The Watershed Reserve is open most days, dusk to dawn. It is closed for deer management briefly in the winter. The reserve offers a diversity of habitats including meadows, forests, wetlands, a small pond, streams and the Stony Brook. The reserve harbors a rich assortment of wildlife and plant life. Deer are abundant and other common mammals include meadow voles, shrews, bats, raccoon, skunk, opossum, red fox, squirrels and flying squirrels. Habitat diversity makes this an ideal place for birdwatching – watch for grassland species in the new grasslands, ducks at the pond, as well as herons, hawks, and owls, and much more. The Stony Brook offers some great scenery and wildlife watching opportunities.
This cache reminds us of the awesome power of nature. On October 29, 2012, Hurricane Sandy was causing varying degrees of misery for residents in New Jersey. Likewise, the storm completely rearranged parts of the forest on this reserve. At this location, as you might imagine, the trail had to be completely rerouted. This cache is located less than 10' from the trail.
The reserve is home to the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association, a member supported non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of the natural environment in the 265-square mile region drained by Stony Brook and the Millstone River. They are committed to intelligent and informed land use decision making, the protection of water quality and supply, and the improvement of the community's awareness of environmental issues. Their environmental education program aims to foster personal connections with the natural environment while promoting a sense of stewardship.