HILLSBOROUGH – At the end of Rainbow Hill is a pot of nature's gold.
The Sourland Mountains, the largest area of undeveloped and relatively pristine land between New York City and Philadelphia, has remained an undiscovered treasure for many Central Jersey residents.
But now, thanks to the work of the New Jersey Conservation Foundation, there is a new way to be introduced to one of the state’s most scenic and ecologically important areas.
The New Jersey Conservation Foundation recently held the official grand opening of its newest preserve, Rainbow Hill at Sourland Mountain Preserve. The 1,150-acre property, off Wertsville and North Hill roads, straddles the border of Hunterdon and Somerset counties.,
The preserve features woodlands, farm fields, an 8-acre lake, and several tributaries of the Neshanic River – a source of clean drinking water for the region that flows into the South Branch of the Raritan River at the Hillsborough and Branchburg border.
The site also provides for passive recreational activities including hiking, horseback riding, birding and nature observation. Three newly blazed trails through the preserve's varied landscapes have been completed.
“We congratulate New Jersey Conservation Foundation and its partners for their foresight and tireless efforts to preserve the ecological benefits and beauty of this important landscape in the Sourland Mountains,” said Shawn M. LaTourette, commissioner of the state Department of Environmental Protection.“The DEP’s investment in Rainbow Hill, through its Green Acres Program and Office of Natural Resource Restoration, helps protect the region’s unique natural and recreational resources, including rivers, woodlands and trails.”
Rainbow Hill at Sourland Mountain Preserve took many years to assemble as several bordering properties were acquired over the past decade.
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The most recent addition came in December 2020 with the purchase of 112 acres of farmland and forest in East Amwell. That purchase came less than two months after NJ Conservation and partners acquired 268 adjoining acres.
NJ Conservation was the lead in partnership of public and private agencies, including the DEP’s Green Acres Program, Somerset County, Hunterdon County, the state Office of Natural Resource Restoration, Hillsborough Township, East Amwell Township, Hunterdon Land Trust, Raritan Headwaters Association, The Nature Conservancy, 1772 Foundation, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, and an anonymous donor.
The preserve totals 528 acres in East Amwell and more than 600 acres in Hillsborough. The property will be maintained as a single preserve spanning the two counties.
"This preserve is the culmination of a decades-long team effort to protect more than 1,000 acres that will provide countless benefits to the public and wildlife for generations to come," said Alison Mitchell, Co-Executive Director of NJ Conservation. "We are so grateful to all of our partners and delighted to welcome everyone to enjoy this permanently preserved land in the beautiful Sourland Mountains."
There are three trails completed at the preserve.
The 3.5-mile Red Trail loops from the North Hill lot across hayfields, through forests, and around meadows to the lake.
The nearly 4-mile White Trail offers the longest scenic route over fields and along streams, with a 1-mile stretch through forests scattered with boulders characteristic of the Sourland Mountains.
The Blue Trail is a 1-mile loop with vistas of the lake that follows along streams and through a variety of forested wetlands.
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Municipal and county officials are excited about what the preserve will bring an ecologically delicate section of Central Jersey.
"East Amwell is thrilled with the opening of the new preserve. Land preservation is critical to protecting our water, land and wildlife habitat, safeguarding our vistas and viewsheds, and maintaining our quality of life. Preservation of the 1,150-acre property will protect the ecologically important Southland Region and help keep East Amwell rural,” said Dante DiPirro, deputy mayor of East Amwell.
"I am extremely proud of the Sourland Mountain land preservation deal. The Sourland Mountain range is the largest contiguous forest in Central New Jersey" said Hunterdon County Commissioner Jeff Kuhl. "Continued preservation of open space and farmland is critical to preserving Hunterdon County’s high quality of life for current and future generations.”
"NJ Conservation has been a great partner for Somerset County in preserving more than 450 acres of open space and historic properties such as the True Farmstead, and I look forward to many more successful partnerships in the future," said Somerset County Commissioner Melonie Marano.
“We are pleased and proud to partner with NJ Conservation and Raritan Valley Community College to engage students, interns, and volunteers in efforts to plant trees, install fences, and conduct research on effective methods to restore ecosystem function to benefit humans and wildlife. It’s strong partnerships like these that make our work possible," added Robert Aluck, Sourland Conservancy's Stewardship Director. “I look forward to walking these trails with my children — and one day my grandchildren — watching the trees and flowers grow along with them. This is our legacy.”
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Mike Deak is a reporter for mycentraljersey.com. To get unlimited access to his articles on Somerset and Hunterdon counties, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
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