Dec. 2010/Jan. 2011 Volume18 Number 2

Meet the New Rancocas Watershed Ambassador...... 2

Russell Juelg off to NJCF’s Parker Preserve...... 3

Credit: Richard Stockton College of NJ Winter Ecology in Solar carport above parking lot at The Richard Stockton College of NJ. This is an example of a feasible alternative option for the Stafford Landfill project. the Pine Barrens ....4 Diversion Without Compensation: PPA DEP and Pinelands Commission Approve MEMBERandum..6 Solar Facility on Preserved Parkland by Carleton Montgomery & Theresa Lettman Pinelands Solar power is a good thing, since it is and Stafford isn’t volunteering any. The Calendar ...... 7 infinitely renewable and solar panels gen - State House Commission, a committee of erate no direct carbon or other harmful legislators and executive branch officials, emissions. But industrial solar arrays has to give its final approval, which it Upcoming should not be built everywhere. may have done by the time this goes to PPA Events Specifically, they should not be built on press. land that has been preserved for natural In 2006, the Stafford Township Landfill habitat. But that is what the Department Sunday, December 5 was officially closed, and the Pinelands of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Commission approved construction of a Green Trading Post the Pinelands Commission have just shopping mall and houses on threatened endorsed. In mid-November, they and endangered species habitats at what 1:00 - 5:00pm approved Stafford Township’s plan to is now called Stafford Park, through a lease the top of the closed Stafford land - Memorandum of Agreement (MOA). As Bishop Farmstead, fill, which has been designated as pre - Pinelands partial mitigation for the loss of T&E served open space and maintained as habitat, which is supposed to be protect - Preservation Alliance grassland habitat since 2006 , to a private ed by the Pinelands rules, the Township developer to construct a large solar ener - agreed to protect the landfill portion of gy facility . Critically, the agencies are not the site as open space “unmolested” and 17 P EMBERTON ROAD requiring Stafford to provide any com - SOUTHAMPTON , NJ 08068 “in perpetuity.” The land used to be a T - 609.859.8860 pensatory conservation of other land – F - 609.859.8804 landfill; then it was capped; and now it is WWW .PINELANDSALLIANCE .ORG continued on page 5 Inside The Introducing the Rancocas Pinelands Creek Watershed Ambassador

