Hunterdon Land Trust Alliance

A nonprofit conservation organization working to preserve and protect the rural character of Hunterdon County, New Jersey.
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The Kugler Woods

In November 2001, HLTA announced the preservation of the Kugler Woods. This 220-acre property is almost entirely wooded with mature specimen hardwoods. It is a well-managed forest that has a colonial history going back to pre-revolutionary times. Named after its 18th-century owner, the Kugler Woods provided timber for the famous Rodham Boat Works at the edge of the property. Here the Durham boats were built to haul lime from Easton, upriver. The lime was used for agriculture and the building trades, but the boats were also used by General George Washington for the surprise Christmas crossing downstream, now called Washington's Crossing. These wooded hills have many magnificent sugar maples and the present owner has run a successful gravity-assisted maple syrup operation, believed to be Hunterdon's only one. .

This was HLTA's first preserved property in its Delaware Bluffs project area. This large block of woodlands provides critical habitat for birds such as the worm-eating warbler, a neo-tropical songbird. Vernal ponds on the property provide habitat for numerous rare plants including Wild Comfrey, Missouri Gooseberry, and the Hairy Lip Fern (Chelantes Lanosa). It is also likely habitat for the long-tailed salamander, and of course, Hunterdon's more regular visitors like turkeys, hawks, owls, and coyotes.

This conservation easement, funded entirely with Green Acres funds, would not have happened without the hard work of HLTA. The state Green Acres Program had indicated an interest but was unable to devote the requisite time and resources for the negotiation. HLTA trustees brought this project to completion over several years, through negotiations and the resolution of complicated family issues. HLTA will monitor the easement in perpetuity and post the property. In turn, HLTA received a $20,000 easement-defense endowment from the owner. Long term plans include development of a public access trail.

For adjoining preserved property, see "The Martin Woods."

 

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Dondero Farm
Dvoor Farm
Nishisackawick Preserve
The Milltown Road Preserve
Diamond Creek Farm
The Kugler Woods 		The Martin Woods
Meadow Creek
Schuck
Trepani
Lockatong Preserve
Good Shepherd/Risi Acres

 

 

 

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