Delaware headwaters protected in Hunterdon County

"To protect your rivers, protect your mountains." These words spoken by Emperor Yu of China in 1600 B.C. still ring true today. Nearly every U.S. citizen lives within a mile or two of a headwater stream, so it should come as no surprise that development is having a significant impact on these delicate ecosystems.

A stream running through newly preserved land in Wickecheoke Creek Greenway

"NJCF is constantly looking for opportunities to save headwater properties," said NJCF Executive Director Michele S. Byers. "The recent preservation of 77 acres in Raritan Township in Hunterdon County along the Wickecheoke Creek, which feeds the Delaware & Raritan Canal, will help protect the water supply of the 1.2 million New Jersey residents who rely on these resources."

In partnership with the state Green Acres program, Hunterdon County Open Space Trust Fund and Raritan Township, NJCF acquired the Allens Corner Road property from Eric and Geraldine Turnquist for $817,424. The property, which contains open fields and two streams that feed the Wickecheoke Creek, is open to the public for passive recreation and can be accessed on Allens Corner Road near Joe Ent Road in Raritan Township.

"It was important to protect the open space and natural resources that are valuable parts of this property," said Eric Turnquist of Tewksbury. "New Jersey is losing its open spaces everyday and one day I want to look back and feel good about what I have done."

Turnquist has done quite a bit to preserve New Jersey lands. He has worked with several preservation organizations to save over 400 acres in Tewksbury, Bethlehem, Union, Raritan and Washington Townships.

"I would urge anyone with the opportunity to consider preserving their property because at the end of the day they will feel good about themselves and what has become of their property," said Turnquist, 61, a self-described country lawyer and gentleman farmer.

The property is adjacent to previously preserved NJCF lands that make up the Wickecheoke Creek Greenway, which follows the course of the beautiful Delaware River tributary from its headwaters on the Croton Plateau—where slow moving waters recharge underground aquifers—through its dramatic descent to the Delaware River at Stockton.

"The project meets several of our goals, particularly protecting valuable water resources and saving natural areas that adjoin previously preserved lands," said Kevin Richardson, Hunterdon County Open Space Trust Fund Administrator. "The property was an outstanding opportunity to take a regional approach to our preservation efforts by working in partnership with NJCF and Raritan Township."

Raritan Township Planner James Humphries also noted the importance of protecting the region's water supply.

"We had been interested in preserving this property for several years because it was environmentally sensitive," said Humphries. "Protecting areas along the Wickecheoke are an integral part of our open space plan."

The Wickecheoke Creek Greenway is home to elusive beaver and mink, spectacular great blue herons and endangered species such as red-shouldered hawks, wood turtles and long-tailed salamander as well as over 400 species of native plants. NJCF's preservation efforts in the region started over 20 years ago and protect the Wickecheoke Creek's natural areas, help maintain water quality, control soil and sediment erosion, preserve significant natural and historic areas and protect wildlife habitat and farmland.

For more information on saving the Wickecheoke Creek Greenway, please contact Alix Bacon, Western Piedmont Regional Manager, at 1-609-773-0333 or alix@njconservation.org.