Published six times a year by the Pinelands My name is Caroline as an Ambassador I was able to educate Preservation Alliance DiGiovanni. I am the over 1,000 people about watersheds 2010-2011 AmeriCorps and related issues, train 130 volunteers Watershed in stream monitoring, perform 50 Executive Editor Ambassador for the stream assessments, and organize and Carleton Montgomery Rancocas Creek Watershed participate in cleanups and rain barrel Management Area. AmeriCorps is a building workshops. Through all these national service program started in efforts I was able to recruit over 800 Editor 1993 under the Clinton administration. volunteer hours in the Mullica River Mike Hunninghake It is sometimes referred to as the Watershed Community. domestic Peace Corps. The New Jersey Watershed Ambassadors Program has PPA Staff been hosted in the state by the New Richard Bizub Jersey Department of Environmental Tom Dunn Protection since 2000. Through this program an ambassador is stationed at Becky Free a host agency in each of New Jersey’s Theresa Lettman 20 watershed management areas. The Jaclyn Rhoads objective of each ambassador is to engage the local communities and edu - Jane Wiltshire cate them about water and watershed- related issues. The result is better edu - Credit: Caroline DiGiovanni Distributed to cated citizens able to make more Caroline DiGiovanni informed decisions that will help to PPA members & volunteers, protect our waterways. I have high hopes and expectations for state legislators, my second year of service in the NJ The Rancocas Creek area is 360 square Watershed Ambassador Program. As an Pinelands municipalities, miles and includes all or part of 33 dif - Ambassador, my mission is to educate elected officials, ferent municipalities. The majority of the public about the waterways in our selected officials, the area falls within the western half of area and what they can do to protect Burlington County, with small parts in this precious natural resource. Consider and planning boards Camden and Ocean Counties. The me a FREE resource to our community. major waterways in the area are the I am available to do presentations for North Branch, South Branch and the schools and community groups. I can Mainstem of the Rancocas Creek, which also train volunteers to assess the drains to the Delaware River. Other health of our streams through visual smaller tributaries to the Rancocas and biological assessments. and am Creek include Greenwood Branch, available to help out with various McDonald’s Branch, Haynes Creek and watershed-related activities and festi - Our newsletter is available at: Friendship Creek. My host agencies in vals. Through my efforts I hope to the area are the Rancocas Conservancy encourage everyone in our community www.pinelandsalliance.org and the Pinelands Preservation Alliance. to be a good steward of the environ - ment and our watershed. Printed on 100% recycled I graduated from The Richard Stockton paper (made from post-con - College of New Jersey in May of 2009 Feel free to contact me at this email sumer pulp produced in a with a Bachelors of Science in address: chlorine-free pulping and bleaching process) Environmental Science. My first year out of college I served in the NJ [email protected] Circulation: 550 0 Watershed Ambassador Program as the Mullica River Watershed Management or call (609) 859-8860 x56. Area Ambassador. During my first year 2 Russell Juelg Off to Manage Public Programs at Parker Preserve New at the for NJ Conservation Foundation PPA Store Russell Juelg, our staff naturalist, advocacy before the Pinelands Posters: Fine Art botanical expert, and story-teller Commission and other agencies Pinelands Scenes par excellence, is leaving PPA to know he is a persistent and force - take on a new challenge. Don’t ful advocate for protecting the Beautifully reproduced fine worry, he is not leaving the Pines! Pine Barrens’ rare wildlife and flora. And those of us who have art Pinelands images by followed him into the woods at Albert Horner, on high quality night, with no flashlights, looking for the Jersey Devil know Russell’s poster paper ready to frame. talent for turning a scary tale – Size: 20 ” x 30 ” . Four images and bringing us all back to the to choose from: Wading campfire alive. River Reflections, Martha All of us working and volunteering Pond, Half Moon Bog, and at PPA are grateful for Russell’s Credit: PPA dedication and companionship Sunrise at Apple Pie Hill . over the last ten years. Thank goodness he is staying in the Price: $29.95 Russell entertaining folks on an Pines, and we can all continue to Overnight Canoe Trip in 2005 learn about the beauties and mys - Shop the online PPA store or stop Russell will be designing and lead - teries of the Pine Barrens in his by the Pinelands Visitor Center ing public programs for the capable hands. Franklin Parker Preserve of the New Jersey Conservation Foundation (NJCF). The Parker Preserve is the ATTENTION BOY 9,600-acre nature preserve around SCOUTS! Green Trading Post the village of Chatsworth that used to be the DeMarco cranberry farm December 5, 15 pm Starting in January 2011, until the DeMarcos placed it in preservation through a conserva - PPA will be offering at PPA ’ s Bishop Farmstead tion sale to NJCF. Shop for “ green ” gifts Workshops for the for the holidays! All those thousands of children following Merit Badges: and adults who have explored the Participating organizations Pine Barrens with Russell know will include: Environmental Science, what a great impact he has had on Pinelands Preservation Alliance Pinelands conservation since com - Soil and Water Conserve Wild Foundation of NJ ing to this region more than a Conservation, NJ Audubon Society decade ago. Those who attended Geology and Weather . PPA’s Special Pinelands Plants Whitesbog Preservation Trust Course know the depth of knowl - edge Russell developed, and com - For more information Woodford Cedar Run municated, about the Pinelands’ contact Wildlife Refuge unique botanical heritage. Those [email protected] who have been the object of his Profits help support the missions of the various conservation groups.

