Author: jdruding

  • Wildlife Management Area Closures

    OTNJ is disappointed to hear about the recent actions by the DEP regarding closures within certain Wildlife Management Areas. OTNJ as well as other stakeholder groups have been in recent contact with the DEP, and in those discussions, they stressed they were planning to be open and transparent and to engage the public in their…

  • Pinelands Commission Update

    The Pinelands Commission held their Policy and Implementation meeting today and discussed a potential resolution to create a map using the USGS Topographical Maps as a baseline of roads. Learning the lessons of the DEP MAP, they instead decided to set up a sub-committee and solicit inputs from the stakeholders on next steps. OTNJ is…

  • Open Trails NJ Participates in DEP Protection Project

    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…

  • Wharton State Forest Hunter Vehicle Access Program

    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…

  • Erosion Prevention at Jemima Mount

    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…

  • Protecting Jemima Mount- An OTNJ Sponsored Volunteer Project

    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…

  • Update on Road Closures in Wharton State Forest

    John Druding of Open Trails had a conference call with the Director of Parks and Forestry, Mr. Mark Texel, regarding the DEP’s plans for Wharton State Forest.  Mr. Texel shared that the DEP has identified several “Environmentally Sensitive Areas” or ESAs, in which motorized vehicles are not allowed. The ESAs are mostly bogs, but do…

  • DEP Releases New Plan for Wharton State Forest

    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…

  • OTNJ has teamed up with Tread Lightly!

    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…

  • Update on Pinelands Commission Meeting / OTNJ Membership!

    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…