Natural Resources

Bear Brook, north of Community Park, 2020. From Paul Ligeti.

To understand West Windsor’s environment is to understand its historical foundations. Natural resources fundamentally influenced how life developed here.

Written in July 2026 by Paul Ligeti, President, Historical Society of West Windsor.

Topography

West Windsor encompasses a little over 26 square miles. It is bounded by one natural waterway to its northeast: the Millstone River. To the northwest is the Delaware and Raritan Canal. And its southern borders, except for a small stretch of the Assunpink Creek, are old, artificial division lines.[1]

The land generally ranges from 60 to 100 feet above sea level and is largely flat or gently sloped, in contrast with the stony hills in Princeton to the west.[2] Before European colonists encountered this area, West Windsor was part of a vast expanse of woodland, meadows, and waterways stretching as far as the eye could see. Although the area's original Indigenous residents - the Lenape, whose ancestors settled here thousands of years ago - practiced some level of deforestation in order to create farmland, these practices were, at the time, generally small-scale with little impact on the broader landscape.[3],[4]

However, this changed following colonial arrival, for the town’s abundance of well-drained and fertile soil invited the establishment of large farms that dominated its landscape from the mid-1700s until the second half of the twentieth century. And, in the mid-late 20th century, these same gentle slopes were one of many factors that made the landscape physically-accommodating to suburban and commercial development that replaced much of the farmland.[5]

Figure 1: Soil drainage. From 2023 Conservation Plan. Click for source.

Water

However, not all regions of West Windsor are the same. Areas of especially flat slope, or areas around rivers and creeks, often do not drain well and are therefore wetland. These regions were historically poor for farming, transit, and development, because they experience heavy flooding, killing crops, damming up roads, infiltrating basements, and providing breeding grounds for mosquitoes and other insects. Even to this day, many of these regions still feature parks or wildlife areas, instead of farms, suburban developments, or commercial/office complexes.[6]

Running somewhat through the middle of West Windsor is its own “continental divide,” with water draining to two watersheds. The first, in the northern half of the town, funnels water to the Millstone River – and ultimately the Raritan River about twenty miles north. The other, in the south, drains to the Assunpink Creek, and thus ultimately to the Delaware River in Trenton. There are also several smaller local waterways and minor tributaries – such as Duck Pond Run, Bridegroom Run, Hixon Run/Shipetaukin Creek, Canoe Brook, Bear Creek, and Big and Little Bear Brooks. Many of these may have been carved out as a at the end of the last Ice Age as glacial fields dragged boulders across the landscape.[7]

Rivers and creeks provided water for drinking and irrigation. They were also important corridors for the Lenape, who often traveled by canoe. And, Residents of all sorts have also used waterways for fishing, recreation, and industry.[8]

Figure 2: West Windsor's waters. Click to enlarge.

For instance, several mills, like those at the historic hamlets of Grovers Mill and Scudder's Mills, used the flow of water to cut lumber and grind grain into flour. In the winter, locals cut ice out of ponds to sell or use as a food preservative. And the Delaware and Raritan Canal – an artificial transportation corridor dug in the 1830s – provided an artery along which millions of tons of commercial goods were shipped across much of the state. Long ago, it was turned into a state park, where residents often jog, bike, canoe, and sightsee.[9]

West Windsor features no significant natural ponds or lakes. Rather, the mill pond at Grovers Mill and Mercer Lake in Mercer County Park were both artificially created – the former likely in the mid-1700s and the latter in the 1970s. Most other smaller ponds are also artificial, created for agricultural irrigation and stormwater retention. And, under the ground, four of five of our town’s underlying geologic formations are aquifers of importance, supplying water from underground reservoirs that can be accessed through wells for drinking and watering of plants and crops. This further contributed to where and how farms and suburbs developed.[10]

Swamps, too, have historically been significant. Despite their often-undesirable image, they have substantial ecological value - including filtering out pollutants, providing habitats for a variety of wildlife. And some swamps have notable historic importance - such as "Tatamy's Swamp," associated with one of the Lenape's most significant mid-1700s leaders.[11]

Figure 3: Historical bounds of Tatamy's Swamp.

