Moores Station Quarry Park concerns
Our vision for the quarry, how wonderful could this be?
Washington Crossing Audubon Society Action Alert
Moores Station Quarry Park
Washington Crossing Audubon Society (WCAS) opposes the proposed connector trails from the Moores Station Quarry Park to the Ted Stiles Preserve at Baldpate Mountain and the proposed overlook to the quarry. The south face of the Baldpate Mountain adjacent to the southeast corner of the quarry has the largest expanse of high quality habitat remaining on the Ted Stiles Preserve and the highest concentration of rare breeding birds. High quality habitat, Spicebush dominated understory, is limited in extent and already partially degraded. The recent tornado damage has further reduced the extent of high quality habitat, making it critically important not to further fragment and degrade what remains by constructing new trails. The Spicebush understory needs to remain intact if viable populations of Hooded, Worm-eating, and Kentucky Warblers are to remain as breeding birds on the Ted Stiles Preserve at Baldpate Mountain.
This area of Baldpate also contains the highest concentration of rare plants on Baldpate and breeding populations of Northern Copperheads and Eastern Box Turtles, species of conservation concern. It is not possible to design a path from the quarry through this area that does not disturb rare plants or animals, including threatened and endangered species too rare to name.
The proposed overlook would impinge on the breeding territory of an endangered breeding raptor. The connector trail to the overlook would further fragment an ecologically sensitive area that supports many rare species.
Please join WCAS in opposing this extension of an active recreation park into a nature preserve and Important Bird Area that contains the most valuable wildlife habitat remaining in Mercer County. Please go to the Mercer County Park Commission website’s Moores Station Quarry Park Plan page to complete the Draft Plan Feedback Form by September 15:
2021 RARE WARBLER BREEDING TERRITORIES AT BALDPATE.
KEWA = Kentucky Warbler, HOWA = Hooded Warbler, WEWA = Worm-eating Warbler
August 13, 2021
Washington Crossing Audubon Society comments to Mercer County on the Draft Plan for Moores Station Quarry Park
The Moores Station Quarry Park Draft Plan threatens the ecological integrity of the environmentally sensitive south face of the Ted Stiles Preserve at Baldpate Mountain. The south face contains the highest concentration of sensitive species on the Ted Stiles Preserve but the area is highly stressed. Additional stresses from the quarry development threaten sensitive plant and animal species.
Peregrine Falcons are nesting on the quarry cliffs near the proposed destination overlook. A parent was observed frequently standing guard over the nesting site in a dead tree at the top of the quarry. This is typical falcon nesting behavior. The proposed destination overlook is too close to the falcon perch and should not be on the south or south east side of the quarry to avoid spooking the parent falcon. The proposed zip line could be an irritation to the falcon parents, potentially precipitating an attack by a falcon on the zip liner. The falcons dive into the quarry while hunting and would not hesitate to dive bomb any perceived threat to their young. Zip line operation is proposed from May until October but the guarding falcon parent was observed on the guard tree until mid-May. Peregrine Falcons have been observed showing year round territoriality at similar breeding sites. The upper climbing area is too close to the area the falcons are actively using. This overlook and connecting trails to the overlook from the quarry and the Ted Stiles Preserve at Baldpate Mountain threaten the falcon by bringing too many people near a nesting endangered species.
Northern Copperheads are known by local residents to be on the south side of the Ted Stiles Preserve at Baldpate Mountain. Dead Copperheads have been found and documented on the road to the Strawberry Hill mansion. Suitable habitat includes the upper part of the quarry. While the construction of the overlook could be timed to avoid the nesting falcons, the Copperheads may be using this area year round. The construction of the overlook has the potential to disturb Copperhead dens. Since suitable habitat exists, ongoing searches for this species need to be made. This area also has listed plant species, including Wild Comfrey and Virginia Pennywort. The south face of the quarry has too many sensitive species to be the location for a destination overlook that could potentially attract hundreds of people.
High quality habitat, Spicebush dominated understory, is limited in extent and already partially degraded. It will not survive further degradation and fragmentation, which new trails would entail. The Spicebush understory needs to remain intact if viable populations of Hooded, Worm-eating and Kentucky Warblers are to remain as breeding birds on the Ted Stiles Preserve at Baldpate Mountain. This area also has the highest density of nesting Wood Thrush and Veeries, also species of conservation concern, on the Ted Stiles Preserve. The proposed 3-5’ trails would be a conduit for invasive plant species, degrading and fragmenting the Spicebush understory. This process of invasion has been documented along the upper part of the Blue Trail since its construction.
The focused preservation area of the quarry plan does not include all the 2021 breeding territories of Hooded, Worm-eating and Kentucky Warblers along the Northwest Trail. To protect these species of conservation concern, the entire upper part of the Northwest loop of the Ted Stiles Preserve needs to be included in the focused preservation area. This would preclude connector trails from the quarry. See the attached maps for details.
