The Rancocas Creek watershed is supported by a network of organizations whose work collectively protects its forests, waterways, wildlife, and surrounding communities. The Rancocas Conservancy preserves more than 2,000 acres of land across twelve nature preserves, safeguarding headwaters, forests, and wetlands that feed the creek. Their stewardship in trail building, habitat restoration, land acquisition, and public education ensures that critical ecological areas remain undeveloped and resilient. The Pinelands Preservation Alliance plays a complementary regional role: as the leading advocate for the New Jersey Pinelands, it defends the broader ecological systems that influence the Rancocas watershed, including groundwater protection, forest health, and climate resilience. Through policy advocacy, scientific research, public programming, and partnerships, PPA strengthens environmental protections that directly benefit the creek’s long‑term health.
Together, these organizations form the backbone of conservation in the Rancocas region. The Conservancy protects land on the ground, while the Pinelands Alliance protects the policies and systems that keep that land ecologically viable. Their combined efforts in local stewardship, regional advocacy, community engagement, and science‑based planning secure the future of the watershed and that the Rancocas Creek watershed remains a thriving natural resource for wildlife, recreation, and surrounding towns.
History of Organization
The Rancocas Creek Association (RCA) is a long‑standing, resident‑driven environmental group focused on the stretch of Rancocas Creek between the Smithville and Mount Holly dams. Founded in 1967 and updated through a major 2016 amendment, the RCA operates as an unincorporated, nonprofit association dedicated to preserving the creek’s beauty, serenity, navigability, and ecological health. As stated in its Constitution, the RCA’s purpose is to maintain the creek’s natural quality and provide a neutral forum for residents to address environmental concerns.
Current Activities
The RCA’s current activities focus on hands-on environmental stewardship and community coordination along the stretch of Rancocas Creek between the Smithville and Mount Holly dams. Members regularly organize and participate in creek cleanups, debris removal, and efforts to maintain navigability and shoreline health which directly reflects the group’s stated purpose of preserving the creek’s natural beauty, serenity, navigability and cleanliness. They also promote ecological awareness by sharing information about local flora, fauna, and environmental conditions, and by encouraging environmentally sound practices among residents. Short‑term projects are carried out by designated chairs who ensure that all work aligns with ecological and environmental standards.
Alongside stewardship, the RCA maintains an active community presence through regular meetings, at least six per year, where residents discuss creek conditions, plan projects, vote on expenditures, and coordinate responses to environmental issues. The association collaborates with local governments and like‑minded organizations to support creek preservation, and it raises funds through dues, donations, and grants to sustain its work. Together, these activities make the RCA a niche local organization of the Mt. Holly–Smithville section of the Rancocas Creek, blending practical environmental care with community engagement and education.
Staff
The executive committee consists of five elected officers including president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, and parliamentarian. Community driven work including clean up participation and public education is on a volunteering basis and typically includes locals to South New Jersey.
- President: Sharon Astorino
- Vice President: Richard Astorino
- Secretaries: Judy Loane and Claudia McNamara
- Treasurer: Tom Kempton
- Parliamentarian: Kerry Sharps
- Chair of the Rancocas Creek Association Fundraising Committee: Thomas Greenfield
Future Plans and Challenges
The RCA’s future plans center on protecting the Mt. Holly–Smithville stretch of the Rancocas Creek from development pressures, especially the proposed Smithville Village redevelopment. The Save Rancocas Creek page shows that the organization intends to continue advocating for the creek’s ecological integrity, historic character, and navigability. This includes educating residents, mobilizing community support, and working with local governments to ensure that redevelopment does not harm the creek’s water quality, wildlife habitat, or scenic value. Alongside this advocacy, the RCA plans to maintain its long‑standing stewardship activities including cleanups, ecological monitoring, and partnerships with conservation groups in order to preserve the creek for future generations.
The RCA faces significant challenges tied to development, environmental stress, and limited organizational capacity. The Smithville redevelopment proposal represents a major threat to the creek’s natural state, potentially increasing runoff, pollution, and habitat disruption. As a small, volunteer‑run nonprofit, the RCA must rally community involvement, navigate municipal processes, and sustain advocacy efforts with limited resources. Environmental challenges such as storm damage, erosion, invasive species, and debris continue to demand regular attention. The organization must also maintain member engagement, secure funding, and strengthen partnerships to effectively protect the creek in the face of growing external pressures.
