Donations to save Noe Pond now benefit efforts to save Drew Forest
Madison residents Marijane Lundt, left, and Kate Bartley, right, of the Friends of the Drew Forest grassroots advocacy campaign receive a check from Sally Rubin of Tewksbury Township, the executive director of the Great Swamp Watershed Association, center.
Photo by Lynne Applebaum
Some $13,000 left over from the effort to preserve Noe Pond in Chatham Township has been directed by the Great Swamp Watershed Association (GSWA) to the Save the Drew Forest effort in Madison.
“Nearly $13,000 remained of the funds raised through the efforts of Save Noe Pond and GSWA. We decided to put those resources to good use,” said Rich Rein, one of the liaisons of Save Noe Pond.
The GSWA saw a natural connection with Save Noe Pond, a group dedicated to protecting the historic Noe Pond property from over-development that would bring substantial harm to the delicate wetlands and wildlife on and around the property, including the land adjacent to the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, GSWA Executive Director Sally Rubin said.
After participating in the Noe Pond preservation effort, GSWA was gratified the property was purchased back from the developer, thereby securing the preservation of the Noe Pond area, Rubin added.
As Friends of the Drew Forest found the forest preserve on the Drew University campus at risk of being rezoned and sold to a real estate developer to convert into housing units, the similarity of their circumstances to the Noe Pond scenario was obvious to the GSWA, Rubin explained.
As a result, GSWA is pitching in to help support this cause as well.
“In fact, we were able to leverage one situation to address the pressing needs of another: to help save Drew Forest,” Rubin said.
Lydia Chambers of Harding Township, one of the founders of Friends of the Drew Forest, said, “It is our mission to ensure that Drew Forest be permanently protected and sustained as open space through a conservation sale at fair market value.
“This would preserve 53 intact acres of mature forest and glacial ponds, including the 22 acres of public trails, critical aquifer recharge for 31 municipalities, impossible-to-replicate carbon sequestration, and unique regional opportunities for education.
“To accomplish this, we launched a 501©(3) nonprofit organization driven by environmental leaders from Madison and neighboring towns along with dedicated community volunteers and Drew University alumni.”
While the challenge to Noe Pond was ultimately addressed, Friends of the Drew Forest are still in the process of working to achieve a successful conclusion, officials said
With the ongoing help of the GSWA and more than 15 other municipalities, government agencies and organizations bolstering their case, there is a sense of optimism that Friends of the Drew Forest will prevail, according to GSWA officials.
“This is a terrific example of a win-win situation that was a success for all of us,” Rubin said. “We are proud to play an important leadership role in land preservation in New Jersey.”
For more information about the Great Swamp Watershed Association, visit GreatSwamp.org.