Open Trails NJ staff participated with other groups in a small volunteer activity to protect four sensitive intermittent ponds in Wharton State Forest. This activity furthers the protection of sensitive areas without requiring mass road closures. We are thankful to the DEP for continuing to forge relationships with the stakeholder groups in their mission to protect the forest and look forward to participating in future protection projects!
Read the DEP Press Release for details.
The DEP has announced that they will be allowing vehicle access to two of the Enivronmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA) during hunting season this year. A pass can be picked up at Atsion or Batsto offices. The passes are valid from 9/24/16 – 01/01/17. The specific ESAs that will be accessible have not been identified, but we will seek clarification on which will accessible and update you.
Full detail provided by the DEP is as follows:
2016 WHARTON STATE FOREST HUNTER VEHICLE ACCESS PROGRAM
In 2016, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) designated areas on Wharton State Forest to be environmentally sensitive areas (ESA’s) for plants or wildlife. As a result, the State Park Service installed signage to advise motorists accordingly as to the locations of these ESAs and State Park Police have vigorously enforced off-road offenders.
The DEP is providing limited, off season vehicle access to licensed hunters into two specific areas. No cost vehicle access passes shall be issued as part of in-person registration at Wharton State Forest’s Atsion or Batsto park offices during normal business hours. One pass shall be issued to each hunter holding a valid automobile driver’s license. The pass must be carried in the vehicle while driven within the two specific ESA’s and left in plain view in the windshield whenever parked with the hunter afield. Additionally, the vehicle access passes are non-transferable.
State Park Police may issue summonses to any driver operating within the two specific EASs who fails to possess the hunter vehicle access pass. Additionally, motorists may NOT operate vehicles off the roadway. No entering fields, bogs, swamps or adjacent woodlands.
Passes will be available at 9:00 A.M. on Saturday, September 24, 2016, and will expire on January 31, 2017 coinciding with the duration of the Winter Bow Season. The program will be evaluated throughout the fall and early winter for next year. Hunters must abide by established seasons and regulations while afield.
Questions regarding the program should be directed to the Wharton State Forest Superintendent at 609.561.0074
Now that the heat of summer is breaking, we plan to get back out to 
Jemima Mount to complete the project we started there. We will finish filling the trenches with deadfall to prevent further erosion. We will also be extending one of the railings to prevent go arounds. The first part of the project that we completed in the spring has been a great success so far, proving that we can create solutions to problems without mass road closures. Let’s keep up the good work! Please join us!
Event Details:
You can meet us at Atsion Ranger Station and 9:00 AM 10/2. If your vehicle is not able to make the trip, we can carpool. Alternatively, you can meet directly at Jemima around 9:30AM. Any questions, please post in the comments.
-We will be dragging nearby deadfall into the trenches so it is recommended you wear a good pair of work gloves.
-Wear long long pants and bring plenty of bug spray to prevent chiggers and ticks
-This is a family friendly event but all minors must be accompanied by an adult
-If you are attending, please RSVP to this event so we can get a rough headcount.
One of the lightning rod issues in the battle over the MAP was the damage that has been done at Jemima Mount. It was used an example and pictured in nearly every newspaper article about the MAP. Ironically, Jemima Mount had already been closed to motor vehicles for well over a decade. However, no other actions were taken and damage continued unabaited. Open Trails NJ was founded on the premise of creating practical solutions that will actually SOLVE these issues. Open Trails has proposed a protection project to the DEP and this project was accepted. We will once and for all protect Jemima and remove it as a talking point for those who want to eliminate recreational access in the forest. To accomplish this goal we will be sponsoring a volunteer event on June 5th. We will only be able to accept a limited number of volunteers for this activity so we will take volunteers on a first come, first serve basis. If you are interested in attending, please email us at info@opentrailsnj.org Additional information will be forthcoming.
The DEP released their new plan at the stakeholder meeting last night, which OTNJ and other stakeholder groups were a part of.
The plan consists of stepping up enforcement and protecting environmentally sensitive areas. Technology and equipment, including cameras, helicopters, drones and new vehicles will be brought to bear to enforce rules that already exist and are in place.
The plan does not include mass, indiscriminate, closures of roads. Entrances to the forest will be marked with signs that warn that the area is patrolled and the laws will be enforced. Violators will face stiff fines including possible impoundment of vehicles. The signs posted will help charges to be able to be upheld in court, a previous serious impediment to enforcement. Focus on maintenance will be increased, however, it is acknowledged that there is a shortfall between what is wanted and the funding available.
This plan was forged with input from thousands of stakeholders including environmental groups, hunters, hikers, kayakers, horseback riders and 4×4 enthusiasts. In any compromise, not everyone will be 100% happy, but this is a plan that no reasonable person could disagree with.
We aplaud the DEP for their efforts and we are hopeful that all groups, including those that originally supported the MAP, can now unify support for this reasonable and effective approach.
We will continue to provide updates as we get them.
Tread Lightly! is a national organization that promotes responsible
recreation through stewardship, communication and education. Recently, some of the OTNJ staff attended a Tread Lightly! “train the
trainer” course and our own Pola Galie will be giving a Tread Lightly! talk on Sunday, 4/17/16 at the Lighthouse Center for Natural Resource Education, Waretown, NJ at 3:00 PM (More details to follow) We are excited about the new opportunities this relationship with Tread Lightly! will bring!
The Pinelands Commission meeting this past Friday was well attended. Due to our rapid response we were able to head off any immediate resolutions regarding the invalid 2014 topographical map, but the battle continues. The Pinelands Commission has resolved to look at areas within Wharton that require protection. Open Trails will follow this process every step of the way, assist where possible, and fight against any overly restrictive policies. Open Trails NJ has been fighting to protect your rights for 8 months and we will continue to do so for as long as it takes. Today, we are announcing OTNJ membership! You can support OTNJ by volunteering, becoming a member or both. Our yearly membership price is $25, however, for a limited time, we are offering our memberships for a discounted price of $20! By joining you Open Trails, you will get the following: Our exclusive Open Trails decal, Open Trails Membership card and a Quarterly Newsletter. Additional member benefits will be added over time!
The Pinelands Commission is going to discuss the MAP on Friday, March 11th and they need to hear from you. Click here to provide your feedback. It will take less than one minute of your time. It is critically important that they hear from you!
As you enjoy this spring like day, remember that spring is right around the corner and will be bringing with it more volunteer opportunities with OTNJ. We need your help! If you haven’t already,
please sign up to volunteer with us. You can contribute as much or as little as you like! Please click here for details and sign up today!