Flora and Fauna

West Windsor is naturally home to a diversity of vegetation types and wildlife habitats, which has yielded a variety of animal species – including fish, birds, mammals, reptiles, insects, and much more. Commonly spotted are white-tail deer, squirrels, chipmunks, foxes, and even coyotes.[12]

Diverse ecosystems are more resilient to environmental disturbances. Vegetation prevents erosion through root systems and helps mitigate runoff. Leafy and aquatic plants help filter out carbon dioxide and other pollutants from the air and water. Marshes, forests, and meadows have historically supported a diversity of wildlife in West Wind-sor. This, in turn, has allowed humans – whether indigenous, colonial, or modern – to hunt for food, educate themselves about their surroundings, and appreciate the bounty of nature.[13]

However, these resources are increasingly threatened by invasive species - i.e., organisms not native to the West Windsor area. From crops and animals introduced by early colonists to street trees often found in late 20th century and early 21st century suburbs, a variety of invasive species have presented ecological challenges over the generations. Local efforts to combat impacts have included the creation of rain and pollinator gardens, bird/bee/bat houses, and public education efforts.[14]

Figure 4: Flowers off Washington Rd, 2026. From Paul Ligeti.

Land Types

Maintaining the equilibrium of our ecosystem is vital to ensure West Windsor's, and its residents', health and well-being. In order to ensure this outcome, however, it is important to recognize the six general land use categories, as detailed in the Township's "Conservation Plan:"
​

• Urban: Areas with intensive land use where the landscape has been altered by human activities. Although structures are usually present, this category is not restricted to traditional urban areas.
• Agricultural. All lands primarily used for the production of food and fiber and some of the structures associated with this production. 
• Forest: Any lands covered by woody vegetation other than wetlands. These areas are capable of production timber and other wood products, as well as supporting many kinds of outdoor recreation. 
• Water: All areas which are periodically water covered, including streams and canals, natural and artificial lakes, bays, and estuaries.
• Wetlands: Areas inundated or saturated by surface or ground waters, including swamps, marshes, bogs, and savannas.
  Barren Lands: Thin soil, sand, or rocks and a lack of vegetative cover in non-urban setting. Vegetation, if present, is widely spaced.[15]

Figure 5: Land Use/Land Cover. From 2023 Conservation Plan. Click for source.

Habitat Loss

The same characteristics that make for good farmland - namely fertility, gentle slope, depth, and drainage - also make it prime land for urban and suburban development. Combined with other factors - such as a top-rated school system, access to the Northeast Corridor, this has made West Windsor an attractive location for developers to build housing, shopping centers, warehouses, and office complexes. Naturally, as the acreage of suburban neighborhoods and commercial centers has increased, the once-vast expanses of forests and meadows have decreased substantially, putting additional pressures on flora and fauna alike. Over the past several decades, many of West Windsor's important wildlife habitats have disappeared. Gone are much the permeable soils, replaced by impermeable pavement and asphalt - and therefore increased runoff.[16]

Suburban development throughout the 20th century has changed some of West Windsor’s topology. Once-impassable swamps are now cut through by the heavily-trafficked Northeast Corridor rail line, as well as Route 1 and hundreds of suburban streets. Housing projects cover thousands of acres of once-lush farm and woodland. All of this has caused rivers to swell during rains, and flooding to become more frequent in recent decades.[17]

Figure 6: Route 1, 2020. From Paul Ligeti.

