Rancocas Conservancy Returns to Earth Fair

Rancocas Conservancy returned to the Burlington County Earth Fair at Smithville County Park on Sunday, June 25. We shared info and enthusiasm with more than 100 participants and their families over our shared love of the Rancocas. Everyone got an RNC refrigerator magnet, their choice of treats, and literature. New members were recruited and contact information was gathered. We were thrilled with this success and look forward to returning next year.

Black Run/Cold Spring Preserve Fire

On May 15, 2022, a fire started near the border of Black Run and Rancocas Conservancy’s Cold Spring Preserve on the west side of Kettle Run Road. Fortunately, the fire was contained and extinguished quickly using backfires along Borton’s Mill Road and firelines ploughed into Cold Spring. Unfortunately, the firelines obliterated sections of our trails and exposed potentially dangerous roots. Although trails on the west side of Black Run reopened on May 22, we are not recommending use of trails in the adjoining section of Cold Spring at this time. After remediation, we will announce a reopening.

Cold Spring/Kettle Run Trailhead

Fireline

The Rancocas Conservancy Earns National Accreditation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Rob Hofstrom, Secretary Phone 609-234-3796; robhofstrom@yahoo.com

The Rancocas Conservancy Earns National Accreditation

Recognition for Strong Commitment to Public Trust and Conservation Excellence

Vincentown, NJ  March 1, 2022 - One thing that unites all people as a nation is land: Americans strongly support saving the open spaces they love. Since 1991, the Rancocas Conservancy has been doing just that throughout our beloved Rancocas Creek watershed. The Rancocas Conservancy announced it has achieved national recognition – joining a network of over 450 accredited land trusts across the nation that have demonstrated their commitment to professional excellence and a proven record of maintaining the public’s trust in their work.

“Accreditation demonstrates the Rancocas Conservancy’s commitment to permanent land conservation in Burlington County, New Jersey” said Steve Doughty, President of the Conservancy’s Board of Trustees.   “Without doubt, we are a stronger, more effective organization for having gone through the rigorous accreditation program. Moving forward, LTA accreditation improves our ability to carry out our mission to preserve, protect and enhance the ecological and cultural integrity of the Rancocas Creek watershed and its environs.” Rob Hofstrom, Trustee Secretary and principal architect of the accreditation effort, added “National recognition of our organization, its practices, and conformance with a rigorous set of professional and ethical standards reflects on the dedication and commitment of our Trustees.”

The Rancocas Conservancy provided extensive documentation and was subject to a comprehensive third-party evaluation prior to achieving this national distinction. The Land Trust Alliance’s Accreditation Commission (Commission) awarded its accreditation, signifying its confidence that the Rancocas Conservancy’s lands will be responsibly protected in perpetuity. “It is exciting to recognize The Rancocas Conservancy with this national mark of distinction,” said Melissa Kalvestrand, executive director of the Commission. “Donors and partners can trust that the more than 450 accredited land trusts across the country are united behind strong standards and have demonstrated sound finances, ethical conduct, responsible governance, and lasting stewardship.” Accredited land trusts steward almost 20 million acres of land across the U.S.  For comparison, the entire state of New Jersey is about 5 million acres. 

The Rancocas Conservancy maintains a growing portfolio of critical watershed lands, including eleven (11) nature preserves as well as other land holdings acquired and/or managed in partnership with other organizations. All told, the Conservancy has worked to ensure the preservation of nearly 3,000 acres of open space in the Rancocas Creek watershed.  “Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, the Conservancy’s efforts and successes have benefited from a large network of supporters, donors and partners”, noted Barbara Rich, co-founder and long-time Trustee of the Conservancy, “and we share this accomplishment with them. We welcome all to actively join us in our mission to protect these valuable watershed lands and connect with nature and open spaces at our preserves.”   

The Rancocas Conservancy is one of 1,363 land trusts across the United States according to the Land Trust Alliance’s most recent National Land Trust Census. A complete list of accredited land trusts and more information about the process and benefits can be found at www.landtrustaccreditation.org.

About the Rancocas Conservancy

The mission of the Rancocas Conservancy is to preserve, protect and enhance the ecological and cultural integrity of the Rancocas Creek watershed and its environs.  The Rancocas Conservancy recognized as the leading land trust in the watershed, responsible for the permanent preservation of nearly 3,000 acres of land.  To learn more please visit:  http://www.rancocasconservancy.org/

 About the Land Trust Accreditation Commission

The Land Trust Accreditation Commission inspires excellence, promotes public trust and ensures permanence in the conservation of open lands by recognizing organizations that meet rigorous quality standards and strive for continuous improvement. The Commission, established in 2006 as an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance, is governed by a volunteer board of diverse land conservation and nonprofit management experts. For more, visit www.landtrustaccreditation.org

 

Are you interested in volunteering for a good cause? The Rancocas Conservancy is seeking individuals to join its Board of Trustees.

The mission of the Rancocas Conservancy is to preserve, protect and enhance the ecological and cultural integrity of the Rancocas Creek watershed and its environs.

That mission is achieved through the dedication and efforts of the Conservancy, its members, and its Board of Trustees.  If you have a passion for the environment, the Rancocas Creek watershed, preserving open space throughout Burlington County, or land conservation generally, the Rancocas Conservancy is seeking interested individuals who can share their diverse and unique talents as a volunteer member of its Board of Trustees.

The Board of Trustees provides the strategic direction for the Rancocas Conservancy.   At the same time, the Trustees work with one other, conservancy partners, and its members to carry out its charge  – at Board meetings and in the field.  This volunteer working Board has historically benefited from the varied and combined talents of it members.   Trustees are expected to attend Rancocas Conservancy meetings about 9-10 times per year and to serve on committees, as needed. 