The lower trail connection to the Ted Stiles Preserve at Baldpate Mountain and proposed Switchback Trail relocation also transverse through sensitive habitat. These trails should not go through Spicebush understory to avoid nesting warblers and thrushes. The areas without Spicebush understory are the areas most attractive to the Copperheads. Listed plant species, including two endangered species, are also in this area. A proposed nearby car parking area would significantly increase human foot print in this environmentally sensitive area. The connector trail would also increase the chances for adverse human-Copperhead encounters.
Access to the south face of the Ted Stiles Preserve at Baldpate Mountain from the quarry needs to be eliminated from the quarry draft plan. This access was favored in the MCPC survey but there was no effort to educate people on the ecological importance and sensitivity of the adjacent part of the Ted Stiles Preserve. As a result people were asked to comment without knowing the full implications of the connector trails. The Ted Stiles Preserve at Baldpate Mountain is a nature preserve and Important Bird Area (IBA). Once the trails cross into the Ted Stiles Preserve, the preservation aspect becomes the primary consideration. The public was not informed of this before taking the survey.
Any camping in the quarry needs to be away from the ecologically sensitive south and southeast faces of the quarry to provide a buffer from light and sound pollution for both the peregrines in the quarry and the shy interior forest breeding birds adjacent to the quarry. In addition to the listed species mentioned above, there are recent breeding records for Cerulean and Canada Warblers on the south face of the Ted Stiles Preserve at Baldpate Mountain. Northern Ravens also breed in the quarry. While not state listed, this species is a rare breeder in central New Jersey.
The effects of the proposed development on the hydrology of the lower quarry, adjacent wetlands and Moores Creek are the primary environmental concern for the lower quarry. Part of this area is within a 100 year floodplain. The proposed pump track, BMX track, and support facilities could negatively affect the hydrology. The proposed water features and surrounding reconstructed natural area with careful design could enhance the hydrology. The needs of rare and listed amphibians and reptiles in the adjacent wetlands need to be carefully considered in the plans. WCAS advises that the Watersheds Institute (WI) be consulted with all aspects of the project that concern water features and hydrology.
The Ted Stiles Preserve at Baldpate Mountain is part of the Sourland Regional IBA, a continentally ranked IBA. The proposed pump track and BMX track are not suitable activities in an IBA. These activities would be more suitable in a more urban location as a redevelopment project. The Open Space Preservation Trust Fund and matching Green Acres funding should not be used for these projects.
The Open Space Preservation Trust Fund is proposed as the primary source of funding for the quarry project. Twenty percent of this fund is allowed to be spent on park development. These monies were voted on for preservation purposes only. While the Northern Meadow shrubland-meadow restoration and wetlands restoration would be a good use of these funds, it would be highly unethical and probably illegal to divert these funds to active recreation.
Washington Crossing Audubon Society (WCAS) continues to oppose the destination overlook and connector trails to the Ted Stiles Preserve at Baldpate Mountain because of negative impact on sensitive species and fragile habitat. The south and southeast faces of the quarry are too ecologically sensitive for development. WCAS urges the extension of the Quarry plan’s focused preservation area adjacent to the Northwest Trail to encompass all recent breeding territories of listed Neotropical bird species and all areas of Spicebush dominated understory. WCAS supports the Northern meadow and shrubland restoration and pond edge planting to enhance habitat and water quality.
WCAS strongly recommends that the destination overlook and connector trails be eliminated from the quarry plan to protect the sensitive flora and fauna of the south slope of The Ted Stiles Preserve at Baldpate Mountain. If this is not possible, then we recommend that the plan at least:
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- Relocate the Destination Overlook away from the south and southeast face of the quarry to avoid disturbing Peregrine Falcons.
- Include the entire upper part of the Northwest loop of the Ted Stiles Preserve in the Quarry plan’s focused preservation area in order to capture the high-quality spicebush habitat and the sensitive warbler habitat it contains.
- Reroute any connector trails to the Ted Stiles Preserve at Baldpate Mountain to avoid the upper part of the Northwest Loop and other sensitive warbler habitats. New trails should avoid fragmenting Spicebush dominated understory.
- Include the Watershed Institute in plans to restore and protect wetland function in the quarry basin.
Sharyn Magee, Science Chair WCAS
Juanita Hummel, President WCAS
Mercer County will unveil the Quarry Park Master Plan on Oct. 27
WCAS encourages members and the public to study the Draft Plan and attend the unveiling of the Master Plan at the Mercer County Park Commission (MCPC) October meeting on Wednesday, October 27
WCAS says "YES!" to ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION
WCAS supports the Northern Meadow and Shrubland Restoration and Pond edge planting to enhance habitat and water quality.
State listed birds who breed at Baldpate in the vicinity of the quarry
Kentucky Warbler (above), soon to be officially NJ Threatened, Hooded Warbler (below) & Worm-eating Warbler (bottom) all breed in the relatively undisturbed, high quality forest with dense understory next to the quarry.
To learn more about Baldpate watch this SPECIAL ZOOM VIDEO PRESENTATION from June 28, 2021
The Ted Stiles Preserve at Baldpate Mountain
LEFT: Map of 2021 Kentucky Warbler (KEWA) , Hooded Warbler (HOWA), and Worm-eating Warbler (WEWA) breeding territories on Baldpate.
