Fichera Property Acquisition

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The 463-acre Fichera property sits on the northern reaches of the Mannington Meadow, one of the most important migratory waterfowl habitats on the entire Atlantic Flyway.  It is surrounded by tidal meadowlands on three sides.  Here, the Salem River flows south through the Pine Island meadow along the northern and western portions of the property, and continues into the Mannington Meadow in the southern portion of the property.  A mix of marshes and emergent wetlands, open water, forested wetlands and cultivated farmland, the Fichera property is comprised of approximately 249 acres of uplands and 214 acres or wetlands and tidelands.  It also features a nine-acre island in the Mannington Meadow.

While portions of the property are overrun with Phragmites, is is rich in natural resources.  Where there is regular tidal flooding, there are stands of wild rice, spartina and pickerelweed.  There is abundant wildlife including river otters, herons and other wading birds, gulls and waterfowl.  For many years and until recently, the property was the site of a productive bald eagle nest.  The property continues to serve as important foraging habitat for a number of bald eagles which inhabit the area.  The agricultural portions of the property are classified as critical grassland habitat under the State’s Landscape Project database.  Due to its importance as a stopover for tens of thousands of migratory birds, this area has been targeted by federal, State and non-profit agencies as a conservation priority.  The Fichera property is contiguous with NJDEP-owned land managed as the Salem River Wildlife Management Area. 

Agriculturally, the property has 138 acres of Prime Soils, 40 acres of Soils of Statewide Importance, and 116 acres of Unique soils.  At present, Mr. Fichera cultivates about 160 acres of the property in vegetables, including peppers and eggplant.  The property lies within the Salem County Agricultural Development Area, as designated in the County Farmland Preservation Plan. 

The Fichera property is a perfect example how closely natural resources and agriculture are linked in Salem County.  NJCF is committed to preserving the vast majority of the cultivated land through farmland preservation funding and will grant lifetime farming rights to Mr. Fichera.

NJCF is seeking $453,000 for this project.