Joint Base – McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Earn 2008 Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award Published Dec. 10, 2008 Lakehurst, N.J. -- In a ceremony held Dec. 4 in Princeton, N.J., the military leaders of the soon-to-be formed Joint Base (McGuire Air Force Base, Fort Dix and Naval Air Engineering Station Lakehurst) were presented with the New Jersey Governor's 2008 Environmental Excellence Award. The award was given to the bases as a result of their proactive efforts at collaborative planning, compatible development and land conservation in the central New Jersey region. Working in conjunction with local, county and state government entities, actions by McGuire AFB and NAES Lakehurst managed to leverage $3.1 million in Department of Defense funds and $9.3 million in partner funds to protect more than 1100 acres of land surrounding the bases from uncontrolled development. As a result of these efforts, more land has been preserved since 2007 than in the previous 50 years. According to Dennis Blazak, chief environmentalist at NAES Lakehurst, "Military installation buffering for land conservation benefits the bases, the municipalities and the state. While limiting incompatible development helps to sustain the military mission, this open space preservation also limits growth and improves the quality of life in the surrounding communities. Preserving this open space protects natural resources and supports the conservation posture of the state and the nation." Some of the accomplishments that resulted from the bases partnering with the communities this past year include: -163 acres of forest and wetlands in Jackson Township purchased by Ocean County, the Pinelands Commission and NAES to preserve natural resources and passive recreation. -10 forested acres along the Ridgeway Branch by Ocean County and NAES purchased to prevent forest fragmentation. -16 acres of land adjacent to a runway clear zone in Jackson Township purchased by Ocean County and NAES to prevent housing construction in a high noise area. -55 acres of land acquired surrounding NAES by Ocean County to protect resources along the Ridgeway Branch. -89 acres of land acquired by the State through Green Acres in a high aviation noise area in Manchester Township, that ties together existing preserved forest areas. -828 acres of farmland purchased and preserved by MAFB, Burlington County and the State Department of Agriculture. Additionally, a Joint Land Use Study, a DoD-sponsored assessment to identify compatible land uses adjacent to military installations has been conducted during 2008. The JLUS brings together, for the first time in the nation, all three military services with state, county, regional, and local officials to identify land use conflicts before they occur and begin land preservation efforts up front. With New Jersey being the most densely populated state in the nation, development pressures are great in Ocean and Burlington counties. This highlights the need for collaborative planning and cooperation to preserve the military missions of the base and preserve the water, air and habitat quality of the northern edge of the Pinelands Preservation Area. (Courtesy of Lakehurst Public Affairs)