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Conflict With Delaware River Wild and Scenic Plan – Resolution Calls for DEP To Conduct Open Public Planning Process Before Any Tree Cuts

graceful sycamore hangs over the Delaware River at Bull's Island. DEP Plan would clearcut this tree.

Following the recommendation of the Environmental Commission, the Alexandria Township Committee tonight unanimously passed a Resolution formally opposing DEP’s proposed clear cut plan for Bull’s Island State Park.

Mayor Gabe Plumer who introduced the Resolution, just shook his head in amazement at some of the senseless things DEP does.

The Resolution highlights the ecological and recreational significance of the trees on the Island, especially in light of the Lower Delaware Wild and Scenic River Management Plan.

Alexandria Township is one of 12 NJ river towns in Warren, Hunterdon, and Mercer counties that are located in the Delaware Wild and Scenic Corridor who have endorsed the Delaware Wild and Scenic Management Plan.

The other NJ Delaware River towns include (south to north):

Hopewell, West Amwell, Lambertville, Stockton, Delaware, Kingwood, Frenchtown, Milford, Holland, Lopatcong, and Harmony.

We hope that Alexandria’s leadership paves the way for all municipalities and Counties along the river to oppose DEP’s clearcut plan, as public opposition mounts to DEP’s senseless “war on killer trees“.

DEP simply can not be allowed to make destructive unilateral decisions of this magnitude that so dramatically impact public lands and State parks with no public involvement or formal environmental review process.

The Resolution was forwarded to DEP Commissioner Bob Martin and the D&R Canal Commission, who would review any DEP plan for the Island.

The Canal Commission’s review is sure to be interesting, given that Governor Christie and DEP Commissioner Bob Martin tried to abolish the Commission, a move that was blocked by the Legislature.

The D&R Canal Commission next meets on June 20, when the issue is sure to emerge again as an item of growing concern to the Commissioners. At their last meeting, the Commissioners agreed to request the DEP provide a public presentation of their plans.

The Lower Delaware Wild and Scenic River Management Committee also meets on June 28 in Frenchtown, and the Alexandria Resolution and DEP’s clearcut plans are on the agenda.

That Committee oversees the Delaware management plan and is part of the National Parks Service wild and scenic river program

In the interim, DEP’s clearcut plan has been blocked by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, due to the presence of federally protected species, including roosting Indiana bat and nesting warbler species.

Below is the full text of the Alexandria Resolution.

I would like to applaud and thank the Environmental Commission members, especially Barb Daniello and Michelle Garay, and the Township Committee, who like the Lorax stood up for the trees and were a pleasure to work with. It is a real treat to see mature adults so effectively cooperate and govern in the public interest:

Whereas Alexandria Township is located along a designated segment of the lower Delaware River and is part of the designated Wild and Scenic River corridor; and 

Whereas, as a part of the National Wild and Scenic System, a River Management Plan was developed as a required component of the Lower Delaware River Wild and Scenic River Study. The Management Plan recommends actions to maintain and improve the lower Delaware River, its tributaries and surrounding natural, historic and cultural resources; and 

Whereas Alexandria Township endorsed and supports the Lower Delaware River Management Plan; and

Whereas Bull’s Island State Park and the D&R Canal State Park are located along a designated segment of the lower Delaware and provide important scenic, recreational, historic, cultural, water resource, and natural resource contributions to the Delaware Watershed, as recognized in the Lower Delaware River Management Plan; and the NJDEP is a signatory of the Lower Delaware Management Plan. 

Whereas the natural features of Bull’s Island are critical component of the high quality D&R Canal State Park and Delaware River experience enjoyed by Alexandria Township residents and thousands of people each year; and

Whereas Bull’s Island provides prime birding experiences and important habitat for rare, threatened and endangered plant and animal species, including NJ state and federally protected species; and 

Whereas Bull’s Island trees and natural vegetation help protect water quality, mitigate flooding, and reduce soil erosion and sedimentation of the Delaware River and D&R Canal; and

Whereas Bull’s Island is adjacent to the D&R Canal, which provides 100 million gallons per day of potable water supply to central NJ; and 

Whereas the trees and natural vegetation currently existing on Bull’s Island help protect the integrity, flow and water quality of the Delaware River and D&R Canal; and 

Whereas the DEP issued a Press Release on March 15, 2012 that announced a plan to clearcut the northern portion of Bull’s Island, removing over 200 mature trees and all existing vegetation; and

Whereas those DEP plans lack an environmental impact review, appear to be based on questionable studies, and may be inconsistent with the water quality and natural resource policies of the Lower Delaware River Management Plan to which Alexandria Township is a signatory; and 

Whereas, the DEP clearcut plans have not been discussed or reviewed by the public or the municipalities and agencies that are signatories to the Lower Delaware Management Plan prior to their development; and

Whereas the traditional DEP permit process does not provide adequate public involvement in DEP’s proposed clear cut plan. 

Therefore, be it Resolved that:

The Alexandria Township Committee requests that the DEP abandon their current announced plans to clear cut trees and remove vegetation from the northern portion of Bull’s Island; and