History of Organization
The Rancocas Conservancy is a land trust founded in 1989, inspired by founder Mark S. Thomas’s desire to protect the ecological and cultural landscape of the Rancocas Creek watershed. Its first meeting was held at Smithville Park on June 19, 1989, and it formally became a nonprofit known as the Rancocas Watershed Conservation Foundation in 1991. Through the 1990s, the Conservancy expanded its preservation work, launched the Rancocas Journal in 1994, and began acquiring land with support from NJDEP Green Acres grants. Its first major preserve, the Michael Stavola–Pemberton Beech Woods, was unveiled in 1998, protecting 46 acres that were once slated for housing development. Over the decades, the Conservancy has grown into the leading land trust in the watershed, permanently preserving over 2,000 acres across 12 nature preserves.
Current Activities
The Rancocas Conservancy’s current activities center on active land stewardship, ecological restoration, and public access management across its twelve nature preserves. Trustees and volunteers regularly conduct trail building and maintenance, such as clearing fallen trees, repairing footpaths, and installing new trail markers at sites like the Michael Stavola–Pemberton Beech Woods and the Medford–Evesham Preserve. They also maintain kiosks and interpretive signage, remove invasive plants, and monitor wildlife habitat conditions. The Conservancy continues to evaluate and acquire new lands, recently inspecting parcels near the Black Run headwaters, and collaborates with partners like the NJ Conservation Foundation, Pinelands Preservation Alliance, and Burlington County to protect ecologically sensitive areas. Public engagement is another major activity: the Conservancy leads guided hikes, hosts educational programs, and publishes updates on preserve conditions and conservation issues.
These efforts rely heavily on volunteer participation, as the Conservancy operates without paid staff and depends on trustees and community members to carry out stewardship tasks. Volunteers assist with trail workdays, habitat restoration projects, and preserve monitoring, often joining trustees for seasonal maintenance or special initiatives such as installing new signage or preparing newly acquired lands for public access. The Conservancy also manages membership outreach, fundraising, and communication to support its mission, including promoting its 2024–2025 Strategic Plan, which emphasizes expanding land protection, improving trail systems, and strengthening community involvement.
Staff
The organization is governed by a Board of Trustees, including officers such as the President, Vice President, and additional trustees who oversee preserves, outreach, and stewardship, below is the list of 2026 Board of Trustees
- Rick Brown, President
- Tom Besselman, Vice President
- Steve Tambini, Treasurer
- Joe Wechselberger, Secretary
- Christine Black
- Kendall Brunson
- Jack Cresson
- Paul Detrick
- Emile DeVito, Ph.D.
- Christine Hill
- Curt Nissley
- Barbara Rich
- Steve Sinnwell
- Heidi Winzinger
- Gary Patterson, Emeritus Trustee
- Mark S. Thomas, M.D., Founder, Emeritus Trustee
- Mike Ralph, Clerical Assistant
Future Plans and Challenges
The Rancocas Conservancy’s future plans focus on expanding land preservation, strengthening ecological stewardship, and enhancing public access across its twelve nature preserves. Guided by its 2024–2025 Strategic Plan, the Conservancy aims to protect additional high‑value natural areas, especially vulnerable headwaters such as the Black Run watershed, and continue acquiring parcels that connect or buffer existing preserves. It also plans to improve trail systems, add interpretive signage, and increase community engagement through guided hikes, educational programming, and partnerships with regional conservation organizations. Growing membership, securing grants, and deepening collaboration with groups like the NJ Conservation Foundation and Pinelands Preservation Alliance are central to sustaining this momentum.
The Conservancy faces several challenges as it works toward these goals. Development pressure remains the most significant threat, with many ecologically sensitive lands at risk of being converted to housing or commercial use. Stewardship demands are also increasing and maintaining trails, removing invasive species, and monitoring wildlife across more than 2,000 acres requires consistent labor and funding. Because the Conservancy relies heavily on volunteers and trustees, sustaining volunteer capacity and recruiting new members are ongoing needs. Additionally, long‑term financial stability through donations, grants, and partnerships is essential to support land acquisition, restoration projects, and preservation maintenance. Together, these challenges shape the Conservancy’s work and underscore the importance of continued community involvement and regional collaboration.
