Oct-Nov-2017-State-Of-The-Pinelands
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Oct / Nov 2017 Volume 24 Number 6 Ghost Forests Come to New Jersey . 3 Dunes are Critical: A Conservation Update . 4 Conservation Ballot Measure . .6 Pinelands Commissioners Lloyd, McGlinchey, Lohbauer, Galletta, Earlen and Prickett prepare to vote (left to right). Pinelands Events . 7 Good News / Bad News from the Commission “Pinelands” by Carleton Montgomery, Executive Director For the first time in its history, the against the land with little or no repercus - Photography Pinelands Commission passed a resolution sions. Exhibit that will greatly reduce damages caused by State Park Police have worked to control off-road vehicles within Wharton State Nov. 4th to Dec. 10th the deluge of ORV activity, but have been Forest. The resolution designates only hampered by a lack of clear guidance on This juried exhibit of those sand roads marked on specific USGS where people can and cannot drive. This images from the topographical maps as being available for resolution will allow officials to keep Pinelands National use by motorized vehicles. Reserve is on display vehicles on roads and out of sensitive areas. at our headquarters. But for the second time in 2017 the It will allow Park Police to issue citations See stunning images Commission approved a high-pressure with the confidence that users have clear of the landscape, natural gas transmission pipeline in information about where they can and people and history violation of Pinelands rules. This happened cannot drive. that make this place at their monthly meeting at the War so special. The Department of Environmental Memorial Theater in Trenton on Protection (DEP) tried to implement a September 14th. Exhibit Hours: motorized access plan in August 2015 to Mon. - Fri.: 10am - 4pm The Commission’s resolution means there protect Wharton State Forest. Ultimately Sundays: Noon to 5pm. is finally a map of Wharton State Forest the DEP Commissioner withdrew the plan, Learn more: that shows a responsible way to explore its and the DEP has since done nothing to www.pinelandsalliance.org 122,800 acres of open space. Because of the designate appropriate routes for motorized vast area and limited funding for law vehicles – even removing signs meant to 17 P EMBERTON ROAD enforcement, Wharton has become known keep vehicles out of streams and wetlands. SOUTHAMPTON , NJ 08088 throughout the northeastern United States Under pressure from PPA and citizens who T - 609.859.8860 F - 609.859.8804 as an area where off-road vehicle (ORV) care about the State Forests, the Pinelands WWW .PINELANDSALLIANCE .ORG users could challenge their machines Commission picked up the issue in 2015 continued on page 5 Inside The Another Great Year for the Pinelands Tour de Pines Published six times a year by the Pinelands A record number of people registered to more information on the Tour de Pines Preservation Alliance ride the 13th annual Tour de Pines and other events organized by the bicycle ride organized by the Pinelands Pinelands Preservation Alliance on our Executive Editor Preservation Alliance – 336 people website www.pinelandsalliance.org. signed up to ride all or part of this five Carleton Montgomery day tour of the Pinelands National Reserve. Editor This year’s Tour took place from Becky Free October 4th to the 8th. All rides are loop 2017 Tour de Pines rides and range from 45-50 miles. On The 2017 Tour de Pines was a PPA Staff three of the days we offered an addition - al shorter loop of 22-28 miles. Riders can huge success. We offer our thanks Richard Bizub choose how many days they want to to the following sponsors: Tom Dunn ride. This year our rides started at Estell Audra Hardoon Manor Park in Atlantic County, Laurita Winery in New Egypt, historic Batsto Team Tour Sponsors Jason Howell Village in Wharton State Forest, Jakes Jersey Shore Cycle Club Ryan Rebozo Branch County Park in Beachwood and Pinelands Adventures Jaclyn Rhoads on the last day we rode from PPA’s Headquarters in Southampton. Wells Fargo Financial Services Stephen Sebastian Flying Fish Brewing Co. This event would not be possible if it Katie Smith wasn’t for the volunteer planning Jane Wiltshire committee who spend hours of their Bicycle Shop Sponsors own time planning the rides, checking Bicycles Unlimited Pinelands Adventures the routes, and promoting and Forked River, NJ Rob Ferber organizing the event. Beachwood Bicycles Barnes Laucks Our heartfelt thanks go to the 2017 Beachwood, NJ committee: Wayne Cahilly, Harry John Volpa Chaikin, Mickey Coen, Bob Cummings, Harts Cyclery Helen Dudar, Anita Garner, Dick Pennington, NJ Distributed to Gouldey, Michael Hardy, John Keenan, PPA members & volunteers, Kevin Kristian, Chris Monchinski, Dan Shore Brake Cyclery Brant Beach, NJ state legislators, Rappoport, Daniel Sferas, Susan Soesbe, Pinelands municipalities, Jay Stephens, Ed and Patricia Troike, Tuckahoe Bike Shop elected