PRESERVING THE CLYDE POTTS RESERVOIR

Reservoir Trails Open to the Public

The hiking trails surrounding the Clyde Potts Reservoir are open to the public!  This is perhaps the most easily recognizable benefit to the preservation of the land surrounding the reservoir, but it is not the only one.

The reservoir area hiking trails were put in place by the Morris County Park Commission and Randolph Township , and link to the extensive trail networks in Mendham Township , Randolph , and beyond.  Patriots’ Path, the County’s network of trails, now continues from Dismal Harmony Natural Area, crosses over Woodland Road near the reservoir’s water treatment plant, and on through the reservoir property into Randolph ’s network.  In addition to the access at Woodland Avenue , the reservoir area trails can also be accessed from additional points:

• Randolph, Old Brook side Road , just below Sussex Turnpike.  There is a small parking area and trail maps.
• Randolph , at the junction of Dolly Bridge Road and Doby Road .
• Mendham Township , at the northern terminus of Calais Road , a dead end for motorized vehicles but the beginning of a trail for pedestrians and cyclists.

As part of the reservoir security program, most of the trails do not approach the water, but they offer excellent venues for hiking, jogging, and (most sections) bicycling.  Residents who have not hiked these trails are encouraged to do so.

Online information and interactive trail maps are available at Randolph ’s web site:

            http://www.randolphnj.org/parks_and_recreation/trail_system

If ambitious, one can now hike from the reservoir eastward through Dismal Harmony Natural Area and beyond to Lewis Morris County Park and Morristown National Historic Park (Jockey Hollow area).  Going northward, there is the extensive network of Randolph Township trails and parks, including the popular Brundage Park and Freedom Park , and more of Patriots’ Path.  Using smaller trails or briefly crossing public roads, one can enter Mendham Township’s Buttermilk Falls Natural Area, which links directly to India Brook Park, India Brook Natural Area, and Mendham Borough’s  section of Patriots’ Path.  All in all, it’s quite an impressive hiking opportunity, connecting well over a hundred miles of trails!

That’s Not All…

Extending the Patriots’ Path and offering more hiking opportunities was a significant achievement.  But preserving the 900+ acres of land around the Clyde Potts reservoir provides many other benefits:

• A primary objective of the preservation effort, and key to the Southeast Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority (SMCMUA) that provides drinking water to our area, was to preserve the water quality in the reservoir.  With the land around the reservoir preserved in a natural state, the water will retain its historically clean and pure nature.
• The rich wildlife that lives around the reservoir will continue to have their habitat.
• A major reason for open space is to protect the character and views of an area.  Although our area is suburban, it enjoys a desirable rural character and offers many beautiful views to all.  Open space is a tool that helps with managing and balancing development, retaining our desirable rural character and a cleaner environment.
• Open space has been shown to keep area property values strong and property taxes low, which clearly benefits residents even if they never set foot on a hiking trail.

How it happened

The SMCMUA, the current owner and operator of the reservoir, has always been committed to maintaining high standards for water safety and quality, and had so far kept the land around the reservoir in a natural state.  In addition, the State of New Jersey , concerned about drinking water quality and realizing the economic incentives to allow development near water sources, declared a moratorium on development in watersheds until the NJ State Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) could put into place appropriate standards and guidance for watershed lands.  Many people viewed the reservoir as guaranteed to remain natural and pristine forever.

However, that was not necessarily the case, since the development moratorium was always intended to be temporary, with development eventually permitted under NJ DEP standards.  (Note: The moratorium is still in place at this time.)  Putting together an open space preservation project and obtaining funding can take from a few months to a few years, depending on the project complexity, and funding sources are limited.  The area leaders saw a risk:  If they waited and then the State development moratorium was removed, the value of the land would immediately skyrocket as developers started to pursue the land, and it might be too late to assemble a preservation project in time, if it could be afforded at all.

Discussions began and quickly converged to a plan.  It would have been extremely expensive to purchase the land outright, but the development rights could be purchased at a lower cost to achieve all of the objectives.  Placing the rights to development under the ownership of the local towns (with conditions in the deeds to maintain the land in a natural state) would be feasible and effective.  Many working partners were required to move the project forward and provide sufficient funding.

In the end, the participants displayed clear interest in the public welfare, had the vision to see a better future, and the leadership to address the risk to that future.  They arranged the funding and managed the project across several years and through many changes in leadership.  The group finally marked success in late 2001 with the ceremonial signing of the agreements.  To purchase the development rights to the reservoir property, and to buy the other two smaller properties that were necessary to protect the watershed, required a total outlay of $6,198,667.

The participating partners for this project were:

• State of New Jersey (Garden State Preservation Trust, administered through NJ Green Acres)
• Morris County Open Space Trust Fund
• Township of Randolph
• Township of Mendham
• Morris County Park Commission (trails)
• SMCMUA
• Morris Land Conservancy

In addition, the SMCMUA, having achieved its goal of protecting the reservoir watershed, agreed to spend the money it received for the development rights towards protecting water quality, and to that end they have purchased additional land in their territory and upgraded the reservoir water treatment plant to state-of-the-art levels.

The value of the reservoir project is strong and clear:  A key natural resource in the region was preserved by a commensurate regional effort, to the benefit of all.  Current and future residents have obtained the benefits at a low, shared cost.  This would not have happened if all of the parties had not seen the value of the project, or if they had not agreed on the risk of not doing it, or if the group had not worked together well, or for any number of other reasons.  It was a unique partnership.

So, take a hike!

Open Space

“Open Space” is a program for preserving land, usually (but not always) in a natural state, to protect environmental conditions and historical features, provide recreational opportunities, and strengthen economics for residents.  Residents are very welcome to attend an Open Space Trust Committee meeting, or to join the committee.  To do either, contact your township Administrator for details.

Open space provides the following benefits:

• Protects environmental features such as clean water.
• Reduces water run-off and increases absorption compared to grass, pavement, or homes, so helps to recharge underground water (aquifers) that supply water wells and reduces flooding of local streams during precipitation.
• Protects historical features, including the remains of colonial industry such as mines, mills, kilns, and other items.
• Provides opportunities for recreation, usually passive such as hiking, but often more active such as bicycling, horse riding, ball playing, etc.
• Balances and complements residential development, creating a pleasant and desirable place to live, and avoiding urban sprawl.
• By maintaining the character of the area, and by not requiring expensive services that residential areas do (schools, infrastructure, etc.), open space has been shown to help keep property taxes from rising and to maintain or strengthen property values, all to the benefit of residents.

Land owners – Note:

If you own “developable” property, you certainly owe it to yourself to be knowledgeable about the open space options available to you, which can help you achieve your own personal objectives while preserving the land.  The many customizable open space options available can help land owners with typical needs:

• Keeping the land in the family, instead of it having to be sold to pay taxes.
• Continuing to own and live on (or farm) the land but still obtain an immediate economic gain.
• Selling the land for an economic gain, but yet retain it in its natural state forever.

For information, please contact the township Administrator.