Above: Baldpate Mountain with quarry on the left. Forested area adjacent to the quarry around the red Northwest Loop Trail & yellow Switchback trails supports rare wildlife & plants. Baldpate’s highest scoring forest, with an “Exceptional Quality Natural Area” rating from the Plant Stewardship Index Survey and Report Ted Stiles Preserve at Baldpate Mountain, is along the red Northwest Loop Trail.
The Ted Stiles Preserve at Baldpate Mountain is in BOTH the Baldpate Mountain Important Bird Area (IBA) & the Sourland Regional IBA, a continentally ranked IBA.
https://www.audubon.org/important-bird-areas/baldpate-mountain
Spring 2021
Washington Crossing Audubon Society’s previous comments on the
Moores Station Quarry Park Options
To protect Baldpate, the Moores Station Quarry restoration needs to be carefully planned to minimize the impact on Baldpate.
Biodiversity is being lost at an unsustainable rate. The North American breeding bird population has decreased by twenty-nine percent in the last fifty years. North American amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals, and fresh water fish lost thirty-three percent of their population in the last forty years. This loss is not sustainable and if not reversed will result in ecosystem collapse, an acute threat to all of us.
The first step in containing this loss is identifying and protecting areas that still have the species that create functioning ecosystems. Unfortunately, the landscape of most of Central New Jersey is so altered that it does not support a healthy diversity of life. This makes the very few places that still have a functioning ecosystem irreplaceable and in need of the highest level of protection.
Baldpate Mountain has a stressed but intact and functioning ecosystem. The healthy diversity of birds indicates that the insects and plants that birds depend upon have ecologically functioning populations. Baldpate is also fragile because of the small size and long narrow shape. To protect Baldpate, the Moores Station Quarry restoration needs to be carefully planned to minimize the impact on Baldpate.
Only part of Baldpate has high quality habitat for interior forest bird species. This habitat is characterized by Spicebush dominated understory and is used by some of the rarest breeding birds on Baldpate, including Kentucky, Hooded, and Worm-eating Warblers. Unfortunately the most productive Spicebush habitat on Baldpate is adjacent to the quarry. Other areas adjacent or in the abandoned parts of the quarry support other listed species from multiple taxa. The quarry plans need to be carefully evaluated for the impact on Baldpate’s flora and fauna.
All three proposed plans for the quarry restoration contain an overlook and a connector trail to the Baldpate trails which bisects high quality Spicebush understory. The lower connector trail also goes through sensitive habitat containing breeding territories of listed species. Rerouting the proposed trail would transverse habitat of other listed species. There are no potential paths from the Quarry to the Switchback and Northwest trails that would not create excessive disturbance in very sensitive habitat. The overlook and connector trails need to be removed from the plans.
Primitive camping is proposed in Plans A and B near the top of the quarry. The proposed locations are too close to sensitive habitat and would disturb sensitive breeding species with noise and light pollution. A broader buffer zone is needed between human activity and breeding fauna.
Plan B would alter the hydrology of the quarry and adjacent wetlands. This Plan needs to be carefully evaluated for harmful effects on wetland and vernal pool species, especially amphibians and reptiles.
Plan C, which emphasizes active recreation, is not appropriate for a location surrounded by a Continental Important Bird Area (IBA). The Plan C map shows the proposed mountain bike paths extending into the Ted Stiles Preserve at Baldpate and the overlook located inside the preserve. The proposed rock climbing area is adjacent to sensitive habitat. These activities would be highly disruptive to breeding species in multiple taxa which have no place else to go. Plan C would significantly increase human traffic, activity, and noise pollution adjacent to an irreplaceable and sensitive ecosystem.
The primary reason for the biodiversity crisis is loss, degradation, and fragmentation of habitat. Plan C would cause all of the above. There is no way to reconcile Plan C with maintaining the ecological integrity of adjacent parts of Baldpate. Plan A would have a minimal effect on Baldpate provided that the outlook and connector trails are removed and the buffer zone between primitive camping and Baldpate is extended. If implemented thoughtfully, Plan A’s proposed habitat restoration could have a positive impact on Baldpate’s ecology.
Understandably, people want more areas to recreate but human domination of land use has pushed too many other species to the brink of extirpation, if not extinction, causing an acute environmental crisis. The remaining habitat suitable for a robust diversity of plants and animals is too small to be sustainable. The first step to stemming this tide of extinction is to protect the remaining functional ecosystems in their entirety. This means not extending intrusive human presence into these places. Baldpate is part of the Sourland Mountain Regional IBA, the only Continental level IBA in central New Jersey, and contains some of the highest quality habitat and rarest species in this IBA. A Continental IBA is not the place for active recreation.
Washington Crossing Audubon Society urges you to support us in voting for Plan A in the Mercer County Park Commission survey and voting “strongly opposed” to connector trails to Baldpate in the section of the survey pertaining to individual activities and features. Please help us protect Baldpate Mountain and its very special flora and fauna.