60 Acres Near Lake Louise Protected (NJ)

Howell, NJ, October 5, 2004: The Trust for Public Land and the Township of Howell announced today the protection of 60 acres, including the 12-acre Lake Louise. The land, which also includes forest and wetlands, was the town’s number one priority for preservation. The purchase of the property will protect water quality, prevent the development of up to 12 homes, and maintain the area’s rural nature. The township will maintain the property in its natural state.

Lake Louise is a gem deserving of protection. This newly protected land is part of the rural landscape of this area and it is wonderful to know that residents will now be able to visit and enjoy it,” said Kathy Haake, project manager for the Trust for Public Land.

Lake Louise is on Polypod Brook, a tributary of the Metedeconk River, an important drinking water supply in the area. The Metedeconk watershed, a subwatershed of the Barnegat Bay watershed, was the subject of a 2003 TPL study funded by a grant from the EPA. The new public land complements the township’s nearby Echo Lake Park, also on Polypod Brook. The hope is to ultimately create a greenway linking the properties.

Funds for the $1 million purchase were provided by the Howell Township Open Space Fund, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Green Acres Program and The William Penn Foundation.

“We are delighted with this acquisition,” said Township Manager Bruce Davis. “The Trust for Public Land has been invaluable in assisting the Township of Howell in the acquisition of this most beautiful piece of property. It is now permanently part of the township’s open space inventory. We look forward to working with TPL on additional projects in the near future.”

Residents of Howell will now be able to visit Lake Louise and enjoy its beauty. Photo by: John Rae

“The preservation of Lake Louise reflects the state of New Jersey’s commitment to save our water resources and complements Governor McGreevey’s efforts to protect the Metedeconk through Category One designation,” said DEP Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell. “Lake Louise is a critical component of Howell’s plans to create a greenway that extends to Echo Lake Park.”

The Trust for Public Land is a national nonprofit land conservation organization that conserves land for people to enjoy as parks, gardens, and other natural places, ensuring livable communities for generations to come. Since its founding in 1972, TPL has protected more than 1.9 million acres of land. With a state office in Morristown, TPL has protected more than 20,000 acres in New Jersey, including 9,800 acres in the Barnegat Bay watershed. TPL’s Barnegat Bay Initiative is a long-term protection strategy for the bay, including public education, scientific research, land planning and acquisition of critical properties. TPL’s scientific framework for prioritizing sites for protection grew from The Century Plan, published in 1995 and its sequel, Beyond the Century Plan (1997).