There are different types of easements allowed within Washington
Township . Easements are a means for accessing someone's property
for purposes such as a public utility pipeline, township storm
sewer or a driveway for a land locked neighbor. Another type of
easement is for conservation which protects the habitats of plants
and animals.
A habitat is the natural home of a plant or animal and provides
the needs for survival. Some plants and animals can adapt to changes
in their habitat but for many, change means certain death. Once
their habitat disappears they may not find food that only grew
or existed under the conditions created by the habitat. Also shelter
or the necessary elements needed to reproduce and raise young
can disappear and thus prevent their completing the life cycle.
Washington Township is made up of many diverse habitats which
include:
Each of these habitats is unique and thus
creates the setting for unique inhabitants. Also, the interaction
of all these habitats contributes to the watershed and creates
a situation which enables other animals to exist.
One example is the wild trout fishery which exists in many
of our waters. Trout are sensitive to high water temperatures
and will perish once the water temperatures reach the mid 70
degree range. Our streams are tree lined, which shades the water,
and fed by limestone springs which provide a constant source
of cold water. Both of these factors enable trout to survive
in our streams while in other parts of New Jersey the fish has
disappeared.
Our quality stream conditions also promote the growth of aquatic
insects like Mayflies, Caddisflies and Stoneflies. All are an
important source of food for fish, birds, and mammals. These
animals in-turn become a food source for other animals like
Kingfishers, Herons, Osprey, Hawks, Owls, Falcons, and numerous
mammals, including Man.
Protection of these areas through the use of Conservation
Easements will help shoulder the load of protection where existing
environmental laws fall short. The continued urban expansion
in our area requires this action.
CONSERVATION EASEMENTS - CONTIGUOUS SPACE
Part of the Master Plan for Washington Township addresses
the contiguous space issue. The township's goals are to create
greenbelts or continuous natural areas which will allow protection
of species on a broader scale than is possible with existing
consOctober 5, 2007 with other areas, like wetlands or steep slopes, can help create
contiguous spaces.
The advantage of these areas:
- Species protection (a Wood turtle will roam more than
1 mile within its habitat).
- Protection of sizeable hardwood stands like oak, maple,
ash or beech trees which help fight air pollution.
- Protection of nesting sites for specific birds.
- Aesthetic aspects of wooded areas
- Natural sound barriers
CONSERVATION EASEMENTS - LOCATION
If you have a Conservation Easement, it should appear on your
plot plan and in your deed. If you do not have your plot plan,
you can check the town's master lot and block plan at the Municipal
Building . The easement will appear as a dotted line and is
marked as "Conservation Easement". Not all lots have
Conservation Easements.
CONSERVATION EASEMENTS - HOMEOWNER PROTECTION ISSUES
Conservation Easements are meant to protect the natural beauty
of our community. There are some guidelines to follow if you
have an easement.
- Restrict landscaping, altering or cutting of vegetation
except for minimal maintenance (The Environmental Commission
would be glad to review your maintenance plan).
- Filling of easements is restricted.
- Structures, temporary or permanent, are not allowed,
(example: fences, pools, or sheds).
- Restrict activities which can damage the fauna and flora.
- Do not use pesticides or herbicides within the conservation
area and consider limiting their uses on other parts of
the property.
- No dumping of toxic liquids, such as motor oil, or antifreeze
used for automobile maintenance.
Too often we use pesticides when they are not really needed and
in greater amounts than recommended. Are pesticides really necessary?
The following are a few alternative solutions you may want to try.
- To repel mosquitoes, plant sweet basil and to repel ants spread
cream of tartar, red chili powder, or boric acid. Cockroaches
and silverfish require a mixture of equal amounts baking soda
and powdered sugar.
- Safer's Insecticidal Soap can be used against aphids, Hemlock
Wooly Adelgid, mealy bugs, rose slugs, scales, etc. Other non
harmful pesticide controls are Safer's Natural Caterpillar Killer,
Dispel 2x, or Javelin Liquid B.T..
- Milky Spore is a natural bacteria that will not only kill
the grub phase of Japanese Beetles but will remain in the soil
for a few years. Safer's Sunspray (or dormant oil sprays) can
be used against red spiders, mites, mealy bugs and whitefly larvae.
- Here is a homemade spray that is quite useful. In a blender
liquefy 3 large onions, 1 whole garlic, and 2 tablespoons of
hot red pepper in one quart of water. Then stir in 1 tablespoon
of soap.
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Be aware of non-point source pollution. Non-point source is
as its name implies, you can not pinpoint the single source
of contamination but many sources which can come from different
areas. An example are lawn fertilizers and pesticides (including
herbicides), which can be washed away from the applied area
by a sudden storm and be deposited into a Conservation Easement
by the onrush of storm waters.
Too much fertilizer in a water course can cause excessive
algae growth. Ever notice the green slim which grows on the
surface of stagnant ponds? This is an algae bloom. The bloom
will stop light from entering the pond and thus kills bottom
growing water plants. When algae blooms die, their composition
uses up oxygen in the water. The lack of oxygen will suffocate
aquatic organisms within the pond, like fish, tadpoles and insects.
CONSERVATION EASEMENTS - MARKERS AND INSPECTIONS
Markers
will eventually be applied to all Conservation Easements.
The marker is a small sign approximately 3"x3" and will be attached
to existing trees or posts. At this time inspection of Conservation
Easements is not undertaken but a plan will be implemented in the
near future. Check with the Washington Township Environmental Commission
or the Washington Township Land Trust fJanuary 10, 2008
The Washington Township