SUSSEX COUNTY, N.J. — Two projects in Sussex County have been approved for nearly $6 million in state Green Acres funding to restore the New Jersey School of Conservation in Stokes State Forest and improve wetlands and recreational opportunities within the Paulinskill River Wildlife Management Area.
The Sherrill administration announced that the Garden State Preservation Trust approved more than $88 million in statewide funding for land preservation, park improvements and flood protection projects during its Oct. 21 meeting.
Among the projects approved are $3 million for improvements to the New Jersey School of Conservation in Sandyston Township and $2.99 million for ecological restoration at the Hyper Humus marsh in Andover and Hampton townships.
The two Sussex County projects account for a combined $5,994,000 in proposed funding. The funding package must still receive formal appropriations from the state Legislature before the money can be distributed.
New Jersey School of Conservation to receive $3 million
The Friends of the New Jersey School of Conservation Inc. was approved for $3 million to make improvements throughout the school’s 240-acre campus within Stokes State Forest in Sandyston Township.
According to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, the improvements will support the school’s continued development as a public environmental education center.
“The Friends of the New Jersey School of Conservation are so grateful to the Garden State Preservation Trust and NJDEP’s Green Acres program for approving our application,” said Kerry Kirk Pflugh, the school’s executive director. “We would also like to thank our legislative champions Senators John McKeon and Bob Smith and Assemblymember Alixon Collazos-Gill who sponsored the legislation making it possible for the Friends of NJSOC to be eligible to apply for this funding. This approved project will allow the Friends of NJSOC to fulfill our statutory mandate to steward this unique conservation resource and expand our ability to provide environmental education programming to the residents of New Jersey.”
The project is among five nonprofit initiatives selected for funding through a special Green Acres grant program that does not require recipients to provide matching funds.
Unlike traditional nonprofit Green Acres awards, which generally require a 50% match, the special funding round was established for nonprofit organizations that have partnerships with the DEP to improve state-owned lands.
Nearly $3 million approved for Hyper Humus restoration
The Nature Conservancy was approved for $2,994,000 to restore the Hyper Humus marsh within the Paulinskill River Wildlife Management Area in Andover and Hampton townships.
The proposed project includes stream restoration, trail improvements, planting vegetation along waterways, removing an existing bridge and installing interpretive signs.
According to the DEP, the improvements are intended to restore the ecological health of the marsh, improve water quality and wildlife habitat, and expand recreational opportunities for visitors.
“The Nature Conservancy looks forward to partnering with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection on the restoration of the Paulinskill River Wildlife Management Area (Hyper Humus),” said Barbara Brummer, New Jersey State Director for The Nature Conservancy. “For more than 75 years, this habitat contributed peat for sites like Yankee Stadium and the Garden State Parkway at the expense of its own ecological health. We applaud the NJDEP’s Green Acres Program for investing in healing the land and restoring the river to a more natural state. The program’s funding empowers us to lead action that will improve water quality and flow in the Paulins Kill, rejuvenate function of the land surrounding the river, enhance wildlife habitat and provide more recreational opportunities for people.”
The restoration is one of several projects included in the state’s effort to protect environmentally significant lands while improving public access to natural areas.
More than $88 million approved statewide
The Sussex County projects are part of a broader funding package recommended by the DEP and approved by the Garden State Preservation Trust.
The statewide package includes $7.66 million for nonprofit Green Acres development projects, $11.83 million for state land acquisitions, $44.25 million for development and capital improvements at state parks and other public lands, and $26.33 million for voluntary Blue Acres property acquisitions in flood-prone areas.
The funding comes from constitutionally dedicated Corporation Business Tax revenue and is intended to protect drinking water supplies, preserve wildlife habitats, improve recreational facilities and reduce flood risks.
“The approval of these funds by the independent Garden State Preservation Trust delivers on Governor Sherrill’s mission to protect critical water supplies, enhance natural resources, support recreational opportunities for everyone, and make New Jersey more resilient to the effects of storms and flooding,” Department of Environmental Protection Deputy Commissioner Joe Seebode said. “We look forward to working with all of our partners to advance these projects for the benefit of residents in all corners of the Garden State.”
According to the DEP, the Green Acres Program has helped protect more than 725,000 acres of open space in New Jersey since its establishment in 1961. The program also supports the development of recreational facilities and conservation projects throughout the state.
The $88 million funding package now advances to the state Legislature for consideration and formal appropriations.
Additional information about the proposed projects is available through the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
