Emerson
Woods
Project
 |
 |
Applicant:
Borough
of
Emerson
Trust
Fund
Award
(1999):
$2,930,000
Total
Acquisition
Cost:
$
7.8
million |
In
the
1999
funding
round
of
the
Bergen
County
Open
Space,
Recreation,
Farmland
and
Historic
Preservation
Trust
Fund,
the
Borough
of
Emerson
received
an
award
of
$2,930,000
to
help
acquire
19.38
acres
of
wooded,
watershed
forest.
The
parcel
is
home
to
rare
and
historic
plant
life
and
provides
woodlands
for
several
endangered
birds,
including
the
bald
eagle,
as
well
as
an
important
“stopover”
for
thousands
of
migratory
birds,
including
the
rare
canvasback
duck.
The
New
Jersey
Audubon
Society
considers
the
parcel
a
critical
habitat
for
various
species
of
birds
including
herons
and
hawks.
The
property
was
under
development
pressure
and
was
slated
for
a
111-unit
town-house
development.
The
parcel
is
part
of
an
integral
watershed
management
system.
It
includes
extensive
wetlands
and
protects
the
reservoirs
and
ultimately
the
Hackensack
River
with
supplies
most
of
Bergen
County’s
drinking
water.
