Home > Our Reserve > Stewardship

"We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors,
we borrow it from our children."
- Native American Proverb

The Association believes that the manner in which land is managed and cared for is equally as important as the preservation of the land itself. We strive to manage our 860-acre reserve in a manner that represents our respect, awe, and passion for the land, it habitats, and inhabitants.

Management Lands and Green Acres
Beginning with Muriel Gardiner Buttinger’s original bequest of 525 acres, the Association embarked on an effort to preserve and manage its lands for education, enjoyment and research. Over the past 20 years the Association has expanded stewardship efforts by adding lands to the Reserve through conservation easements, using grants obtained from the NJ Green Acres Program to purchase land. The Association also pools its Green Acres funds in partnership with other organizations and municipalities to purchase open space in the area. Additionally, the Association has assumed management responsibilities for adjacent lands owned by Mercer County. As a result, today’s 860-acre Watershed Reserve is characterized by a number of land management arrangements.

Wildlife and Habitat Management
The Association has implemented a number of continuing wildlife and habitat management programs on the reserve. We provide nesting boxes throughout the reserve to encourage cavity-nesting birds such as Bluebirds, Purple Martins and Wood Ducks. We also stem the loss of habitat diversity by keeping the white-tail deer population in check through our deer management program, and by protecting two vernal pools. We also encourage ecological educational opportunities by managing several fields by mowing them in alternate years, and by establishing a series of four successional fields that will illustrate two-year growth increments. We are restoring habitat for grassland-nesting birds and other wildlife by establishing native grasslands using native warm season grasses on 44 acres of existing fields.

Sustainability and “Green” Building Efforts
The Association strives to manage its buildings and structures in a sustainable manner. In the Fall of 2004 photovoltaic panels were installed on the roof of the Nature Center. The installation of these panels will offset half of the energy used in the center. Research is underway to identify and implement other energy-saving strategies. For the interior of our buildings we use only low VOC (volatile organic carbons) paint. The Association has fit three of its largest buildings with rain barrels to collect, reserve, and recycle rain water for watering our gardens and plants. Composting and re-cycling are also part of our daily routine. A number of our boardwalks and a bridge on the reserve are made of 100% post-consumer re-cycled plastic. You guess which ones?

Wildflower and Planting Efforts
The Walter Gips Memorial Garden was installed in the fall of 2004, which uses a variety of native plants and wildflowers. The Reserve’s three-and-a-half-acre arboretum contains a variety of native and ornamental trees, many of which are donated by local nurseries and garden centers. The Wildflower Trail offers a short walk through the seasonal sweet scents and bright colors of native wildflowers. The Kate Gorrie Memorial Butterfly House paths also provide a spectacular display of colorful wildflowers upon which butterflies are often seen feeding.

River Friendly Programs
The Association strives to lead by example and embrace good land stewardship practices on our reserve. We have completed the River Friendly Business Certification Program and received the Certification Award after rigorous review by an independent technical review committee.  We will soon have details on the website about the goals we accomplished to be certified.