History of Organization
The Pinelands Preservation Alliance (PPA) was founded in 1989 as a coalition of advocates, scientists, and environmental organizations including the Sierra Club, New Jersey Conservation Foundation, New Jersey Audubon, and the League of Women Voters to protect the unique ecosystems of New Jersey’s Pine Barrens. Over 35 years, PPA has evolved from a watchdog group into an established environmental organization addressing land preservation, policy advocacy, climate resilience, sustainable farming, and community engagement. Its founding mission was shaped by earlier regional threats, including the 1960s proposal to build the world’s largest supersonic jetport in the Pine Barrens, an event that galvanized public support for permanent protection of the region. Today, PPA remains the leading voice for safeguarding the Pinelands National Reserve and its globally rare ecosystems.
Current Activities
The Pinelands Alliance engages in policy advocacy, ecological stewardship, and public education across the 1.1‑million‑acre Pinelands region. Its work includes monitoring and evaluating government actions through its annual State of the Pinelands report, which assesses federal, state, and local agencies’ compliance with the Pinelands Comprehensive Management Plan. PPA also leads campaigns addressing major regional issues such as climate change, energy infrastructure, sustainable farming, and native landscaping. The organization advocates before the Pinelands Commission, challenges harmful development proposals, and mobilizes public support such as its 2016 protest against the South Jersey Gas pipeline, a project ultimately defeated in 2019.
Beyond advocacy, PPA runs hands-on programs that connect communities to the Pinelands. It operates Pinelands Adventures, an outdoor recreation program offering paddling trips, guided hikes, and ecological education. PPA also manages Rancocas Creek Farm, a regenerative agriculture initiative launched in 2020 to promote sustainable farming and improve food access in surrounding communities. The Alliance partners with health and community organizations to link environmental preservation with public well‑being, and it hosts events such as the Green Trading Post holiday bazaar to support local artisans and conservation outreach. These programs broaden public engagement and strengthen regional stewardship.
Staff
The Pinelands Alliance is staffed by an extensive professional team, including directors, managers, specialists, and a long list of trustees involved in voting processes. The board of trustees is composed of various scientists, conservation leaders, educators, and community advocates. While the PPA maintains a paid staff, they also rely heavily on volunteers for events, stewardship projects, and advocacy campaigns. Below is a list of some of the most important staff members that manage, direct, and keep the PPA running.
- Jaclyn Rhoads, Ph.D., Executive Director
- Carleton Montgomery, Director of Strategic Initiatives
- Rob Ferber, Chief Operating Officer
- Heidi Yeh, Policy Director
- Stephen Elliott, Director of Watershed Programs
- Richard Bizub, Director for Water Programs
- Jenn Krumins, Science Director
- Becky Free, Director of Communication and Membership
- Jason Howell, Public Lands Advocate / Stewardship Coordinator
Future Plans and Challenges
Looking ahead, the Pinelands Alliance plans to expand its advocacy, deepen community partnerships, and broaden its conservation programming. Its 35th‑anniversary reflections highlight a strategic shift toward integrating environmental preservation with health, food systems, and community well‑being, an approach that includes expanding programs like Rancocas Creek Farm and strengthening collaborations with organizations such as Allies in Caring and The Opportunity League. PPA also intends to continue advancing accessibility initiatives, ensuring that natural spaces in the Pinelands are welcoming and usable for people of all abilities.
The Alliance faces significant challenges, including political pressure, inconsistent enforcement of Pinelands regulations, and threats from development projects that could undermine ecological integrity. Climate change poses additional risks, with rising temperatures, severe weather, and shifting ecosystems affecting the region’s delicate balance. Energy infrastructure proposals, such as pipelines and large‑scale solar installations, continue to test the resilience of Pinelands protections. As PPA enters its next decade, sustaining public engagement, securing funding, and maintaining strong advocacy networks will be essential to meeting these challenges and ensuring long‑term protection of the Pinelands.
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