Capoolong Creek Easement - Riley

Laura and Bill Riley loved wildlife. So much so that, after the death of his wife, Bill contacted preservation experts at the Hunterdon Land Trust Alliance to discuss methods to protect the wildlife on their property. Mr. Riley was committed to ensuring that the habitat and wildlife values of his 40-acre property be permanently protected. The land trust suggested that Mr. Riley consider a conservation easement on his land that would prohibit future development and subdivision of his land, and prohibit certain land use practices, such as forest clear cutting that could threaten the wildlife habitat on the property. After working with land trust staff to craft an easement that met his goals, and documenting the conservation values of the properties, Mr. Riley donated a conservation easement on his property to the Hunterdon Land Trust Alliance.

The deed of conservation easement on Mr. Riley's property assures that the open space character, forested qualities, rural character, natural resources values, wildlife habitat and scenic qualities will be conserved and maintained forever. Uses of the property that are inconsistent with these conservation values will be prevented or corrected. By donating the easement to the land trust, a qualified conservation organization under the IRS regulations, Mr. Riley can take advantage of a charitable income tax deduction.

As holder of the conservation easement, the land trust is obligated to ensure that the easement is abided by current and future landowners. The land trust makes yearly visits to all of its easement-protected properties, in keeping with this obligation.

The protected parcel is in the watershed of the South Branch of the Raritan River, a state designated Category I waterway. A tributary to the Capoolong Creek, a state designated Category I stream, flows along the easterly boundary of the property site. The property contains several different types of habitats, including old fields, second-growth woodlands, wetlands, and a small stand of mature firs. Mr. Riley use wildlife management practices, including limited mowing of fields, creation of a pond and placement of bird boxes, to attract birds to the property. The variation of habitats on the property hosts a wide diversity of both breeding and migrating bird species. A fir stand is a potential site for breeding Great-horned or Long-eared owls and the pond attracts resident and migrating water fowl.

Mr. Riley has created a legacy of conservation, his generosity will protect species diversity and water quality in Alexandria Township for generations to come.