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 |