Sensitive Lands Along the Rock Brook Preserved

Montgomery Friends of Open Space is pleased to announce the preservation of a scenic stream corridor along the Rock Brook in partnership with a local property owner and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Green Acres Program(NJDEP). In early October, Montgomery Friends forged an agreement with local landowner and architect, Marc Brahaney to preserve, as permanent open space just over two acres of open land along the Rock Brook at Servis and Hollow Roads in Skillman. The land is a protective buffer to the Rock Brook for recharging the water supply and filtering pollutants from storm water runoff.

The land lies within a sensitive stream corridor of the Rock Brook, prone to flooding and heavy stormwater flow. Statewide, only two percent of streams, rivers, and lakes across 23 sub-watersheds support all designated uses, except for fish consumption. Buffers along stream corridors are critically important to enhance water quality and limit further development. Montgomery Friends saw the preservation of this land as a priority and applied to NJDEP Green Acres to seek financial support for preserving the land. Permanent land preservation was achieved with Green Acres Funds and a charitable donation of the appraised value from Mr. Brahaney. Land preservation along this corridor is vitally important due to its proximity to the Rock Brook and other large parcels of preserved lands to the north. The land is comprised of mature trees, native plants, and steep slopes. The Friends is working with several property owners along Hollow Road to secure permanent preservation along the Rock Brook Corridor. The land in the western section of Montgomery Township is unique in geology, history, and a sliver of the magnificent Sourlands Mountains, the largest remaining contiguous forest in New Jersey.

Since its establishment in 2002, Montgomery Friends of Open Space (Montgomery Friends) has preserved approximately 500 acres of open space and farmland using non-profit and matching funds through State Green Acres and Farmland Funding available to non-profit organizations. Montgomery Friends forms partnerships with local property owners, local, county, state agencies, other non-profit organizations, and foundations to preserve sensitive, unique, open lands throughout Montgomery Township. Using Montgomery Township’s Conservation Master Plan as a framework, Montgomery Friends helps to preserve land and create networks of pathways, trails, and greenbelts of connected preserved open lands for permanent protection through conservation easements, fee simple purchase, and bargain sale.

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