Address:

Near 101 Fairmount Road East

Califon, NJ

Type of Transaction: Fee Simple

Date of Acquisition: June 13, 2017
Acres: 21

About the Preserve:

The Hollow Brook Preserve lies west of the hamlet of Pottersville and is a unique parcel with a colorful history. Visible from Pottersville Road is a beautiful 19 th century, arched stone bridge that was taken out of service when the road was straightened sometime in 1930. The balance of the property’s 21 acres is thickly wooded with mature hardwoods, once part of the Pottersville Reservoir. The owner of a construction company made a gift of the property to the Raritan Headwaters Association in 1999. 

 

In 2022, in an effort to consolidate stewardship of their own preserves, RHA deeded the land to TLT. Today, Raritan Headwaters continues to hold the conservation easement, protecting the land’s conservation values, while TLT owns and stewards the preserve for the protection of wildlife and passive recreation.

The preserve consists of forested wetlands, numerous springs, and the Hollow Brook, a tributary of the Lamington River also known as the Black River. The property features a geologically interesting floodplain dotted with glacial boulders. The tree canopy contains huge, native Tulip trees and also Black Maple species rather rare in New Jersey. The upland sections contain American Beech, Red and Chestnut Oaks. Elegant spring ephemerals like Trout Lilly and Jack in the Pulpit are present in April and May. 

While there are no formally maintained trails on this property yet, as the stone arch bridge needs structural repair, the Tewksbury Land Trust envisions establishing trails to accommodate walking, hiking, horseback riding, birding and photography.