3 Winter Ecology in the Pine Barrens by Tony Geiger, New Jersey Audubon Society Kurt Vonnegut wrote that the sea - Consequently the best places to Remember not to become discour - sons should be renamed – “sum - find birds are places that offer food aged. Unless you frequent the mer, locking, lockdown, unlocking.” - places with seeds, berries and woods, you simply won’t see many I sometimes think about the winter hibernating insects. Running water mammals. That being said, some as “lockdown”. ‘Why would I want or otherwise open water is another interesting winter mammals to seek to go out and look for animals good cue. Finally, a place with shel - out in the pines are: red squirrel, now?’ I think. What I often forget is ter from the elements, which is flying squirrel, river otter, mink, that, although we often remain pretty much any place in the Pine raccoon, red fox, gray fox, and coy - indoors, nature is not locked down Barrens offers a good chance to ote. Black bear have been sighted in in the winter, especially not in the spot birds. the Pines on occasion, but the odds Pine Barrens. Don’t ignore a flock of Yellow- of seeing one in winter are slim. Winter brings a different light to rumped Warblers or Tufted Titmice the “big woods” of Southern New – in winter, less common species Credit: Tony Geiger Jersey and a changing of the guard mix with common ones. Some birds in terms of which species to look to expect in the Pines in winter are for. There’s no need to pack up the Cedar Waxwing, Pine Siskin, binoculars and camera in Eastern Bluebird, Belted Kingfisher, December, January, February. Bring Fox Sparrow, Yellow-bellied a warm coat, hat, gloves, possibly Sapsucker, Brown Creeper, Red- even foot and hand warmers. Lastly, breasted Nuthatch, Red-shouldered bring two thoughts along in your Hawk, and, with patience, Red- pockets: birds and mammals. While headed Woodpecker. Birds to hope the plant life has been reduced to for, and that have been present in evergreens, aquatic life has gone the past, are crossbills, owls, Snow tracks, Goshen Pond dormant, and the insects and her - Evening Grosbeak, Common You may ask “Where exactly can petiles have become inactive - the Redpoll, Common Raven, Northern you go in the Pine Barrens to find birds and many mammals push on. Shrike, and with lots of luck, the wildlife you’ve mentioned?” Pileated Woodpecker. Anywhere! My destinations would be Batsto Village, Franklin Parker Credit: Tony Geiger Now let’s talk mammals. Tracks are important when seeking mammals Preserve, Apple Pie Hill, Rancocas because they are more elusive than Nature Center, Lake Lenape Park, birds. Stream banks, mud, soft Makepeace Lake, Unexpected sand, and fresh snow are all good Wildlife Refuge, Woodford Cedar places to look for mammal tracks Run Wildlife Refuge, Estell Manor and the best time to glimpse mam - Park, and Edwin B. Forsythe mals is dawn or dusk. An almost National Wildlife Refuge, to name a unavoidable mammal in the Pines few. Information and directions to in winter is the white-tailed deer. all of these wildlife-viewing sites is available at Otter, Bear Creek http://www.njwildlifetrails.org, or Now is the time to become familiar Credit: Tony Geiger by contacting PPA. Don’t let your - with the birds that spend their win - self get locked down – visit the ters in the New Jersey Pine Barrens. Pine Barrens in winter. If you don’t Species are less diverse in winter, see any wildlife, the worst you can but those that remain are conspicu - say is that you went for a walk in ous. Aside from hanging a feeder, the woods and it was probably going into the woods is the best quite peaceful. way to find birds. A Chickadee can Tony Geiger works for New Jersey Audubon only live 24 hours on its fat reserves Society and was project manager for the NJ – what does that mean for a Birding & Wildlife Trails Pine Barrens & Kinglet, Brown Creeper, Winter Beyond series. He is currently a teacher-nat - Wren, or other birds of similar uralist at Rancocas Nature Center in Mount weight? They must eat constantly Holly, NJ, and a freelance graphic artist. to maintain their weight. Red-shoulder hawk, Weymouth 4 Stafford Open Space Diversion continued from cover page parkland containing important reading of the diversion rules in Pine Barrens habitat, including habitat for rare order to make it easy for municipal - and threatened species. ities to develop preserved land. Hall of Fame The Township seeks to develop this Contrary to the express provisions of Highlights from the habitat by leasing the conserved the regulations, DEP says the Nov. 6 awards ceremony area to the private developer for municipality can develop preserved construction of a solar energy facil - land via a long-term lease if it ity. The Commissioner of DEP says merely puts the lease payments to he will release the conservation its local recreation and open space deed restriction. Under pressure efforts – with no requirement at all from the Christie Administration, for compensatory land. Since such the Pinelands Commission is arrangements will operate in perpe - ammending the MOA. The state tuity and provide for the permanent DEP Commissioner is recommend - alteration of parkland, this reading ing that the State House completely undermines the rules’ Commission approve the Green stated protections: It removes the Acres diversion, with no compensa - core requirement that the public be Credit: Steve Woods tory purchase of other parkland. compensated for the loss of park - land with new parkland, and elimi - Pine Barrens Hall of Fame inductee Richard The Pinelands Preservation Alliance Sullivan (front left) with his family thinks the Stafford plan represents nates all financial disincentives from bad policy and a broken promise. developing preserved parkland on any scale and for any purpose. Prior to this case, citizens had good reason to believe State law protects On the outcome of this issue hangs open space which municipalities the credibility of the promises gov - hold for conservation. The law says ernment makes to the public when any municipality which receives it purports to protect land for con - state open space funding cannot servation in perpetuity. For more develop any of its conserved land information, including PPA’s sub - without going through a demand - missions to the various government ing legal process called “Green Acres agencies, and the DEP decision, diversion.” The diversion rules were please go to our web site at designed to restrict development of www.pinelandsalliance.org/protecti Credit: Steve Woods on/work/currentissues. conserved land only to cases where Hall of Fame inductee Betty Wilson (left) it is truly necessary, a “last resort,” receives her award (a pine barrens tree frog statue) from John Stokes, Executive for the municipality – not just Director of the NJ Pinelands Commission something a town would like to do. PINELANDS The rules also require that when it does happen, the local government COMMISSION must provide more new conserva - tion land than it diverts. For a MEETINGS development by a private company which will get the benefit of the Friday, Dec. 10, 9:30am development, the rules require 4 acres of new conservation land for January meeting: TBA each 1 acre of diverted land. In its decision, DEP circumvents the OPEN TO THE PUBLIC Credit: Steve Woods strictures of these regulations by PPAʼs Theresa Lettman (left) receiving special adopting an extremely lenient – CALL (609) 8947300 recognition from Executive Director Carleton and, we believe, clearly incorrect – Montgomery for her 20 years of service FOR DETAILS with the organization

