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DEP PLAYS KEY ROLE IN PRESERVATION OF GLOUCESTER COUNTY FOREST

(08/02) TRENTON * The Department of Environmental Protection has played a crucial role in the preservation of an ecologically important forest in Gloucester County by providing $800,000 for the acquisition of the 100-acre tract, DEP Commissioner Lisa P. Jackson announced today.
"This is one of the largest tracts of unbroken forest in southern Gloucester County ," Commissioner Jackson said. "Conservation of this property benefits the region tremendously by protecting ground water supplies, preserving wildlife habitat, and providing a regional hub in a statewide network of protected parcels of open space."
Of the total purchase price, $400,000 comes from a natural resource damage settlement DEP reached with Chemical Leaman Tank Lines, a chemical trailer-truck washing operation in Logan Township that is now undergoing cleanup as a federal Superfund site. The $400,000 balance was provided as a matching grant from the DEP's Green Acres program.
The forest, known as the Daniels property for its longtime owners, is located along Harrisonville-Ferrell Road in South Harrison Township . Bruce and Jane Daniels retain life rights to a house and eight-acre pasture and will continue to live on the property.
The South Jersey Land and Water Trust, a nonprofit conservation group, acquired the land with the state money and is turning it over to the New Jersey Conservation Foundation. The foundation will manage the land as a regional hub in its Garden State Greenway project, a statewide network of interconnected parks, trails, natural areas, farmland, and historic places.
"This property has been under intense development pressure," said Michele S. Byers, the New Jersey Conservation Foundation's executive director. "Working with the Daniels and our preservation partners has made it possible to protect this forest for wildlife and the enjoyment of future generations."
"The South Jersey Land and Water Trust is very grateful to the Daniels for their dedication to preserving their land and to all of our partners who have worked with us to make this effort a success," said Suzanne McCarthy, board president for the trust. "This forest is truly one of the natural-resource treasures of the Oldmans Creek watershed."
The tract consists predominantly of mixed hardwood forest and forested wetlands dominated by red maple, sweet gum and black gum. Numerous vernal pools provide important breeding habitat for a variety of amphibians. An unnamed tributary of Oldmans Creek runs through the southern edge of the property.
Instrumental to preservation of the forest was the availability of money from a major settlement reached several years ago by the DEP's Office of Natural Resource Restoration. Working in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Office of Natural Resource Restoration won compensation for ecological damage to the Cedar Swamp wetland complex caused by operations at Chemical Leaman Tank Lines several decades ago.
The Office of Natural Resource Restoration has recovered more than $51 million from polluters and has preserved approximately 6,000 acres as compensation for pollution resulting from 1,500 contaminated sites and oil spills.

ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE INVENTORY (ERI) and OPEN SPACE & RECREATION PLAN (OSRP)

A Kickoff meeting for the dual projects was held on Sept. 20, 2007 and was well attended. All members of the Planning Board and of the Environmental Commission were present. The goals, timetable, and expected outcomes of the two projects were reviewed. The need for public input was discussed and for reporting to ANJEC. It was agreed to continue the format of holding a combined meeting of the two groups as this project goes forward, with the understanding that the E.C. will do final review of the ERI and the Planning Board of the OSRP.

At DVRPC, Planner Kelly Rossiter completed a first draft of the ERI. A meeting is being scheduled for January at which this first complete draft will be presented to the joint committee. This may be the right opportunity for a larger public meeting, as well. Digital versions will be provided to the E.C. members so they can review and comment in more detail, in advance of the meeting, the date of which will be decided by the end of December.

Due to the difficult schedules of the DVRPC consultants this fall, a tour of the municipality was not conducted. That will be done at a later date.

Article from the Gloucester County Times about Harrisonville Lake

Fish will move for dam repair

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

By Lucas K. Murray

lmurray@sjnewsco.com

SOUTH HARRISON TWP. Repairs to an aging dam scheduled to commence early this spring will result in the relocation of Lake Harrisonville's fish population, according to state officials. "A recent inspection of the dam revealed deficiencies that warrant action to prevent failure," said state Department of Environmental Protection spokeswoman Karen Hershey. The dam, approximately 15 feet tall and 425 feet long, is listed as a significant hazard on the DEP's Dam Safety and Flood Control program. Statewide, 361 dams are considered "significant hazards." About 50 of them are in Gloucester County. Lake Harrisonville's spillway, a concrete apron connected to the bottom of the dam that allows water overflow to escape the lake, is in need of repair. But to perform the work, the lake's fish need to be removed before construction can begin. The bluegill, pumpkin fish and largemouth bass are in for a shocking experience. Known as "electrofishing," state fish and wildlife authorities will take to the lake, placing booms wired with electricity. "Our boat completes the circuit (around the lake) and puts out a low electric current the fish are drawn to," said Lisa Barno, chief of freshwater fishers for Fish and Waterlife. "It stuns them quickly enough that it allows us to net them." An onboard generator produces the current, which isn't fatal to the fish. Once they're stunned and netted, the dazed fish will be transported 15 miles via truck to nearby Rainbow Lake in Pittsgrove, Salem County. A dam at Rainbow Lake collapsed in May, taking with it a major local thoroughfare. Rainbow Lake lost most of its fish as a result of the collapse and bringing in new fish from Lake Harrisonville is expected to revitalize the waters there. Like the dam at Rainbow Lake, the dam at Lake Harrisonville serves as a bridge, connecting Lake Street and Harrisonville Lake Road. Barno said she won't know just how many fish will be harvested. She has seen bodies of water cleared in a day or two up to a week. The depth of the water plays a large factor into how long it takes. As the project goes on, the lake floor itself poses other problems for fish and wildlife officials, leaving boats and fishers' feet stuck. "When they drain the lake, the sediments at the bottom are mucky," Barno said. "Logistically it can become a problem." As for when the repairs are finally completed and the lake refilled, Hershey said the DEP will restock the lake in the spring when fish from other lake draining projects or fish from the state's hatcheries become available.

2008 FREE RABIES CLINICS

The Gloucester County Animal Shelter now has a list of Free Rabies Clinics. All County residents are allowed to participate in all Free Rabies Clinics. However residents will not be able to purchase township dog / cat licenses outside of your Township.

Additions/improvements to resident's homes will be subject to tax increases due November 1.

Any additions/improvements completed after October 1 will be subject to tax increases by November of the following year. Tax bills mailed out in August do not reflect these tax increases. This is mandated by the state.

When are the taxes due dates?

They are Feb. 1, May 1, Aug. 1 and Nov. 1 There is also a ten day grace period for each quarter.

In an attempt to decrease the amount of false alarms caused by human error, the Township Committee has adopted an Alarm Ordinance (O-07-10) . The final reading of the ordinance will be at the regular township committee meeting on June 13, 2007.