Recently, numerous TU volunteers from many NJ chapters came together to plant native trees and shrubs at the Cliffdale Inn along the banks of the Musconetcong River in support of the Musconetcong Home Rivers Initiative. We also added an angler trail for better access upstream through the thick forest. This property, open to the public for fishing on a catch and release basis as well as to kayaks and canoes, was preserved last year by our principle land trust partners, Heritage Conservancy. Members from the Conservancy were also on hand to lend a hand with the plantings. Funding for this riparian project came from the North Jersey Resource Conservation & Development office in Clinton, NJ. This property is not only river-front, but has an unnamed coldwater tributary which aids in cooling the main river down and provides a thermal refuge to native brook trout during warm summer months. Cages were added to thwart beaver and deer predation. Many thanks to the North Jersey RC&D for loan of their trailer full of tools necessary for the job as well as to Heritage Conservancy for the free pizza and beverages! Like any project, it helps to have great partners!!!
In the near future, TU hopes to oversee a river restoration of this stretch of river using the bedload manipulation techniques of Joseph Urbani & Associates out of Bozeman, MT and funded in large part by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
