Historical Projects
Liberty Township, Warren County, NJ - Proclamation
WHEREAS, Philip and Lorna Wooldridge came to Liberty Township, Warren County from England; and
WHEREAS, Philip and Lorna Wooldridge have announced their intention to return to England; and
WHEREAS, Philip and Lorna Wooldridge became active residents of the Township of Liberty, Warren County; and
WHEREAS, Philip Wooldridge, Chairperson of the Liberty Township Environmental Commission, and Lorna Wooldridge, Member of the Liberty Township Environmental Commission, have announced their retirement from the Liberty Township Environmental Commission due to relocation; and,
WHEREAS, Philip and Lorna Wooldridge upon the occasion of their retirement from the Liberty Township Environmental Commission, from an outstanding tenure of municipal service, during which they have demonstrated an exemplary measure of public-spiritedness and for which they have earned the deepest respect and admiration of many; and
WHEREAS, Philip Wooldridge has served on the Environmental Commission for many years and during that tenure also served Liberty Township as the Environmental Commission Chairperson; and,
WHEREAS, Lorna Wooldridge has served on the Environmental Commission as a member for several years; and,
WHEREAS, Phil and Lorna Wooldridge have contributed to the community in multiple projects.
BE IT RESOLVED, I John E. Inscho, Mayor of Liberty Township, on behalf of the residents of Liberty Township applaud and appreciate Phil and Lorna Wooldridge for their outstanding service to our community and extend our best wishes for their continued success in England.
Liberty Twp. Recycling Challenge
Got plastic?
The Environmental Commission continues to partner in the TREX Recycling Challenge. For every 500 lbs. of clean plastic collected and sorted, our community is eligible for a free TREX bench.
Native Meadow Garden coming to Mt. Lake
The Liberty Twp. Environmental Commission is thrilled to announce it received a grant award from ANJEC through their Open Space Stewardship Grant Program to create a native meadow garden at Mountain Lake. At the heart of Liberty Township is Mountain Lake; Warren County’s largest, natural glacial lake and an Audubon designated Important Bird and Birding Area.
Through the ANJEC grant, the Environmental Commission will design and plant a 400 square foot wildflower and grass meadow near the pavilion at Mt. Lake to support our wildlife. Once complete, the garden will serve as a self-guided tour of native plants, their beneficiaries and why they are so important in our community.
Check out photos below or view photo album on Flickr:
Spotted Lanternfly
The Spotted lanternfly, initially found in Berks County Pennsylvania in 2014, was discovered in the New Jersey environment in July 2018 in Warren County. Following this discovery, it was also found in Mercer and Hunterdon counties. A Quarantine was initiated to slow the movement and control the further spread of this insect throughout the state. The Department and USDA field crews are out conducting surveys, assessing properties and conducting treatments against this invasive exotic insect in the Quarantine zone. As a result of surveys conducted by state and federal crews the Department is proposing to expand the Quarantine to include Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Salem and Somerset Counties beginning in August of 2019. Even though entire counties are identified in the Quarantine, the insect does not infest the entire county. This insect does not pose a direct threat to humans or animals but feeds on over 70 trees and plants and can cause significant damage to all sectors of the state’s agricultural industry and the forested environment as well.
- Alert Spotted Lanternfly
- Clean Subchapter 20
- NJ Residence Checklist
- NJ SLF Checklist Spanish
- Quarantine Plain Language for General Audience
- SLF Industry
- SLF Spanish Pest Alert
Moth Night Recap
Moth Night at Mountain Lake was a community success! The Liberty Township Environmental Commission would like to thank the more than 60 folks that came out that evening, as well as the following partners:
- The NJ Natural Lands Trust and Martin Rapp
- Blaine Rothaauser, our incredible presenter and Lepidopterist
- Jill Dodds and Ann-Marie Woods, for your help in moth identification and sharing your photos
- Mt. Lake Fire Company, for use of your Lakeview Room and outdoor space
Please check out photos of some of the moths that made an appearance that evening.
Photos by Ann-Marie Woods.
Euparthenos nubilis - Locust Underwing
Oreta rosea - Rose Hooktip
Homophoberia cristata - Waterlily Owlet
Callydapteryx dryopterata - Brown Scoopwing
Scopula limboundata - Large Lace-border
Parapoynx maculalis - Polymorphic Pondweed Moth
Mountain Lake Stewardship Education Project 2015
In April 2015, the Liberty Environmental Commission (LTEC) received a grant from the Association of NJ Environmental Commissions (ANJEC) to enhance public education regarding the Mountain Lake watershed! The grant will be used to build and install 4 signs around the lake, each sign providing detailed information about the watershed, the wildlife, habitat and all of the major environmental work that has been done over the years to enhance and conserve this beautiful space!
Join us on October 24th for a nature walk around the lake to see the new signs and discover the beauty & uniqueness of Mountain Lake! The walk will kick off in the picnic area by the Lodge (east side of the lake) @ 1pm and the event will end around 3pm. Bring your bike or walk. Bring your friends and family! There will be a trivia scavenger hunt with some prizes, as well as snacks and drinks. This event is FREE and being sponsored by the LTEC, MLCA & WAG, ANJEC and Phillipsburg Youth Corps.
