Robert J. Stahl Natural Area Update Environmental Commission Open Space-Farmland Preservation Committee March 24, 2008

Robert J. Stahl Natural Area Purchased through the NJ Green Acres Program Includes approx. 148 mainly grassland acres Surrounded by approx. 370 mainly forested acres, also preserved, which connect the 29 active recreation acres of River Road Park and the 11 active recreation acres of Burnt Mills Road Park

Purchased through the NJ Green Acres Program

Includes approx. 148 mainly grassland acres

Surrounded by approx. 370 mainly forested acres, also preserved, which connect the 29 active recreation acres of River Road Park and the 11 active recreation acres of Burnt Mills Road Park

Stahl’s NJ Audubon Society Status in 2008 NJAS has designated the Robert J. Stahl Natural Area as having the potential to become an Important Bird Area (IBA). Important Bird Areas (IBAs) are sites that provide essential habitat for one or more species of birds and that make a contribution to the long-term viability of native avian populations in New Jersey. Nearby IBAs include the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge (7,600 acres), Duke Farms (2,733 acres) and Round Valley Recreation Area (3,684 acres) NJ Audubon Society’s Important Bird Areas Site Guide http://www.njaudubon.org/Tools2.Net/Ibba/SiteListing.aspx

NJAS has designated the Robert J. Stahl Natural Area as having the potential to become an Important Bird Area (IBA).

Important Bird Areas (IBAs) are sites that provide essential habitat for one or more species of birds and that make a contribution to the long-term viability of native avian populations in New Jersey.

Nearby IBAs include the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge (7,600 acres), Duke Farms (2,733 acres) and Round Valley Recreation Area (3,684 acres)

Species of Conservation Concern in New Jersey Observed in Stahl KEY: BR - Breeding population only; NB - non-breeding population only Source: NJ Department of Environmental Protection Native Plants of NJ FLORA Eastern Box Turtle Wood Turtle REPTILE / AMPHIBIAN Brook Trout FISH Great Blue Heron (BR) Green Heron Grasshopper Sparrow (NB) Field Sparrow American Kestrel (BR) Veery (BR) Eastern Meadowlark (BR) Baltimore Oriole Black-billed Cuckoo Brown Thrasher Eastern Kingbird Gray Catbird Northern Flicker Prairie Warbler Rose-breasted Grosbeak Willow Flycatcher Cooper’s Hawk Red-shouldered Hawk (NB) Bobolink (BR) Grasshopper Sparrow (BR) Savannah Sparrow (BR) Vesper Sparrow (NB) Red-shouldered Hawk (BR) Vesper Sparrow (BR) BIRD / MAMMAL SPECIAL CONCERN THREATENED ENDANGERED SPECIES

Native Plants of NJ

Eastern Box Turtle

Wood Turtle

Brook Trout

Great Blue Heron (BR)

Green Heron

Grasshopper Sparrow (NB)

Field Sparrow

American Kestrel (BR)

Veery (BR)

Eastern Meadowlark (BR)

Baltimore Oriole

Black-billed Cuckoo

Brown Thrasher

Eastern Kingbird

Gray Catbird

Northern Flicker

Prairie Warbler

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Willow Flycatcher

Cooper’s Hawk

Red-shouldered Hawk (NB)

Bobolink (BR)

Grasshopper Sparrow (BR)

Savannah Sparrow (BR)

Vesper Sparrow (NB)

Red-shouldered Hawk (BR)

Vesper Sparrow (BR)

Invasive Species in New Jersey Observed in Stahl Source: Native Plant Society of New Jersey, New England Wild Flower Society & Department of Environmental Protection In the Executive Summary of the National Invasive Species Management Plan (NISMP) the term invasive species is further clarified and defined as “a species that is non-native to the ecosystem under consideration and whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health.” http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/docs/council/isacdef.pdf Gypsy Moth White Tailed Deer European Starling FAUNA Black Locust Wineberry Oriental Bittersweet Japanese Barberry Autumn Olive Japanese Honeysuckle Tartarian honeysuckle Multiflora Rose VINE / WOODY PLANT Bugleweed Chickory Crown Vetch Red Clover White Clover Orchard Grass Crab Grass Barnyard Grass Japanese Stilt Grass Common Reed PLANT CATEGORY 2: Invasive But Not As Widespread (Yet) CATEGORY 1: Strongly Invasive and Widespread TYPE

