JAMESBURG PARK CONSERVATION AREA: BUCKELEW BOGS & SHEKIRO POND WETLAND ENHANCEMENT PROJECT

JUNE 18, 2020NEW JERSEY WETLANDS MITIGATION COUNCIL

PRESENTERS:

KIRK MANTAY, PWSGREENTRUST ALLIANCE, INC.

BRIAN CRAMER

GREENVEST, LLC

OVERVIEW

Introducing the Project Partners Pinelands Outliers – a Primer Update on Current Jamesburg Park Project The Buckelew Bogs / Shekiro Pond Site Addressing Key Questions Anticipated Project Timeline

Project Partners

Pinelands Outlier

Habitats

• Pinelands habitats include globally rare and unusual species.• The Jamesburg Park Conservation Area is part of the

Spotswood Outlier, the northernmost remaining area of pinelands habitat in New Jersey.

• Preservation and restoration of outlier properties is critical to the preservation of genetic diversity for Pinelands species.

• Intact Spotswood Outlier uplands are dominated by oak-pine forest and acidophile shrub layers, notably mountain laurel and blueberry.

• Intact Spotswood Outlier wetlands are dominated by Atlantic White Cedar stands, Buttonbush, blueberry, and Pepperbush (Clethra) in the understory, and unusual herbaceous plants including sundew, pitcher plant, and golden club.

• These plant communities require soil conditions that are nutrient-depleted and high in organic soil carbon.

• However the vast majority of remaining Spotswood Outlier wetlands have been previously impacted for cranberry production, conventional agricultural ditching, and most recently, by invasive species such as Phragmites.

Jamesburg Park Conservation Area:Wetland Enhancement Project, Phase I

(Helmetta Pond)

Contract Executed 2014

Site status: PSS/PEM wetland complex overtaken by Phragmites and other invasive species, since removed, site replanted.

Construction 2017-2019

Map of Jamesburg Park Conservation Area Project Phases I & II

Pre-restoration, Phase I

Phase I, Planting Completed

• WMA 9• 15.46 wetland acres enhanced• 5.15 wetland mitigation units• 4,000 Atlantic White Cedar

planted

Phase II Proposed Project in Response to 2019 RFP: Buckelew Bogs & Shekiro Pond• Wetland previously converted to

production-scale cranberry impoundment

• Acquired by Middlesex Parks during the 1970’s

• Impoundment has failed several times during the last 20 years (primary dike failure in this photo, likely due to Superstorm Sandy)

• Pond bottom now covered with Phragmites, Cattails

Buckelew Bogs – Former Cranberry Impoundment

Jamesburg Park Conservation Area

Phase II –Buckelew Bogs & Shekiro PondWetland Enhancement Project Concept Plan

Jamesburg Park Conservation Area Phase II Site Photos 2019

Proposed Habitat Types: 9.86 Total Acres

Palustrine Scrub-Shrub (Hardwood)

Palustrine Emergent

Comments from NJDEP Staff and Wetland Council• Water Budget & Monitoring – Trimmed scope to

include only:• Hydrologic analysis of well data• Biological benchmarking to inform our planting plan

• Functional Analysis – Reduced cost and level ofeffort for this task.

• Retainage Waiver: GTA deleted our waiver request, in favor of a traditional milestone-based budget with retainage.

Thank you for your review and comments.

Restating Project Objectives

• Serves WMA 9

• 9.86 Wetland Acres Proposed For Enhancement

• 3.29 Mitigation Units

• Mix of scrub-shrub and emergent wetland habitats

Thank you!

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

kirk@greentrustalliance.org

brian@greenvestus.com