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LITTLE EGG HARBOR, NJ - In the month of October, the Ocean County Board of Commissioners approved the acquisition of a parcel of land in the Township of Little Egg Harbor for preservation, made possible through the Natural Lands Trust Fund, a program designed to protect critical open space and farmland.
Following recommendations from the Natural Lands Advisory Committee, Ocean County has successfully authorized the preservation of a 1.61-acre property located on Giffordtown Lane in Little Egg Harbor Township, by way of donation.
The property is a vacant lot and adds on to approximately 95 acres of previously preserved County land which is known as the Tuckerton Lake Tract.
"The landowner has agreed to donate this property to the County," Ocean County Commissioner Robert S. Arace, liaison to the Natural Lands Trust Fund, said. "Both the Tuckerton Lake Tract and the newly donated parcel, sit within the Giffords Mill Branch Target Area, a region long recognized for its ecological sensitivity."
The ecological importance of the area originates from the tributary waterways, which flow into Pohatcong Lake and the Barnegat Bay watershed. The County-owned Tuckerton Lake preserve contains some of the most pristine and undisturbed natural habitats within the entire Giffords Mill Branch region.
"Protecting another 1.61 acres in this area means safeguarding one of the County's most unhindered natural corridors. Despite the legacy of past agricultural use, the Giffords Mill Branch region has maintained its natural integrity and beauty, and preserving additional acreage in the area helps ensure those qualities endure," Arace said.
The Ocean County Natural Lands Trust Fund has helped protect forests, wetlands, farmland, water resources, and open space throughout Ocean County.
On November 3, Ocean County voters will consider increasing the Trust Fund's funding rate from 1.2 cents to 2.2. cents per $100 of total County equalized real property valuation to support continued preservation efforts, including future acquisitions, maintenance and cleanup, and habitat protection.
To learn more about the Natural Lands Trust Fund and the proposed funding increase visit https://oceancountynj.gov/frmOpenSpace.aspx.
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