5 PPA MEMBERandum: Beth & Bill Byrnes

PPA: How long have you been a more interested in the policy and member of PPA? outreach – because of seeing how 2 2 N D A N N U A L much the folks at PPA care. B & B: We have been PPA mem - P I N E L A N D S bers since 1993. Bill: Russell’s outdoor adventures. I have done canoeing, hiking, S H O R T C O U R S E PPA: What prompted you to cougar hunting and survival with become members? him, and each one has been a SATURDAY, great experience — other than his MARCH 26 Beth: I spent almost every year of wish to make me cougar-bait! my childhood camping at Parvin State Park, and I love being “in the woods”. PPA is dedicated to PPA: What has PPA done for you BURLINGTON or your family? making sure generations to come COUNTY COLLEGE can also be “in the woods”. B & B: PPA has given us the Bill: The outdoor adventures that chance to explore areas of the PPA sponsors and all the great Pinelands that we might not have PEMBERTON people involved in the organiza - seen on our own. It has also edu - TOWNSHIP tion. cated us, so we can better under - stand and enjoy the time spent there. We have brought family and friends out to events, and they For more information: have also had a chance to see and Ph: (609) 8947300 learn. We also enjoy volunteering, and PPA has given us that oppor - Email: tunity. [email protected]

PPA: Why would you urge others to join PPA? B & B: Every year, we give family

Credit: Beth Byrnes and friends “gift” memberships to PPA….our way of encouraging Fairs & Beth and Bill Byrnes them to belong to PPA. This PPA: What PPA programs or organization not only keeps tabs events have you attended? on legislation that affects the Festivals Pinelands, but provides opportu - B & B: We have done nearly all nities for folks to learn about the Saturday, February 5 the outdoor events – canoeing Pines and enjoy them. Belonging and hiking are two of our favorite to PPA is a great way to help pre - Cumberland County activities. We also attend the serve our local environment. Pinelands Discovery Festival- Winter Eagle Festival often volunteering out on the air - field parking cars, and we’ve also Tour de Pines Mauricetown Firehall, attended some of the presenta - Noble Street, tions held at the Bishop Mauricetown Farmstead. 8:00am  4:00pm PPA: What specific PPA activity (outreach, policy, Adventures, etc.) Stop by the PPA has really impressed you? exhibit and check Beth: I am impressed most of all out our Pinelands by the passion that each person has for what they do. My first love resources, informa  will always be wandering around Credit: PPA tion and gear! the woods, but I have become 2010 Tour de Pines riders on a sunny October Sunday afternoon in Brenden Byrne State Forest 6 BOARD OF TRUSTEES Pinelands Calendar of Events Hon. Brendan Byrne Honorary Chair Former Governor, State of New Jersey December 2010 & January 2011

