Land Donation Helps Expand Wickecheoke Creek Preserve

NJCF recently expanded its Wickecheoke Creek Preserve in Hunterdon County with the addition of 35 acres of farmland along Reading Road in Delaware Township. The property includes a section of Cold Run Creek, a tributary of the Wickecheoke, and is about a half mile from the Green Sergeant's Covered Bridge, the last remaining historic covered bridge in New Jersey.

The newest addition to the NJCF Wickecheoke Creek Preserve in Delaware Township, Hunterdon County Click for Full Photo

NJCF purchased 30 acres of farmland from Chuck and Lois Cline for $1.35 million using funding from the State Farmland Preservation Program, Hunterdon County and Delaware Township. At the same time, Rachel Finkle and Sven Helmer donated five acres of adjacent farmland, valued at $282,500.

"The five acre donation was vital to making the preservation possible," said Alix Bacon, NJCF Western Piedmont Regional Manager. "When preserving property through the State Farmland Preservation Program, we must match the State's financial contribution with local funds. The very generous donation by Rachel Finkle and Sven Helmer allowed us to reach that threshold. Over the last two years, the State has committed $2 million to help fund farmland preservation projects in NJCF's Wickecheoke Creek project area, but tapping into the necessary local funds is critical to making preservation projects like this happen."

“Since moving to Delaware Township in 1991, we have wanted to help protect the area.” – Rachel Finkle

Rachel Finkle is the owner of Joseph Finkle & Son, a unique Lambertville hardware store founded by her grandfather in 1920, which has survived many community changes and today occupies four buildings on Coryell Street. The unique store has earned a reputation as the place to go for hard to find items and become a community cornerstone, supporting many conservation efforts and noteworthy charitable causes.

"We were happy to donate the land to help make the preservation possible," said Finkle, whose family has been in Hunterdon County for three generations. "There are several preserved properties adjacent to the land and multiple houses cropping up would have tarnished the community. Since moving to Delaware Township in 1991, we have wanted to help protect the area."

The property, which was subdivided into six residential building lots, is part of the original Cline family farm, a 122-acre agricultural and dairy farm which had been in the Cline family for over 200 years.

"About one-third of the original farm has been preserved," said Chuck Cline, a retired businessman who still owns seven acres on Reading Road. "My father grew-up on the property and I think he would be pleased to see some of it preserved."

Wickecheoke Creek Preserve Click for Full Map

"We are thrilled that the Cline family considered preserving their land instead of developing it," said Delaware Township Mayor Kristen McCarthy. "In the end, the preservation of this land is a win-win for the Clines and the community. We appreciate the diligence of the New Jersey Conservation Foundation working in partnership with the county and township to protect this important land."

The preservation expands NJCF's 988-acre Wickecheoke Creek Preserve, which is open to the public and follows the course of the beautiful Delaware River tributary from the headwaters on the Croton plateau through its dramatic descent to the Delaware River at Stockton. Protecting the Wickecheoke is vital to the region's water supply since it feeds the Delaware & Raritan Canal, a source of drinking water for 1.2 million New Jersey residents.

Alix Bacon [About] Regional Manager NJ Conservation Foundation 1 (609) 773-0333 alix@njconservation.org

The Wickecheoke Creek Preserve 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 will also maintain agricultural grasslands on the property, which are disappearing from New Jersey at an alarming rate. Grasslands provide vital habitat for many birds like the vesper sparrow, northern bobwhite quail, eastern meadowlark, northern harrier, bobolink and others, some of which have decreased by nearly 50 percent in the past few decades.