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The New Jersey Water Supply Authority’s (NJWSA’s) Raritan Highlands Farmland Preservation Program’s (RHFP) was created in 2004. Its mission is to preserve farmland in a manner that balances the important public policies of preserving and enhancing the agricultural viability of New Jersey’s farms as well as protecting and enhancing the quality of water supply for New Jersey’s residents.
 Through partnership, the RHFP combines sustainable farmland planning and preservation programs as follows: (1) RHFP partners work with a property owner to identify the farmland acreage to be preserved, and discuss the feasibility of riparian buffers around critical water supplies. Partners then appraise the value of the property preservation easement, riparian buffer and prepare a draft Resource Management Systems Plan. (2) the RHFP representative will again meet with the property owner to discuss the price for the farmland easement and riparian buffer and to discuss the draft RMS plan. (3) If the parties agree, a survey is ordered and the property proceeds to closing. (4) In the event an RMS plan practice require the expenditure of funds, the RHFP will assist the property owner in securing funding for those expenses.
 The RHFP serves as a single point of contact between the property owner and local, county, state, and federal government to minimize the complexities of preservation and plan implementation. Partners to the RHFP are the NJWSA, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, State Agriculture Development Committee, municipal and County government.
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RHFP Partners to Date
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- Natural Resources Conservation Service
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- State Agriculture Development Committee
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Open Space Preservation Partners
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- NJDEP Green Acres Program
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Farms in portions of Morris, Hunterdon, Somerset County and Mercer Counties are eligible to participate. The RHFP has preserved three farms and is currently engaged in preserving three additional projects.
For more information, call Beth Gates at (908) 638-6121 x252 or email at preservation@njwsa.org.
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