Howard P. Boyd NOTE: Names, addresses, and Presentations: Batsto Auditorium. 7:30pm at Atsion. Neither the Trustee Emeritus phone numbers are provided More Information: Linda, 609- longest night nor the longest Pinelands Author here for frequently mentioned 561-1665. hike. Look for Jupiter and Saturn Richard J. Sullivan event sponsors. Please contact to be in full brilliance. Leaders: Albert Music Hall - Holiday Show Trustee Emeritous the sponsor of the event for full Dave and Julie Hegelein, 856- information and details of the 235-8792. OCSJ. David F. Moore 7:30-11:30pm. Albert Music Hall, event. 131 Wells Mill Road (Rt. 532), Chair Wednesday, December 29 Waretown, NJ. Program features Jacques Cousteau National Leon M. Rosenson, Ph.D. a live stage concert of bluegrass, Apple Pie Hill Hike Esturine Research Reserve Vice Chair country and traditional music by Retired, Liposome Company (JCNERR) (609) 812-0649, 8-9 miles, moderate pace (3mph). regional bands from the tri-state www.jcnerr.org 10am. Hike the Robert Tucker, Ph.D. area. $5/adults, free admission from/ to Carranza. Bring Lunch. Treasurer Outdoor Club of children 11 years old and under. Meet at the Carranza Memorial. Retired Scientist (OCSJ). Call leaders to confirm Light refreshments and gift items Because of the school holiday trip. www.ocsj.org may be purchased. Sponsored by Anne E. Heasly children are welcome if they can Pinelands Cultural Society . More Secretary Pinelands Preservation Alliance handle the distance but will Conservation Consultant Information: 609 971-1593. (PPA) 17 Pemberton Rd., require a responsible adult mem - Southampton. (609) 859-8860. Saturday, December 11 ber to keep control. Leashed pets www.pinelandsalliance.org. 10% ok. Leaders: Joe Hummel, 856- Timothy J. Byrne Belleplain Beginners Hike Attorney discount on Pinelands Adventures 235-8817 and Bill Poulson, 856- programs to PPA members. Pre- 8-9 miles. This is a great hike at a 983-7609. OCSJ. registration required for all PPA moderate pace with a rich variety Charles M. Chapin Saturday, January 1, 2011 Upper Raritan Watershed Association programs. of habitats: Atlantic white cedar and mixed hardwood swamps, New Years Day Hike Ocean County Parks (OCP), Emile DeVito, Ph.D. oak-hickory forest, old fields, 1-877-OCPARKS ext. 5940, 6-7 miles, 10am. Moderate pace. New Jersey Conservation Foundation freshwater lakes. Meet at [email protected] Start the year right with a hike. Belleplain Main Office. Off of Work off those holiday meals and John Dighton, Ph.D. Whitesbog Preservation Trust Route 550, between Woodbine cookies. Bring lunch and bever - Director, Rutgers Pinelands Field Station (W). All events meet at the and Belleplain Bring lunch and age. Meet at Atsion, in field next Whitesbog General Store. water. OCSJ. Thomas B. Harvey to the office. Leaders: Christine Historic Whitesbog, mile marker Attorney Sunday, December 12 Denneler, 856-461-5379, Pat 13, Rt. 530, Pemberton Burton, 856-767-8064. OCSJ. Township. (609) 893-4646, Michael Gallaway Cattus Island County Park Hike www.whitesbog.org. Wednesday, January 19 Sierra Club 4 or 7 miles, moderate pace. Sunday, December 5th 10:30am. This park is a jewel of Terrapins on Great Bay Janet Jackson-Gould the Jersey shore with great views The Wharton Homes of the 7 - 8:00 pm. Great Bay Boulevard Nonprofit Consultant of the bay and surrounding wet - Guilded Age or Seven Bridges Road in Little lands. Four-mile loop before Egg Harbor extends approximate - Don Kirchhoffer 1:00pm, Basto Visitors Center. lunch and three after. Directions: ly 5 miles into estuarine emergent Speaker: Bill Schaal, BCCI Rt. 37 East. Three miles east of wetlands and prime Northern Blanche Krubner