officials, and Jim Wheatcroft. Tuckahoe, NJ selected officials, The Pine Barrens provides some and planning boards Village Bicycle amazing places to ride your bicycle. Tuckerton, NJ Places where you can still find country Mailing services generously roads with low traffic, forests, farmland, donated by Swift Mailing Tour Supporters Services of Bristol, PA and coastal views. The Tour de Pines is (www.swiftmailing.com) about the experience of being out in the Pinelands and appreciating all that has Cahilly Horticultural Services Printed on 100% recycled paper been protected. We hope that all riders (made from post-consumer pulp Pemberton-Pyramid Lodge No. 92 produced in a chlorine-free who participate will also consider pulping and bleaching process) advocating for its protection. Tate & Tate Certified Court Reporters Circulation: 550 0 Next year’s Tour de Pines will take Wheelies Bicycles of Medford place October 3rd to the 8th - so mark Available online at your calendars for 2018! You can get www.pinelandsalliance.or g 2 Ghost Forests come to New Jersey by Jason Howell, Stewardship Coordinator In June we released the video Barrens to preserving the habitat within the the Bay: An Aquifer Flows to It as part of Pinelands National Reserve. These ghost our Save the Source campaign forests are a prominent visual example (www.SaveTheSource.org) to raise aware - showing some of the consequences of ness about the need to protect the over-withdrawal from the Kirkwood- Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer - the source Cohansey aquifer system. of water that the plants, animals and humans depend on in this region. One town in the Pinelands has been working hard to conserve water, and that During the filming we found evidence of town is Hammonton. Hammonton’s a little reported, but important topic publically owned water utility operates involving the issue of sea level rise and four wells that draw water primarily from aquifer withdrawal. While exploring the the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer. PPA lower Mullica and Wading Rivers with and the Association of New Jersey Barnegat Bay Partnership Project Environmental Commissions (ANJEC) Aerial view of ghost forests of Atlantic White Coordinator Martha Maxwell-Doyle, we have been supporting their efforts with a Cedar along the Mullica River. came upon a stand of Atlantic White communications campaign to raise Cedar that had been killed after salt water awareness among the town’s citizens and inundation from Hurricane Sandy in businesses. Hammonton’s work has led Pinelands Juried 2012. There it was - a ghost forest of dead to a 37% reduction in water usage in the trees standing there at the edge of the town between 2011 and 2015. If this Photography Mullica River. See the whole video at water reduction can be replicated in other www.SavetheSource.org. Pinelands towns these cumulative savings Exhibit could help keep our coastal wetlands Atlantic White Cedar trees can’t survive healthy. from Nov. 4th to Dec. 10th prolonged exposure to salt water. Martha explained, “The impact of saltwater inun - We should not forget that the systems that dation on some of the ecosystems here, feed the aquifer, the wetlands, and the PPA Headquarters especially after Hurricane Sandy, was that 17 Pemberton Rd. streams also make it possible for us to sur - Southampton, NJ 08088 salt water moved in and the trees were not vive. We are as dependent on this system able to adapt… as you get into fresh water as any of the streams and wetlands or you will see along the edges healthy stands plants and animals. The difference is that This juried exhibit Celebrating a of cedar trees, but . as the salt water line it is up to us to fight to keep the system Bold Vision - Our Country’s First moves up into these systems, these trees healthy. Without active conservation, National Reserve is now open. will die.” enforcement of water allocations, and View 71 stunning photographs active monitoring, we will continue to see taken within the boundaries of It is hard for people to make the connec - the Pinelands National Reserve. tion between the water that comes out of losses to habitat and water supply. That is why we are asking you to make this one of The exhibit is on display in the their faucet and the water that we find in newly renovated barn at our our wetlands and estuaries – but they are your top issues in the coming months and headquarters. intimately connected. If humans are years. This topic will have dramatic conse - using more water for daily activities than quences if ignored and we need you join the ecosystem can support, it exacerbates us in working to reduce the impact of Exhibit Hours: the impacts of salt water intrusion. increasing water usage and withdrawal. Learn more about how to take action on Martha said, “If you are drawing down on Mon. - Fri.: 10am - 4pm your aquifer because there is more our website www.SavetheSource.org and Sundays: Noon to 5pm.