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Conservation group seeks $147,500 county subsidy to buy 65-acre parcel near Culver Lake
Summary
A conservation foundation told Sussex County commissioners it has secured most grant funding to buy a 65-acre property that includes headwater streams feeding Culver Lake and requested a $147,500 county contribution; commissioners did not vote and asked for full application materials.
Rick Ferrucci, president of the Culver Lake Watershed Conservation Foundation, told the Sussex County Board of County Commissioners on Feb. 26 that his organization is seeking county support to complete the purchase of a 65-acre parcel that includes wetlands and a stream that feeds into Culver (Coler/Colburn in transcript) Lake.
The foundation has secured grant funding but is asking the county to subsidize the remaining balance of $147,500, Ferrucci said. He described the property as “a 65 acre parcel that we are purchasing” and said the land contains wetlands and uplands at the headwaters of the stream that flows into the lake.
Why it matters: Preservation proponents said protecting the parcel would safeguard water quality at the headwaters of the lake and preserve trails and high‑quality wetlands. Commissioners asked for more documentation before taking any vote, and one commissioner said they would abstain from any future vote because they own stock in the private lake association.
Details and funding: Ferrucci and Bob Kneese, who spoke with him, listed several funding pieces. They said a Green Acres grant would provide $197,500 and the Nature Conservancy $50,000; the total project cost was stated as about $395,000 including estimated soft costs of $35,000. Ferrucci described the owner making a donation and the foundation’s need to raise additional capital. He said appraisals and comparable‑sales data supported the valuation and noted the foundation had all funds “in place” subject to the county contribution.
Land and environmental features: Ferrucci and Kneese said roughly half of the parcel is wetlands, estimating “approximately 28 to 30” acres of wetlands concentrated along the stream, though they said they would supply precise delineation information later. They said there is an existing trail and that the property contains high‑quality wetlands with state‑important species, amphibians and reptiles.
Commissioner questions and next steps: Commissioners pressed for the full application and documentation. One commissioner said, “I will probably abstain from any vote,” noting a personal connection to the lake. The board agreed to request the full application and supporting materials from open space staff and to schedule a site visit; commissioners said they could place the matter on a future agenda after reviewing the complete packet.
No vote was taken on Feb. 26.
