What's in this issue? All about the new Schipani-Hallissey property including the chance for you to name it as well as an important infographic about all the great things trees do for us!
The Schipani-Hallissey property, located at the intersection of Main and Tuckahoe Roads in Franklin Township, is now permanently preserved land, owned and managed by the South Jersey Land & Water Trust. It will soon be available for passive recreational enjoyment to you, meaning for hiking, nature study, bird-watching, and more. It will be open from dawn to dusk but there will be rules for use of the preserved property. These include no hunting, motorized vehicles, camping, or horseback riding, and dogs must be on a leash.
This is a lovely piece of land that is fully forested and was never farmed. That makes it good habitat for wildlife, including birds that breed in our area or migrate through, especially in the fall, and crucial winter roosting sites for raptors. It is 143.5 acres in size and is dominated by mixed pitch pine and oak trees. While not part of the Pinelands Preservation Area (which starts across Tuckahoe Rd.), this is characteristic of upland mixed oak-pine forest of the Barrens.
Interestingly, this property has one of the highest “recharge” rates in Franklin Township. That means that when it rains, as much as 11 – 14 inches of rain percolate each year through the forest into the groundwater and refill the aquifer below. This is an important feature because everyone in South Jersey relies to some extent on wells that tap our aquifers for their drinking water. The Schipani-Hallissey Forest is also important because it has tiny headwater streams that feed to Indian Branch, which ends in Malaga Lake. That body of water is part of Scotland Run, a stream that becomes part of the Maurice River which is classed as a Wild and Scenic River in its lower reaches and is one of the largest waterways in South Jersey, ending at Delaware Bay. You are almost guaranteed to see a bald eagle on any stretch of Scotland Run/Maurice River, and river otters (if you’re very lucky) in Malaga Lake.
As with so many forests in South Jersey, the Schipani-Hallissey forest was threatened by various proposals for development. First, a housing development was proposed but never built. Then a project to develop a gravel excavation site was put forth, with a proposed pit of 100 acres in size and 70 feet in depth. Then, most recently, a solar company wanted to purchase the property, to cut the trees and install a large solar farm. Local residents opposed these projects and Franklin’s Zoning did not permit the last two. It often seems like a miracle that large forests survive at all!
Like most forest preservation projects, this one was the work of many people and organizations, led by the South Jersey Land & Water Trust. The New Jersey Conservation Foundation was a key partner and the funding for the land came from New Jersey’s Green Acres Program and its Office of Natural Resource Restoration. Natural Lands of PA also partnered through providing funding towards the completion of the environmental assessment. Franklin Township contributed funds to cover all the “soft” costs – the appraisals, survey, and closing costs. The owners, William Hallissey and the estate of Louis Schipani, made a generous contribution of half the value of the property.
All efforts to preserve forests cost money. New Jersey has an excellent land preservation program, but it only covers part of the costs of acquisition and half of the “soft” costs. None of the expenses of land trust staffing to do all the work, such as by the South Jersey Land & Water Trust, are included. In the case of the latest forest protection endeavor – the Schipani-Hallissey Forest – this work took three years. Supporter donations make it all possible – so congratulations on saving another forest! Stay tuned for announcement of when this preserve will be open for use. This amazing new property is in need of a new name! We invite you to share your opinion with us below!
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