Update on the grant: The LTEC has successfully completed this ANJEC grant and all of the goals set out for the Mountain Lake Stewardship Education Project! With the support of the NJ Youth Corps of Phillipsburg, four new educational signs were installed around Mountain Lake. Each sign provides information about the history of the area, some of the environmental uniqueness of the area, stewardship tips and much more. A nature walk on October 24, 2015, unveiled the signs to the community. Our goal was to match this grant with a minimum of 80 hours of volunteer time. With the help of numerous volunteers, residents and community members, we have exceeded that number by more than 170 hours of volunteer time. Thank you to all who volunteered, attended and supported this project! The LTEC hopes that everyone can enjoy and visit these signs to learn about this unique, beautiful area!
Take an online tour and check out the four new signs:
ANJEC Road Show
The Environmental Commission will be hosting the ANJEC Road Show which will include two topics Selling Energy Conservation in your Town and ERI/NRI guidance the program will be held onOctober 22nd at 7:30pm. The presentation will be held at the Township of Mansfield Municipal Building, 100 Port Murray Road, Port Murray, NJ 07865.
- Selling Energy Conservation in Your Town: Techniques to increase conservation by residents and businesses, and case studies on commissions' successful programs.
- Environmental Resource Inventory: Get tools and techniques to help crease or update an Environmental Resource Inventory / Natural Resource Inventory (ERI/NRI).
Liberty Township Environmental Commission Receives the ANJEC Grant for the Mountain Lake Stewardship Education Project
Thanks to grant support from the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions (ANJEC) and their Open Space Stewardship grants program, the Liberty Township Environmental Commission (LTEC) will be able to expand our education efforts to the community! The funds will be used to implement the Mountain Lake Stewardship Education Project. This project includes installing four educational signs around the lake.
These signs will educate residents and visitors about the lake’s history and natural resources, as well as how to be a good steward. The LTEC has partnered with the Mt. Lake Community Association (MLCA & WAG) and NJ Youth Corps of Phillipsburg to design and install the signs. This October, we will host a walk around the lake to introduce the signs. Come and join us for a fun-filled afternoon!
Moth Night 2015
(Hover over photo above to toggle through slide-show.)
Arbor Day Celebration 2015
On Saturday, April 25, the Liberty Twp. Environmental Commission and Girl Scout Troop 94330 of SU 91 of GSHNJ Council hosted an Arbor Day celebration. More than 300 trees were given away free to the community, including redbuds, dogwoods, willow oak, Concolor fir, Colorado blue spruce and Norway spruce.
Hope Road Amphibians: Big Night April 3, 2015
Thanks to everyone who came out and helped on a warm, wet, and exciting rescue on the Hope Road in Liberty Twp last night. A quick look at the data recorded 182 Spotted Salamanders rescued. Way to go!
View slide show:
http://www.freeunionschoolhouse.com/2015AmphibPhotos.html
Did the salamander cross the Hope Road?
Well yes, after a false start where we convinced ourselves that nothing was going to cross the snow-covered hillside, and folks started heading home, it rained heavily, and Gil spotted a wood frog. After that, it got fairly steady.
Moth Night - Wednesday July 22nd
"The Year of the Sphinx Moth"
8pm-11pm
Liberty Township Municipal Building and Free Union Field
Blaine Rothauser will again head-up the outdoor portion of the event, and Michael Downey of Unique Photo in Fairfield will be on hand to give photography advice.
Moth Night at Pequest Hatchery, July 23, 2014
Despite falling on the only rainy day of National Moth Week, there was lots of public interest in the evening of moth-related activities, with an estimated 200+ participants. Our aim was to raise awareness of a segment of local wildlife that is rarely studied, despite it's importance to the ecosystem - many moths are pollinators, as well as being part of the food web, feeding all manner ofwildlife. We raised awareness too, of the importance of native plants and trees, that provide food for caterpillars and nectar for adult moths.
Polyphemus Moth
The polyphemus moth (Antheraea polyphemus) is a North American member of the family Saturniidae, the giant silk moths. It is a tan-colored moth, with an average wingspan of 15 cm (6 in). The most notable feature of the moth is its large, purplish eyespots on its two hind wings. The eye spots give it its name – from the Greek myth of the CyclopsPolyphemus. The species is widespread in continental North America, with local populations found throughout subarctic Canada and the United States. The caterpillar can eat 86,000 times its weight at emergence in a little less than two months.
Amphibian Crossing
Hope Road Crossing
These photos are from the Hope Road crossing in 2011, which was a new rescue site for us that year - working just uphill from the intersection with Far View Road.
Amphibians Crossing!
When the first early spring rains come, thousands of salamanders, frogs, and toads will emerge from their winter slumber. They'll make short, stealthy migrations through the forest to breed and lay their eggs in vernal pools.
Ongoing projects:
In 2005 the Commission purchased a computer for the use of GIS mapping, and was accepted into the NJ ICAT Program in 2006. This program includes a grant of ArcView software and training in its use. This will enable the Commission to prepare maps and overlays for planning and the protection of environmentally sensitive areas, as well as updating the Environmental Resources Inventory.
The Commission participates in Liberty Township Community each year, manning a public education booth.
"Welcome to the Watershed" tote bags containing brochures and flyers on environmental issues and other Township information are distributed to new residents. The bags were obtained through the Warren County Environmental Commission’s Richard Dunlap Memorial Grant.
Working closely with the Mountain Lake Community Association, the Commission also supports a volunteer water monitoring project and weed control program for Mountain Lake.
Other functions of the Environmental Commission include review of development plans that come before the Land Use Board, recommending environmental ordinances to the Township Committee, and most importantly, offering public education on environmental issues. A series of educational brochures has been developed, and presentations by experts are offered on a quarterly basis.
The Commission is a member of the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions (ANJEC).
