Former Rezamir Estates Property Preserved, Restoration of Critical Drinking Water Source Begun

MOUNT OLIVE: The Land Conservancy of New Jersey and the Trust for Public Land (TPL) partner with Mount Olive and Morris County to preserve critical watershed in New Jersey Highlands

The Land Conservancy of New Jersey is pleased to announce the purchase of the former 134-acre Rezamir Estates property in the Township of Mt. Olive on June 9, 2010 in partnership with the Trust for Public Land, Morris County, Mt. Olive Township, and the State of New Jersey. The property will be known as The South Branch Restoration Project as it is located within the headwaters of the South Branch of the Raritan River.

The property was subdivided in 2004 and construction had begun for the development of 16 single-family homes. The property includes a complex network of streams that feed into the headwaters of the South Branch of the Raritan River, a drinking water source for 1 million New Jersey residents. Unfortunately, with the development approval, the hydrology of the property was altered with installation of a road, several stream crossings, detention basins, and footings for an arch bridge. The Land Conservancy of New Jersey will implement a plan to remove the crossings and detention basins, and restore stream channels to their natural state.

Construction debris left onsite.

The acquisition included a contribution from TPL and the landowner of more than $100,000 so that The Land Conservancy can begin work to restore streams and stabilize soil on the site. The Land Conservancy of New Jersey is raising additional funds to reforest portions of the property and implement a comprehensive management and restoration plan for the property.


"The Land Conservancy of New Jersey is excited to have the opportunity to restore the disturbed streams and stop the erosion that has plagued this beautiful property so that it can once again provide clean drinking water for the residents of New Jersey," said Conservancy President David Epstein.


A construction road onsite.
"The construction project had damaged neighboring properties. The Trust for Public Land took the initiative in making the project happen, and The Land Conservancy of New Jersey will be a good steward in returning the property to a natural state. The public will get the benefit of enjoying the property," said Mount Olive Township Mayor David M. Scapicchio.

The Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders awarded $1.65 million from the open space portion of the County Preservation Trust Fund; Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority contributed $500,000; $460,000 came from two New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Green Acres Program grants, including a $250,000 contribution of Green Acres Funding from Mount Olive Township's Planning Incentive Funds; and the Johanette Wallerstein Institute awarded $40,000 for the purchase.

"We are grateful to The Land Conservancy of New Jersey for their commitment to stewarding and improving this critical drinking water resource, and to the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders, Mount Olive Township Mayor and Council, the Municipal Utilities Authority, the Wallerstein Institute, and New Jersey's state Green Acres program, without which this opportunity would have been lost," said Terrence Nolan, TPL Senior Project Manager.

Check back soon for updates on the restoration progress on this blog!

An existing partially-built foundation that
was constructed on the property.