Recent content by NJPinesExplorer

In the case of that wood barrier, what happens when the FFS has to access that road in the event of a fire?

It's very frustrating that the NJDEP / Park Police seemingly avoided any attempts at real enforcement before closing the majority of the roads as a way to justify the closures, and this is just more proof of that. The NJDEP / Park Police could have installed trail cams in problem areas to...

Interesting statement from the Park Police in this article: https://www.pinebarrenstribune.com/articles/featured-stories/state-park-police-deny-any-link-between-new-map-restricting-use-of-wharton-state-forest-roads-and-vehicular-violations-crackdown/

100%. All of those summonses could have been written before the new map went into effect. The $500 and up fines are for unregistered off road vehicle use. That was already illegal in the entirety of Wharton. They parade that fine structure around like it has some relation to the new map. It does...

I'm sure they are extremely proud of their "achievement." I'd go look at all the gloating on the PPA-moderated "The Pine Barrens" Facebook group, but I'm permanently banned for questioning the effectiveness of the VVUM plan. And to make matters worse, the final VVUM closes even more roads than...

I can’t say I’m surprised. After all the push back the DEP was getting they gave up the facade of “public engagement” and just closed it all down.

Great evidence that the existing laws are effective without closing over half the roads to legal responsible access.

It perfectly hits all the PPA and NJ DEP talking points. Points in favor of the plan are exaggerated and the few opposing points mentioned are downplayed. Very much an “opinion” piece given all the reality which is glossed over. If you showed me some of the contents of that op-ed with no other...

The wording isn’t the best like you said, but it doesn’t make a survey which indicated all of Wharton as important for access any less valid. Especially when selecting all of Wharton as an area of concern for ORV abuse was apparently accepted by the DEP and included in the data.

The DEP is presenting their plan to the Pinelands Commission this Friday, 3/8 at 9:30 am. Public comment is open for the meeting. This is another potential forum to make our voices heard Agenda: https://www.nj.gov/pinelands/home/meetings/documents/1_March82024_PC_Meeting_Agenda_Final.pdf...

I don't think I've seen this discussed here yet. The NJ DEP posted the media meeting for the unveiling of the VVUM back in January up on YouTube (here), and it's illuminating to see how Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette addressed some of the questions and how some of the data was presented. A...

This 1966 map doesn’t change the fact that the DEP acknowledged the existence of 600 miles of primitive roadways in Wharton State Forest in their 2014 request for federal funds to maintain them. (Source) A visitor map that outlined recommended routes for vehicles while not closing over half of...

It's at least encouraging to see some legislative action against the road closures.

Some of the closures are almost spiteful. What about this tiny section of sand road (blue box) necessitates closure? All the other roads around it are acceptable, but this 2000 feet of sand road that isn't in a wetland or near anything other than the other roads around it must be closed?

I signed yesterday and have been sharing this to everyone I can. On a separate note for everyone’s awareness of how the opposition is operating: I was banned from The Pine Barrens Facebook group this morning presumably for my comment on Jason Howell’s latest article post about forest fires...