Name of Project: |
Cheryl and Robert Russell Land Acquisition Project |
Geographic Fund: |
Delaware Bayshore |
Location of Project: |
Cape May Courthouse, Cape May County, NJ |
Watershed Management Area: |
WMA #16 Cape May
|
Type of Project: |
Land Acquisition for Conservation Purposes |
Size: |
31 Acres |
| Nonprofit Organization: |
US Fish and Wildlife Service, Cape May National Wildlife Refuge |
Status: |
Property is under contract with a closing required by January 30, 2009. |
Total Project Cost: |
$1,012,000 |
Funds Raised: |
$0 |
|
Funds Needed: |
$1,012,000 |
|
Leverage: |
See Funds Needed, below |
| PROJECT SIGNIFICANCE |
|
The Russell property is located within the Bidwell Creek watershed, a tidal creek flowing from the Delaware Bay. Cape May County has identified the Bidwell Creek drainage basin as one of the most important aquifer recharge sites in the County. Because of its importance to birds, the Cape May peninsula is recognized as a Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Site of Hemispheric Importance, a Wetland of International Importance under The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance--otherwise known as the Ramsar Convention, and a globally significant Important Bird Area (National Audubon and American Bird Conservancy).
The Russell property lies within the approved acquisition boundary of the Cape May National Wildlife Refuge. Its vegetation is characterized by forested uplands and forested wetlands along Bidwell Creek. The wetlands are also the locus of a significant population of swamp pink (Helonias bullata), a federally threatened plant.
Species of concern using these habitats include the bald eagle, northern harrier, osprey, barred owl, wood thrush, scarlet tanager, worm-eating warbler, Acadian flycatcher, and diamondback terrapin.
|
| PROJECT DESCRIPTION |
The Russell project is currently under contract with a mandatory closing date of January 30, 2009. It is the Refuge’s top land acquisition priority for 2009. The Russell lands abut the 437 acre Braddock Realty, LP tract to the west, being acquired in 2008 through a partnership of The Conservation Fund, The Fish and Wildlife Service (using funds from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, The Migratory Bird Conservation Fund, the North American Wetlands Conservation Act and a seller donation), the County of Cape May, the State of New Jersey Green Acres Program and the New Jersey Wetlands Mitigation Council.
|
| FUNDS NEEDED |
| The US Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking $1,012,000 for this project. The successful completion of the Russell acquisition will complement the adjacent 437 acre Braddock Realty purchase, valued at $6,891,000 and further leverage its conservation dollars. |
|
|
