The Wattles Stewardship Center is a 51 acre wildlife sanctuary and is also the location of New Jersey Audubon’s northern Stewardship Program Staff.  Acquisition of the property was made possible by Gurdon Wattles, who donated the house and barn, and through NJ Green Acres funding. 

There is a State Wildlife Management Area, bordering the property to the southeast and preserved farmland bordering to the northwest.  A trail from the Wattles Center parking lot leads visitors to the Musconetcong River and will ultimately connect to Point Mountain Road and the Hunterdon County’s Point Mountain Park. 

I mentioned the Musconetcong River keeping in mind this section of the river is nationally recognized, as a Wild & Scenic Partner River, along with the fact that the entire River is recognized as a National Water Trail, from Lake Hopatcong down to the Delaware River – **The only National Water Trail in New Jersey!!**

New Jersey Audubon is working to make the Wattles Stewardship Center a model for blending environmental awareness, wildlife habitat and agriculture.  As such, this site has both agricultural fields and land dedicated to wildlife habitat.  Two of the Wattles fields are managed by a local farmer for commodity crop production such as corn, sunflower seeds and soybeans.  Other portions of the property serve as critical wildlife habitat that also provides important natural resource benefits to the region and to the on-site farming activities.

The Audubon Society is also working with several groups, including USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA), and the US  Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), on a number of on-site conservation-related projects.  These include native grassland establishment, native scrub-shrub enhancement, pollinator habitat improvement, invasive vegetation removal and control, and a vernal pool and riparian restoration.  These projects are being funded through enrollment of the land in the following conservation cost-share programs:  State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE), Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP), Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), the Partners for Fish & Wildlife Program (PFW), and the Forest Stewardship Program (FSP)

***NOTE:  I know I have thrown a lot of names of various organizations at you!!  First things first!!  THERE IS NO TEST!!!  I just want to give credit where credit is due!!  The important thing for you to remember concerning all those names, IS, they are ALL, partnering, PARTNERING, to protect, improve and promote environmental awareness, wildlife habitat and agriculture, different various goals, which may be achieved for all, (ALL THE WHILE) not being accomplished at the other goals peril!!  Do things the right way = Everything improves!!***

SPRINGTIME, visitors will enjoy walking the grassland trail, with an opportunity to observe Eastern Bluebirds in their busy breeding season.  With luck, many other bird species can be observed along with reptiles, amphibians and several large mammals:  coyote, bear, river otters, foxes and bobcat!!  Near the visitor parking area is a vernal pool that was converted from an old swimming pool.  During the Spring and Summer months it is home to salamanders, frogs, and toads, along with more butterflies than you can count, sipping nectar from the flowers growing around the perimeter!  A short walk from the parking lot on the north side of the barn are two Chimney Swift towers.  These are large columns that look like chimneys providing the nesting structure that the Swift’s use.  During the warm season you can see these small chattering birds, sometimes referred to as flying cigars, swooping overhead feeding on insects.

The trail network at the Stewardship Center winds through a variety of habitat types and farm fields providing an opportunity to see a diversity of wildlife and land stewardship practices.  Visitors wishing to access the trail system of nearby Point Mountain Reservation, a Hunterdon County Park, can park at the Stewardship Center and hike through the adjacent Wildlife Management Area along the scenic Musconetcong River to Point Mountain Road.  There is also access to the Musconetcong River that offers an opportunity for wildlife viewing and river access.

This sanctuary is open sunrise to sunset, 7 days a week for passive recreation.  A lower parking lot is available for visitors where there is also a kiosk with more details on the trails and property.

DIRECTIONS:  The Wattles Stewardship Center is located at 1024 Anderson Road, Port Murray, NJ  Driving north on Route 31 from Clinton travel approximately 7.8 miles and turn right at the light onto Asbury Anderson Road.  Continuing approximately 4 miles to 1024 Anderson Road where the driveway is on the right and marked by a small brown sign labeled New Jersey Audubon.  Travel past the driveway will bring you to Route 57 and from there on to Hackettstown.   

NEW JERSEY AUDUBON

“New Jersey Audubon fosters environmental Awareness as a conservation ethic among New Jersey’s citizens; protects New Jersey’s birds, mammals, other animals, and plants, especially endangered and threatened species; and promotes preservation of New Jersey’s valuable natural habitats.”

THANK YOU!!  New Jersey Audubon – Keep up the great work!!

Please visit my Flickr Site for more photos of this site – https://www.flickr.com/photos/charliefineran/albums/72177720298360014

Enjoy Your Open Space   

Charlie Fineran   

Director Open Space   

Allamuchy Township Environmental Commission –  Chairman   

Allamuchy Historical Society – President