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Frelinghuysen: Land Conveyance Protects Region's Drinking Water

 

Jefferson Township, New Jersey – Calling it a victory for “open space and clean water,” U.S. Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen today praised the formal conveyance of the 835-acre “Baker Firestone property” to Jefferson Township and the State of New Jersey.  “Development pressures have caused more than 5,000 acres of forest and farmland to be lost annually to development in the New York/New Jersey Highlands alone.  Every acre we set aside from willing sellers is an acre of protection for our region’s drinking water.”

Purchased with $4.6 million of federal, state, county, local and private funds, the Baker Firestone property has been a high priority for protection for decades due to its important water resources, its varied wildlife habitat and proximity to over 3,000 acres of preserved lands. 

The Trust for Public Land purchased the plot and conveyed 647 acres to the State of New Jersey and the remaining 188 acres to Jefferson Township.  Funding for the acquisition included $1,940,000 in federal Highlands Conservation Act funds and $1,618,720 in New Jersey Green Acres Stateside funds for the 647-acres being transferred to the State; the remaining 188-acres were transferred to Jefferson Township using $800,000 from the Morris County Open Space Trust Fund and $241,280 from a Green Acres Planning Incentive Grant awarded to Jefferson Township.

Congressman Frelinghuysen sponsored the federal legislation in 2004 that created the Highlands Conservation Act and provided federal support for the Highlands region of New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Connecticut. 

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