Last night, at the Morris Township Municipal building, Great Swamp Watershed Association (GSWA) and Morris Township took title to a 58-acre parcel of land known as "Jockey Hollow Top VI." The $1.7 million purchase culminates an eight-year GSWA campaign to preserve this property.

The property lies on the western side of Route 202 in the southern part of Morris Township and development was originally proposed for this site. "Had development on the property been permitted by the Morris Township Planning Board," says Julia Somers, Executive Director of GSWA, "the increased stormwater runoff would have dramatically increased pollutant levels, downstream flooding, erosion, and siltation."

This steeply sloped property lies just above the headwaters of Great Brook, one of the five principal streams in the watershed. This landmark purchase was funded by a Green Acres Grant from the NJDEP and Morris Township’s Open Space Trust. Somers also said that this is one of the most critical land acquisitions to be made in the Great Swamp watershed. In addition to GSWA, other supporters of the purchase included the Ten Towns Great Swamp Watershed Management Committee, the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, the National Park Service, Harding Township, and the Morris Land Conservancy.

According to Somers, "This purchase has not only protected an environmentally valuable property, but also encourages the members of the Great Swamp Watershed Association that their work has value." She continues, "Though preservation of this tract was truly a team effort, we’ve been working on it for eight years. This is indeed a great day."

Great Swamp owes its survival to the remarkable efforts of the citizens of New Jersey, who continue to fight to protect this precious natural jewel. Celebrating its 20^th Anniversary as a non-profit organization, the Watershed Association relies solely on membership and contributions to protect the continued health of our watershed’s area. If you’re not already a member, become one today. For more information, call (973) 966-1900, or visit their website at www.greatswamp.org.

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Photo Caption (from left): Honorable Jan Wotowicz, Mayor of Morris Township,
Julia Somers, Executive Director of Great Swamp Watershed Association,
Bruce Nimenski, Attorney for Rolling Hills Development Corp. at the historic
Jockey Hollow closing.