Chairman. "The Wharton Homes Parkway, turn left onto Rt. 627 diamondback terrapin nesting League of Women Voters of the Guilded Age": Wealthy (Vaughn Avenue). Then right on habitat. In 2009, Conserve industrialists of the late nine - Bay Avenue, left on Fischer Loretta Pickus Wildlife Foundation of NJ began teenth century created opulent Boulevard and right on Cattus a project to help reduce road kills Attorney, Former Vice President of Legal Affairs, homes and estates to reflect their Island Boulevard. Then turn left Trump Entertainment Resorts along Great Bay Blvd. Discover power and position. Joseph into park. Drive in 0.5 mile and terrapins, their threats, CWF’s Wharton remodeled the big house park in third lot. Leader: Bruce Jessica Rittler Sanchez, Ph.D. work, and the many challenges at the village of Batsto into the Steidel, 609-915-0956 bstei - Water Resource Planner associated with the project. mansion we know today. Lesser [email protected]. OCSJ. Speaker: Ben Wurst Register Via known are two other estates he Harry Shallcross, Ph.D. Tuesday, December 14 Phone by calling Melanie at created around the same time. Health and Human Services Consultant (609)812-0649 X206. JCNERR. Ontalauna was the family's Atsion to Batsto Hike Kevin Sparkman "headquarters" in suburban If your organization is having an while Marbella, in 12 miles, moderate pace. Follow Fusionspark Media activity you would like to see list - Jamestown, Rhode Island provid - the Yellow Trail from Atsion to Batsto. Meet in the parking lot at ed, contact Inside the Pinelands, Richard Turner ed a summertime retreat. These impressive homes will be dis - Batsto for reverse shuttle to 17 Pemberton Road, Atsion. Get in the miles you need Nan Hunter-Walnut cussed utilizing historic and pres - Southampton, NJ 08088; ph: Pine Barrens Coalitio n ent day photographs, as well as and keep the holiday pounds off. (609) 859-8860; e-mail Leaders: Toni, 609-652-0112 and recollections of the Wharton [email protected]. Jan, 609-404-4990. OCSJ. Angela Wenger Family. Tours will follow. Cost: Next deadline: December 15, 2010 New Jersey Academy of Aquatic Sciences $10. Reservations: mail check Saturday, December 18 made out to: BCCI, PO Box 93, Go to the Events Calendar on Elwood, NJ 08217.; please print: Almost Full Cold Moon Hike PPA’s website for a comprehen - Carleton K. Montgomery Name Phone Number Email Your 7 miles, moderate pace. Meet sive listing of events. Executive Director, Pinelands Preservation Alliance cancelled check is your receipt.

7 Pinelands Preservation Alliance Address Service Requested Nonprofit Organization Bishop Farmstead U.S. Postage 17 Pemberton Road PAID Southampton, NJ 08088 Permit #12 Vincentown, NJ 08088 Inside: New Rancocas Watershed Ambassador  p. 2 Russell Juelg off to NJCF ’s Parker Preserve  p. 3 Winter Ecology in the Pines  p. 4 Pine Barrens Hall of Fame Gallery  p. 5 PPA MEMBERandum p. 6 Calendar of Events  p. 7

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Membership Categories Follow Pinelands ALL MEMBERS RECEIVE: Basic  $35 A PPA membership card Preservation Alliance on A year’s subscription to Inside the Pinelands Family  $60 A PPA window sticker Facebook: Sponsor $100  Discounts on PPA merchandise and events www.facebook.com/Pinelands Patron  $250 A Sponsor will receive an Exploring the Pine Barrens of New Jersey map Benefactor $500  A Patron will receive a copy of The Pine Barrens: Up Close and Natural DVD Chairman’s Circle  $1,000 A Benefactor will receive a Pinelands Botanical Print by Robin Jess A member of the Chairman’s Circle will receive a personalized tour of the Pinelands Other  _____

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