Sixteen acres of forest containing Walnut Brook have been permanently preserved in Raritan Township, thanks to collaboration between Hunterdon Land Trust (HLT) and the Township. This latest preservation adds to a corridor now totaling more than 344 acres that have been protected by HLT and partners along the Walnut Brook stream corridor, including HLT’s headquarters property at the Dvoor Farm.
“We are proud to partner with Raritan Township to expand protection of the Walnut Brook corridor,” said HLT’s senior director of land acquisition and stewardship, Jacqueline Middleton. “This project reflects our continued commitment to safeguarding natural resources for future generations.”
Funding for 81 Dayton Road was made possible through a partnership between HLT and Raritan Township, combining the Township’s Green Acres award with a matching Hunterdon County grant secured by HLT. The property is now owned and managed by the Township.
“We are grateful to HLT for their partnership in this preservation success,” shared Amy Greene, chair of Raritan Township’s Open Space Advisory Committee. “By continuing to expand preservation of land along the Walnut Brook, we are strengthening wildlife habitat, protecting water quality and supply, helping to reduce flooding impacts to our community, and expanding recreational opportunities like hiking and wildlife viewing.”
The preservation of land along Walnut Brook is part of a larger effort to improve the health of this vital stream corridor to improve water quality, restore wildlife habitat, and mitigate flood risks for surrounding communities. At Dvoor Farm, HLT has completed significant ecological restoration efforts, including establishing three acres of wetlands, rebuilding streambanks and vernal pools to better withstand flooding events and support wildlife habitat, and planting over 1,000 native trees and shrubs to widen the riparian corridor.
“The protection and stewardship of the Walnut Brook corridor have been a priority since HLT first took ownership of Dvoor Farm in 1999,” said HLT’s executive director, Emily Dunn. “This most recent preservation underscores our enduring commitment to strengthening ecosystem resilience and protecting our natural resources.”
Hunterdon Land Trust is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with the mission to foster healthy ecosystems and communities in the Hunterdon County region through permanent preservation of open space and farmland, stewardship of natural resources, and cultivation of the Dvoor Farm as a center for inspiration, education, and connection. Now celebrating its 30th anniversary, the organization has helped protect more than 12,700 acres. To learn more, visit www.hunterdonlandtrust.org.
