PennEast Pipeline: A habitat threat

Long Eared Owl at Baldpate Mountain - WCAS (Sharyn Magee)

The major component of the FoHVOS stewardship mission is protecting and restoring natural habitats.  A quick review of our stewardship staff and volunteers’ time indicate various types of activities that ultimately lead to protecting habitat. From invasive species management through forest and grassland restorations, our eye is always on stewarding an environment where flora and fauna will thrive.

With this mission in mind, we were disappointed to learn that the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) seemed to change their habitat requirements on the PennEast application.  Previously the NJDEP noted that PennEast’s draft Environmental Impact Statement lacked information on the pipeline’s impact on threatened and endangered flora and fauna and required that they conduct two years of wildlife surveys along portions of the proposed route.  Unfortunately, these conditions were not included in their latest feedback to PennEast.

Hooded warbler

We are aware that many groups opposing the PennEast pipeline were encouraged when the Army Corps of Engineers and the NJDEP ruled that PennEast’s application for its Clean Water Act permits were incomplete, missing significant required data.  Additionally, NJDEP ruled that PennEast’s application was made without having legal authority to enter all of the impacted properties along the proposed route since almost 70% of landowners in New Jersey have denied PennEast survey access.   PennEast was given 30 days to remedy those application deficiencies.

Kentucky warbler

We are less encouraged.  The NJDEP delay does not mitigate our habitat concerns. Environmental impact should be considered before PennEast’s applications are reviewed. 

The Mercer County Parks Commission has partnered with FoHVOS for over 10 years to properly steward the Ted Stiles Preserve at Baldpate Mountain. Our FoHVOS champion for whom the preserve was named, spent a decade protecting the mountain from improper development.  Now, Baldpate Mountain is under serious threat from the proposed pipeline, with PennEast proposing to expand the existing utility right-of-way by clear-cutting an additional 150+ feet of mature forest. 

Baldpate Mountain is not only amon Mercer County’s largest contiguous forests and wildlife habitats, but has also been designated as an Audubon Important Bird Area and is an important migratory stop and breeding area for Neotropical birds, many of which are ranked by the American Bird Conservancy as birds of conservation concern.  Hooded and Kentucky warblers are not found elsewhere in Hopewell - Baldpate harbors the only forest large enough for them.  The potential damage to these breeding birds cannot be mitigated by PennEast. 

Bald Eagle - US Fish & Wildlife

In our developing Forest Stewardship Plan, we’ve found that nearly 1,000 species of plants and animals can be found at Baldpate.  Of these species, there are over 30 rare species and another 75 species of high conservation value.  Plant species include the beautiful wild comfrey and yellow giant hyssop.  Rare long-eared owls (see top photo) have recently been discovered by Washington Crossing Audubon Society and Hopewell Township just documented an American bald eagle directly on the pipeline’s proposed path. 

Baldpate Mountain was preserved with taxpayer monies to permanently protect its sensitive ecosystem and the rare species that depend upon it.  In a mostly built out state, it’s simply not possible to replace the preserved lands like Baldpate that PennEast is proposing to degrade or destroy.

We encourage the NJDEP to restore its previous protections and survey requirements for threatened and endangered flora and fauna, before it reviews PennEast’s permit applications.

Finding Inspiration

My blog today is about enjoying the benefits of being outside. We can start by appreciating our local preserves and the well-being attained by connecting with nature.

Consider The Harvard Medical school newsletter that explains that spending time outdoors provides discernible benefits for physical and mental health. Their studies indicate that the "greening" of exercise results in being happier, thinking more clearly, and healing more quickly.

While that information is truly compelling, it lacks that local connection I sought. So... where could I find the right inspiration?  

Deb Dauer rolling the wheelchair accessible LHT trail at Pole Farm. 

As fate would have it, while looking for more info, I came across Deb Dauer's blog post from today and not surprisingly, it contained exactly what I needed. First a bit of background…

I have known Deb since our children, now in college, were in preschool together. She has always been an inspiration, especially to her first grade students at Robbinsville's Sharon Elementary School.  

Last year Deb was diagnosed with ALS and more of her story is here. As the ALS progresses it steals her mobility and with it some of the activities that most of us take for granted.  Instead of mourning those losses, Deb finds new and creative ways of finding joy. That brings us back to today…

Deb shared that she was at Pole Farm where her husband Adam walked while she rolled in her wheelchair. She writes:

Pole Farm (photo courtesy of Deb Dauer)

"The woods on the side of the trail brought me back to the woods I used to trek through during my childhood. The views across the fields were breathtaking. I am thrilled that Adam and I have found another outside activity that we can do together!"

Deb's comment captured my intent far better than I could have stated myself. 

She is probably unaware that FoHVOS and Mercer County Parks spent two years restoring Pole Farm's expansive grassland habitats. The project, completed in 2014, removed non-native vegetation and seeded 435 acres of fields with native grasses and wildflowers to bring back native pollinators and grassland birds.

Pole Farm (photo courtesy of Deb Dauer)

The restoration funded through generous grants from Conservation Resources Inc. and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, has brought back significant populations of owls and other birds as noted by New Jersey Audubon. Pole farm is part of our esteemed partner Mercer County Park's Mercer Meadows.

While most residents are oblivious to FoHVOS stewardship efforts, once out on the trails they share the visceral reaction that Deb describes, which are not found indoors, and may relate to the health benefits realized.

Find your own inspiration by exploring the best of the Valley. Visit Pole Farm at Mercer Meadows, the Ted Stiles Preserve at Baldpate Mountain, or any of the other preserves in our Guide to the Walking Trails in the Hopewell Valley.

See you on the trails.