Our History

In 2006, The South Jersey Land & Water Trust was formed by the merging of two non-profits, the Federation of Gloucester County Watersheds and the South Jersey Land Trust. Both organizations have worked together for many years in a variety of ways, including conducting land preservation and education projects together, publishing a joint newsletter, and managing the membership databases.

The new organization has carried on the missions of both groups which are to preserve and protect the land and water resources of southern New Jersey. Education about watersheds and preservation of watershed lands will continue to be primary concerns, while the strengthened ability of both groups will result in a greater voice for the organization’s members and the citizens it serves.

SOUTH JERSEY LAND TRUST

The South Jersey Land Trust (SJLT) was founded in 1990 by a diverse group of citizens concerned about the lack of grass roots land preservation efforts in the South Jersey region. Working as an all-volunteer organization, the SJLT has permanently preserved over 1,400 acres of land during its 15-year existence.

The Trust works cooperatively with government agencies by acquiring or managing land and by researching open space needs. The organization raises money, purchases land for permanent protection, accepts land donations, or acquires conservation easements, which permanently limit the type and scope of activities that can take place on a variety of land types.

SJLT’s role is to identify important wetlands, woodlands, and open space, contact and work with owners wishing to preserve, and carry out the steps for permanent preservation. The Trust does not usually take ownership of the land that it preserves. Rather, ownership is transferred at closing to a local or state government agency or other non-profit, land-holding organization.

A non-profit Planning Incentive Grant was awarded to SJLT by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Green Acres Program. This grant provides pre-approval of funding (50%) for preservation projects within a project area. The South Jersey land Trust project area encompasses the Raccoon and Oldman Creek watersheds, which is a large region of northwestern Gloucester County and part of northeastern Salem County. Preservation in this region requires the same process as in any part of South Jersey except that justification of the lands being preserved has been completed in advance and that half of the funding is already approved. The other, matching funds must still be raised.

The South Jersey Land Trust has also accepted responsibility for managing at least one preserved property on behalf of the New Jersey Fish & Wildlife Division. The property, the Andaloro Farm, is maintained under a Management Agreement that SJLT administers. Additional management agreements on preserved properties may be needed throughout the area, as more land is preserved.

In 2005, the SJLT, with the Federation of Gloucester County Watersheds, received short-term funding from the Conservation Fund to launch a program to assist local municipalities in implementing their farmland preservation and open space plans. Many municipalities have funding for preservation and have generated detailed plans, but lack staff to work on the needed projects. The grant funded a part-time consultant to meet with local leaders about their programs, along with a workshop series aimed at educating municipal officials and others about land preservation programs and issues.

In 2006, Woolwich Township contracted with the newly formed South Jersey Land & Water Trust, formed by the merger of SJLT and the Federation of Gloucester County Watersheds, to provide consulting preservation services for their farmland preservation program. This is the first in what may be a continuing direct assistance to local municipalities that will help to preserve many more acres of land in South Jersey.

THE FEDERATION OF GLOUCESTER COUNTY WATERSHEDS

Founded in 1993, the Federation was originally intended as an umbrella organization that would support and help establish watershed associations on each of the eight watersheds within Gloucester County. Three new associations were formed – for the Mantua and Raccoon Creeks and the upper Maurice River. Two watershed associations already existed – the Oldmans Creek and the Great Egg Harbor River.

The individual associations had pulled their organizations more closely together through shared programs, newsletter, advocacy, education, membership, and administration. All except the Great Egg Harbor WA were all-volunteer organizations and found that their close collaboration helped them to have a greater voice within the local region as well as at county and state levels.

The Federation’s principal focus was on education and public outreach about water and watershed issues. In 1997 the first water-oriented festival, “WaterFest,” was held at Scotland Run Park, organized in conjunction with the Gloucester County Department of Parks and Recreation. This festival has continued to be held every June since that year. In 1998, a video, “Protecting Our Waters: the Watersheds of Gloucester County,” was produced, and a photographic survey of all the watersheds was completed. Watershed information booths were maintained at many events, a website was established, and a water monitoring program was undertaken. A Backyard Habitat program was also established, again in conjunction with the County Parks Department, along with a county-wide storm drain labeling program.
The Federation modified its By-laws to enable it to act as a land preservation trust, working closely with the South Jersey Land Trust. The first preservation project done collaboratively was the acquisition of the Lodge property, which sits along the Mantua Creek in West Deptford Township.

By 2004, the Federation had published “A Teacher’s Guide to the Watersheds of Gloucester County,” with funding from Rowan University, the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, and the Watershed Institute of the Stonybrook-Millstone Watershed Association. This book provides extensive information about Gloucester watersheds and the threats to them. It is provided free of charge to area teachers. It is also available for free download (see Teachers Guide).