If the Conservancy sounds interesting and you have any level of experience related to water, watersheds, the environment, or land conservation, you are invited and encouraged to submit a letter of interest.   The Board would also benefit from any core experience or working knowledge with: information technology; GIS; social media; communications; web site development; fundraising; accounting; and finance.

Please submit a letter of interest and resume via mail or e-mail to Barbara Jones, Administrative Coordinator, Rancocas Conservancy, PO Box 2188, Vincentown, NJ 08088 or (rcconservancy@yahoo.com). Please submit your letter no later than February 25, 2022.

Volunteer help needed to Monitor Eastern Bluebird Nest Boxes.

Efforts to foster the recovery of Bluebirds across the nation have been tremendously successful, and that is especially true for the Eastern Bluebird in New Jersey! Bluebirds, however, are constantly at risk due to habitat loss, nest destruction, and predation by other bird species (e.g. European starling and house sparrow) as well as natural terrestrial predators such as snakes, raccoons, and feral cats.  

The Rancocas Conservancy recently has teamed with the New Jersey Bluebird Society to install nest boxes on a few of our preserves in the Rancocas watershed. Nest boxes, once established and occupied, require consistent monitoring to inspect eggs and chicks as well as a thorough cleaning after the chicks have fledged. It is CRITICAL but not HARD work.

We are seeking a few volunteers to assist with the monitoring of nest boxes recently installed on and around some of our preserves in the Medford/Marlton area. If you are interested in helping us with this important endeavor, please reach out to the Conservancy’s president, Steve Doughty, at sdoughty27@live.com. For more information on all things “Bluebird”, go to njbluebirdsociety.org or nabluebirdsociety.org.

PUBLIC NOTICE: The Rancocas Conservancy is pleased to announce it is applying for land trust accreditation. The public comment period is open until August 26, 2021.

The land trust accreditation program recognizes land conservation organizations that meet national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever. Rancocas Conservancy is pleased to announce it is applying for accreditation. A public comment period is now open.

The Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance, conducts an extensive review of each applicant’s policies and programs. The accreditation process has strengthened the policies of the Rancocas Conservancy, including stewardship, acquisition and financial, and has provided the organization with a solid foundation to preserve land in perpetuity.

The Commission invites public input and accepts signed, written comments on pending applications. Comments must relate to how Rancocas Conservancy complies with national quality standards. These standards address the ethical and technical operation of a land trust. Click here to download the full list of standards and practices.

To learn more about the accreditation program and to submit a comment, visit www.landtrustaccreditation.org, or email your comment to info@landtrustaccreditation.org. Comments may also be faxed or mailed to the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, Attn: Public Comments: (fax) 518-587-3183; (mail) 36 Phila Street, Suite 2, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.

Comments on Rancocas Conservancy’s application should be submitted by August 26, 2021.

 

Conservancy acquires 202 acres in Pemberton Township

The Rancocas Conservancy is pleased to announce that a long abandoned blueberry farm in Pemberton Township, Burlington County has been permanently preserved as open space. The new preserve will be named Bucks Cove Nature Preserve.

The 202-acre property is located between disconnected portions of the 33,647 acre Brendan T. Byrne State Forest, not far from Whitesbog Village. Importantly, the property contains extensive wetlands and the pristine water of Bucks Cove Run that feeds the North Branch of the Rancocas Creek. The Rancocas provides clean drinking water to millions of users in downstream communities which draw water from the Delaware River, notably Philadelphia, which has a major water intake just downstream of the mouth of the Rancocas.

Major financial assistance was provided by the Pinelands Commission, the Open Space Institute and the New Jersey Green Acres Program.

To See Press Release Click Here





Read about "The Forks of Rancocas Creek: A History" by Paul W. Schopp.

In January 2013, Burlington County Historian Joseph Laufer received a request from the Burlington County Division of Parks for information on the history of the portion of the Rancocas State Park located in Hainsport Township in the area traditionally known as the “Forks of the Rancocas” (or simply the “Forks”) which is formed by the confluence of the North and South Branches of the Rancocas Creek. Mr. Laufer enlisted the assistance of Paul W. Schopp to research the topic for the county. This report is the result of Mr. Schopp’s inquiry into the history of the Forks.

Download the Full Report Here


The Road Back to a Healthy Forest

The Rancocas Conservancy applauds the NJDEP Division of Parks and Forestry for their recently unveiled Motorized Access Plan (MAP) for Wharton State Forest.  It marks an impressive step forward in the management of our State lands:  protecting natural resources while offering ample opportunity for responsible off-road motoring.  With an easy-to-read map and corresponding signage in the field, the public can explore nearly 225 miles of sand roads with the confidence that they will not trample sensitive habitats or find themselves  in areas too dangerous for safe passage.    The MAP also makes the enforcement of the rules against illegal off-roading much easier which will hopefully turn the tide of the tremendous destruction that Wharton State Forest has suffered in recent years under the wheels of reckless drivers.  


As managers of public open space ourselves, the Conservancy is keenly aware of the challenges that come with park management especially when it comes to ensuring a proper balance of public access and protection of natural resources.   Our hope is that this plan not only succeeds in improving the management of Wharton State Forest, but that it becomes a model for the management of all State Parks, Forests and Wildlife Management Areas so that the legacy of our natural heritage can be enjoyed today and for generations to come.

http://www.nj.gov/dep/newsrel/2015/15_0065.htm

http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/maps/wsf_motorized_access_plan.pdf

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