Clinton Township Newsletter

2 3 j u n e 2 0 2 2 "So far this year Hunterdon County has added another 255 acres to its inventory of over 8000 preserved open space acres, ensuring the protection of streams, forests and potential recreational sites," Hunterdon County Board of Commissioners Deputy Director Zachary T. Rich reported at the Board meeting in early May. Deputy Director Rich, the Board's Planning and Land Use Department liaison, reported, "The preservation of open space continues to be a focus of the Planning and Land Use Department and the Commissioner Board. The 255 acres have been preserved across five municipalities and includes partnerships with the Hunterdon Land Trust and the New Jersey Conservation Foundation." Rich listed the preservation efforts as follows: • The 52-acre HBH property on the border of Raritan and Franklin Townships, with a $250,224 County open space grant, $239,520 Green Acres grant through Raritan Twp, and a $10,704 County municipal grant for a total of $500,448. The project included funding from the County Open Space fund to the Hunterdon Land Trust. Raritan Township will manage land as municipal parkland. The project was recommended by the Parks and Open Space Advisory Committee (or POSAC). • A 13-acre parcel at the Wesleyan Church Property on Lower Landsdown Road, directly adjacent to the trailhead for Lower Landsdown Trail in Franklin Township, at a total cost of $112,000 from the County Open Space fund. • The Lauber property in Holland Township, which has nearly 18 acres and is a key piece to nearly complete open space contiguous with Riegle Ridge, Musconetcong Mountain Preserve, and Hoffman Farm, at a total cost of $75,000 from the County Open Space fund. Rich noted, "By adding the Lauber property, 227 county park land acres, 156 municipal open space acres, 369 preserved farmland acres, all contiguous with the property, bring all the acreage into connection." • The 97-acre CRC Mine Road property in Bethlehem Township on Mine Road adjacent to Tower Hill Preserve at a total cost of $608,403, of which the County Open Space Fund provided $304,201 to Bethlehem Township and the Hunterdon Land Trust and $304,201 in Green Acres funds. The County was deeded the property on closing. • 75 acres at the Rockaway Creek Preserve in Tewksbury Township on CR 523, plus frontage on the Rockaway Creek. The property also contains a tributary of the creek. The New Jersey Conservation Foundation preserved the property and deeded it to the County at closing, at no cost to the county. Rich concluded, "That is an impressive list of open space preservation work which has taken place since the end of last year. The whole Planning and Land Use Team, particularly our open space coordinator Bill Millette, and the County's Parks and Open Space Advisory Committee, deserve kudos for many jobs well done." h U n t e r D o n p r o t e C t s a n o t h e r 2 5 5 o p e n s p a C e a C r e s t h e H u n t e r s H e l p i n g t H e H u n g r y p r o G r a M In 1997 the New Jersey State Senate and General Assembly passed a series of laws that the governor approved. These laws establishing a venison donation program process, along with the Food Bank Good Samaritan act, helped pave the way for the Hunters Helping the Hungry Program. The United Bow Hunters of New Jersey (UBNJ) provided much needed support for the above measures. A year later a few hunters organized Hunters Helping the Hungry, Inc. HHH is a non- profit 501(c)3 organization with the help of the State Federation of Sportsmen Clubs, and support from the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife. HHH raises funds and coordinates efforts by butchers, hunters and food banks throughout NJ. We're always looking for ideas, partnerships and volunteers to help in many ways. Funds from HHH only pay for venison donated by hunters. HHH does not pay for any municipal depredation hunts or farmer depredation hunts. Many farmers and corporations do support HHH through generous donations or allowing hunters to hunt their property or requiring hunters who hunt their property to donate deer through this program. To find out how you can help, visit: www.HuntersHelpingTheHungry.org.

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