Road | Chester, NJ 07930
Online: nature.org/newjersey
Email: [email protected]
For information about The Nature Conservancy
and ways to support it, please call (908) 879-7262.
Manufactured with 30% recycle content.
Walk Green 2016 in Edison, NJ. Courtesy of BAPS Charities
Serving Nature and its Visitors
Each year, two interns join our team to watch over the wildlife
at our South Cape May Meadows Preserve and engage its many
visitors. These seasonal positions have been supported by the
generosity of the Elizabeth B. and Arthur E. Roswell Foundation
for more than 25 years. The Roswell family joined us at South
Cape May Meadows in July 2015 to celebrate this milestone
and meet Migratory Bird Steward Coral Walker-Cinco and
Environmental Educator Erin Regan, pictured here.
New Jersey Chapter Trustees
Mark DeAngelis, Chair
Mark Opel, Vice Chair
Glenn Boyd
Warren Cooke
John Donofrio
Susan Dunn
Martin Elling
R. Jay Gerken
Amy S. Greene
Anne H. Jacobson
Robert Medina
Valerie Montecalvo
Oye Olukotun
David A. Robinson
Geraldine Smith
Dennis Toft
Jim Wright
New Jersey Conservancy Council
Francisco Artigas
Barbara Bach
Joseph Basralian
Carol Collier
Alma DeMetropolis
Robin Dougherty
Russell Furnari
Dennis Hart
Anne H. Jacobson
Thomas Lambrix
William Leavens
Claudius Maranhao
Mark Mauriello
Elizabeth Parker
John Post
Kathy Schroeher
Donald Ullmann
Daniel VanAbs
Joseph Wofchuck
Christian Zugel