Gypsy Moth

White Tailed Deer

European Starling

Black Locust

Wineberry

Oriental Bittersweet

Japanese Barberry

Autumn Olive

Japanese Honeysuckle

Tartarian honeysuckle

Multiflora Rose

Bugleweed

Chickory

Crown Vetch

Red Clover

White Clover

Orchard Grass

Crab Grass

Barnyard Grass

Japanese Stilt Grass

Common Reed

Native Grass & Wildflower Mixes Appropriate for Grassland Habitat in Stahl Source: “Suggested Seeding Mixes,” Franklin Township WHIP Sites The Bedminster Twp. Environmental Commission submitted a Garden Club of Somerset Hills Community Grant Application on Feb.29.08. If accepted, it would supply the Twp. with a maximum of $1,000 to put towards the purchase of seed. The status of the Twp. application is pending. Little Bluestem, Schizachyrium scoparium Sideoats Grama, Bouteloua curtipendula Indiangrass, Sorghastrum nutans Black-eyed Susan, Rudbeckia hirta Purple Coneflower, Echinacea purpurea Big Bluestem, Andropogan girardii Indiangrass, Sorghastrum nutans Virginia Wildrye, Elymus virginicus Deertounge, Dichanthelium clandestinum Purple Coneflower, Echinacea purpurea Common Sneezeweed, Helienium autumnale Joe Pye Weed, Eupatorium maculatum Blue Vervain, Verbena hastata Heath Aster, Aster pilosus Purple Coneflower, Echinacea purpurea Black-eyed Susan, Rudbeckia hirta Wild Bergamot, Monarda fistulosa Butterflyweed, Asclepias tuberosa Common Milkweed, Asclepias syriaca Spiked Gayfeather, Liatris spicata Oxeye Sunflower, Heliopsis helianthoides Wild Blue Lupine, Lupinus perennis Partridge Pea, Cassia fasciculate Canada Wildrye, Elymus canadensis Little Bluestem, Schizachyrium scoparium Mix C: Native Grass / Wildflower Mix upland areas Mix B: Native Grass / Wildflower Mix lowland areas Mix A: Native Wildflower / Grass Mix

Little Bluestem, Schizachyrium scoparium

Sideoats Grama, Bouteloua curtipendula

Indiangrass, Sorghastrum nutans

Black-eyed Susan, Rudbeckia hirta

Purple Coneflower, Echinacea purpurea

Big Bluestem, Andropogan girardii

Indiangrass, Sorghastrum nutans

Virginia Wildrye, Elymus virginicus

Deertounge, Dichanthelium clandestinum

Purple Coneflower, Echinacea purpurea

Common Sneezeweed, Helienium autumnale

Joe Pye Weed, Eupatorium maculatum

Blue Vervain, Verbena hastata

Heath Aster, Aster pilosus

Purple Coneflower, Echinacea purpurea

Black-eyed Susan, Rudbeckia hirta

Wild Bergamot, Monarda fistulosa

Butterflyweed, Asclepias tuberosa

Common Milkweed, Asclepias syriaca

Spiked Gayfeather, Liatris spicata

Oxeye Sunflower, Heliopsis helianthoides

Wild Blue Lupine, Lupinus perennis

Partridge Pea, Cassia fasciculate

Canada Wildrye, Elymus canadensis

Little Bluestem, Schizachyrium scoparium

Nature Trails Equestrian/Hiking Trails Appropriate for Stahl The Bedminster Twp. Open Space-Farmland Preservation Committee submitted a Recreational Trails Program Grant Application on Dec.15.07. If accepted, it would supply the Twp. with $18,000 (+25% local match) to put towards signage and trail improvements. The status of the Twp. application is pending.

2008 Spring Goals Seeded with native grasses & wildflowers Hedge cleared except mature specimens Equestrian & hiking nature trails marked Trailheads / kiosks with signage added Not Shown: Bluebird, wood duck, kestrel & bat boxes cleaned Education program started with schoolkids Scouts asked to help with trail clearing (south) Fall Fest Nature Hike in partnership with NJCF Work with NRCS for new WHIP contract We need volunteers!!! Map is approximate & not shown to scale

Seeded with native grasses & wildflowers

Hedge cleared except mature specimens

Equestrian & hiking nature trails marked

Trailheads / kiosks with signage added

Not Shown:

Bluebird, wood duck, kestrel & bat boxes cleaned

Education program started with schoolkids

Scouts asked to help with trail clearing (south)

Fall Fest Nature Hike in partnership with NJCF

Work with NRCS for new WHIP contract

We need volunteers!!!

Sources NJDEP, Division of Fish and Wildlife. “ NJ Wildlife Action Plan for Wildlife of Greatest Conservation Need ,” revised January 2008. NJ Audubon Society. “ NJ Important Bird Areas Site Guide ,” January 2008. Dunne, T. “ Field Trip Report ,” USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, December 2007. NJ Highlands Council. “ Highlands Regional Master Plan ,” November 2007. NJ Audubon Society. “ NJ Birds ,” Volume XXXII, Number 3, Summer 2007. Sustainable Forestry Technical Advisory Committee. “ Report to the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council ,” March 2006. NJDEP, Division of Parks and Forestry. “ List of Endangered Plant Species and Plant Species of Concern ,” June 2005. Ling, H. “ Invasive Plant Species ,” Native Plant Society of New Jersey, January 2003. Brook, M. and Greene, A. “ Management Plan for the Robert J. Stahl Natural Area ,” May 1997.

NJDEP, Division of Fish and Wildlife. “ NJ Wildlife Action Plan for Wildlife of Greatest Conservation Need ,” revised January 2008.

NJ Audubon Society. “ NJ Important Bird Areas Site Guide ,” January 2008.

Dunne, T. “ Field Trip Report ,” USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, December 2007.

NJ Highlands Council. “ Highlands Regional Master Plan ,” November 2007.

NJ Audubon Society. “ NJ Birds ,” Volume XXXII, Number 3, Summer 2007.

Sustainable Forestry Technical Advisory Committee. “ Report to the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council ,” March 2006.

NJDEP, Division of Parks and Forestry. “ List of Endangered Plant Species and Plant Species of Concern ,” June 2005.

Ling, H. “ Invasive Plant Species ,” Native Plant Society of New Jersey, January 2003.

Brook, M. and Greene, A. “ Management Plan for the Robert J. Stahl Natural Area ,” May 1997.