McClellan Old Growth Forest

A friend from West Orange sent me the following information:

Seton Hall Prepatory School is asking the West Orange, NJ Zoning Board to approve six (6) variances so that they may begin Phase 2 of their "Kelly Athletic Fields" expansion. The construction of these sports fields translates into the destruction of over 1,000 trees which make up the McClellan Old Growth Forest, located on Prospect Avenue in West Orange. This 17-acres of inhabited, forested land are a part of what was originally a 44-acre Old Growth Forest, and includes trees with ages in excess of 200-years, and animals including the Great Horned Owl, Red Tailed Hawk, Bald Eagle, and Red Fox. It is a part of the Watchung Ridge, which connects Eagle Rock Reservation and South Mountain Reservation.

I visited the link provided and learned that close to 400 people already signed a petition to protect this last remaining, unprotected Old Growth Forest in the Metropolitan Region. http://new.ipetitions.com/petition/stoptheprep/

According to Bruce Kershner, a forest ecologist and nationally recognized expert on ancient forests who conducted a survey of the area on November, 2002:

In summary, Seton Hall Prep School’s Governor George Brinton McClellan Estate is populated by outstanding Old Growth trees, including two groves of Old Growth Forest covering several acres.

Approximately 50 individual Old Growth trees, with their huge spreading crowns, form a canopy over much of this forested acreage. The Old Growth trees include the following species: Red Oak, Swamp White Oak, American Beech, Tulip Tree, White Oak, Black Oak and Red Maple. In addition, 25 other tree species grow on the site, totaling of 33 species of trees. This makes the site a remarkably diverse community of trees, especially over such a relatively limited acreage.

Ages of the Old Growth trees range from 150years to 240 years old (meaning germination dates back to 1760). Though not measured, many of the oaks and tulip trees soared to notably great heights, possibly to 120 feet, far taller than 99% of forests in New Jersey.

To put the Old Growth Forest in context, there are only 14 documented sites of Old Growth Forest in New Jersey (comprising only 1/100th of 1 per cent of the state’s area). Seven of those sites are located within New Jersey’s portion of the New York City Metropolitan Area.

The Governor George Brinton McClellan Estate Old Growth Forest is the only unprotected – and endangered – Old Growth Forest site within New Jersey’s part of the Metropolitan Area. In addition to the notable Old Growth Forest, the property is also remarkable for its historic value. On several acres of the site, the arboretum and gardens of Governor George Brinton McClellan still persist.

His complete report is available on line by clicking here. Mr. Kershner died on February 16, 2007 in Cheektowaga, NY. His knowledge and passion about the natural environment will be greatly missed.