Environmental Initiatives

In the 1970s, the West Windsor Environmental Commission recognized this growth and developed the town’s “Greenbelt” – a mostly-uninterrupted expanse of meadows and woodland straddling either side of the town’s major waterways.  Encompassing approximately 2,500 acres – or about fifteen percent of West Windsor’s total area – Greenbelt easements are meant to protect the town’s environmentally-sensitive features, such as its water resources, by filtering out pollutants from the soil and providing habitats for its plants and animals. The Greenbelt also reduces urban heat island effects, muffles noise, serves as a buffer between areas with different land uses, and provides aesthetic and psychological benefits to residents.[18],[19]

The Green Belt has grown over the decades. So, too, have efforts to preserve West Windsor’s “open spaces” – mainly parks, woodland, and farm-land – through municipal taxes, community group initiatives (notably the nonprofit Friends of West Windsor Open Space, formed in the 1990s to help the town acquire and maintain public property), and individual efforts.[20] The Township's Master Plan - a long-term, strategic blueprint that outlines West Windsor's vision for future physical, economic, and social growth over the next few decades - also has various elements related to the environment. The Township also has an "Environmental Resource Inventory" and has undertaken water quality monitoring And, of course, the Shade Tree Commission and Environmental Commission also work to manage West Windsor's natural resources.[21]

Figure 7: Greenbelt. From 2023 Conservation Plan. Click for source.

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Bibliography

1. Burgis, Joseph H, and David Novak. “Master Plan Element Section IX: Conservation Plan Element.” West Windsor Township, New Jersey, November 8, 2023. Part of West Windsor Township's Master Plan. https://www.westwindsortwp.gov/Documents/Departments%20And%20Divisions/Planning%20and%20Zoning/Master%20Plan/Conservation-Plan-Element-110823.pdf?t=202601051134400
2. Ibid.
3. Soderlund, Jean R. Lenape Country Delaware Valley Society before William Penn. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, Inc, 2016.
4. Lenape Virtual Lesson (Full). Lenape Virtual Lesson (Full). Staten Island Greenbelt Conservancy, 2020. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swncArQ3bjE.
5. Burgis, Joseph H, and David Novak. “Master Plan Element Section IX: Conservation Plan Element.” West Windsor Township, New Jersey, November 8, 2023. Part of West Windsor Township's Master Plan. https://www.westwindsortwp.gov/Documents/Departments%20And%20Divisions/Planning%20and%20Zoning/Master%20Plan/Conservation-Plan-Element-110823.pdf?t=202601051134400​
6. Ibid.
7. Ibid.
8. Soderlund, Jean R. Lenape Country Delaware Valley Society before William Penn. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, Inc, 2016.
9. Chirco, Vicki. “A Historic Place.” D&R Canal State Park. Accessed December 25, 2024. https://dandrcanal.org/history.
10. Burgis, Joseph H, and David Novak. “Master Plan Element Section IX: Conservation Plan Element.” West Windsor Township, New Jersey, November 8, 2023. Part of West Windsor Township's Master Plan. https://www.westwindsortwp.gov/Documents/Departments%20And%20Divisions/Planning%20and%20Zoning/Master%20Plan/Conservation-Plan-Element-110823.pdf?t=202601051134400
11. Ibid.
12. Personal observations of the author of this article, Paul Ligeti.
13. Burgis, Joseph H, and David Novak. “Master Plan Element Section IX: Conservation Plan Element.” West Windsor Township, New Jersey, November 8, 2023. Part of West Windsor Township's Master Plan. https://www.westwindsortwp.gov/Documents/Departments%20And%20Divisions/Planning%20and%20Zoning/Master%20Plan/Conservation-Plan-Element-110823.pdf?t=202601051134400
14. Ibid.
15. Ibid.
16. Personal observations of the author of this article, Paul Ligeti.
17. Personal observations of the author of this article, Paul Ligeti.
18. West Windsor Township's Master Plan. https://www.westwindsortwp.gov/Documents/Departments%20And%20Divisions/Planning%20and%20Zoning/Master%20Plan/Conservation-Plan-Element-110823.pdf?t=202601051134400
19. Burgis, Joseph H, and David Novak. “Master Plan Element Section IX: Conservation Plan Element.” West Windsor Township, New Jersey, November 8, 2023. Part of West Windsor Township's Master Plan. https://www.westwindsortwp.gov/Documents/Departments%20And%20Divisions/Planning%20and%20Zoning/Master%20Plan/Conservation-Plan-Element-110823.pdf?t=202601051134400
20. "News of Clubs and Organizations." Town Topics, November 29, 1995.
21. Personal observations of the author of this article, Paul Ligeti.