Fire breaks

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ecampbell

Piney
Jan 2, 2003
2,893
1,036
The NJFFS has been creating fire breaks along Carranza Road yesterday and today. They're really going beserk, some of the lanes are only a couple of hundred feet apart.
 

Gibby

Piney
Apr 4, 2011
1,644
442
Trenton
"E", is the FFS going over established breaks or cutting new ones? I have seen new paths marked with day-glow pink tape that haven't been cut yet.
 

ecampbell

Piney
Jan 2, 2003
2,893
1,036
Hi Chris,

They were working the dirt road east of the RR tracks yesterday. Today they were working the paved part all the way to the Skit bridge. They even worked the batona camp side. Doesn't the FFS have to comply with the protected species laws? They should need approval!
Ed
 

dragoncjo

Piney
Aug 12, 2005
1,577
303
43
camden county
Ed, are the how wide are the cuts? Are the they uprooting alot of earth? This could be catastophic, I have to get out there. They do have to comply but I don't think the state knows the critical habitat.
 

46er

Piney
Mar 24, 2004
8,837
2,144
Coastal NJ
Thanks. I haven't seen a crazier area of cuts than by Lakehurst. I don't know why it was necessary make cuts like this.

http://maps.njpinebarrens.com/#lat=40.00916006266394&lng=-74.39883470535278&z=16&type=nj1995&gpx=

I used to hunt right in that area in those fields the club managed for Pheasants, when they let you way back when. Got sand stuck up to the frame in my Fathers Pontiac even wayer back :)

Those lines may be from tree plantings, for as I recall there were fields along south boundary rd. You can see how they have filled in over the years/
 

Teegate

Administrator
Site Administrator
Sep 17, 2002
25,984
8,737
How do they get away with that? And who are they trying to protect out there?
 

ecampbell

Piney
Jan 2, 2003
2,893
1,036
If there is anything we at NJ PineBarrens should stir up, this is it!
The last 2 days damage, I will go back in the morning.
Fire Breaks.jpg
 

46er

Piney
Mar 24, 2004
8,837
2,144
Coastal NJ
That makes sense. If you pan the map towards the north more there are even more stylized cuts in the forest around the base .

Well, you have the jump circle, the firing ranges, the fields for hunting, the runways/taxi ways and the test facilities for catapults and retrieval equipment (fan shaped), in addition to the hangers and other normal stuff. The hunting/fishing club is right on one of the taxi ways. I still have the old maps somewhere that we were given each year to ensure we didn't stray into some area where you shouldn't stray. They were very serious about that :eek:
 

bobpbx

Piney
Staff member
Oct 25, 2002
14,693
4,863
Pines; Bamber area
Is it necessary to right a scolding letter to the Forest Fire Service and DEP?

Gib, I wrote one last year on behalf of the FRMC. They did come out with a woman timber rattler specialist (she was there to learn what they were doing wrong), and they got their ears chewed off. They promised action, but all they did was place very small sticks at the entrance to the firebreaks. If I were you, I'd write it. Here is the one I wrote with the critical location removed. Copy all!

We are an organization dedicated to conserving and protecting the pristine forests and streams in the unique wilderness that surrounds the Forked River Mountains in Ocean County.
During the month of February, new firelines were created in a very sensitive area in Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management Area.. This site was designated as a New Jersey Priority Site for both Timber Rattlesnakes and Northern Pine Snakes. The bounds of this site were drawn to delineate streamside hibernacula and upland forested habitat used for foraging and basking for these important species.
Several years ago, all access roads were closed to protect this area from ATV’s and poachers. Unfortunately, the firelines and the boundary roads that were opened up in February reversed all this work, leaving these endangered species distinctly vulnerable.
Before the snakes emerge from hibernation, we request that you close off these access areas. There is more than one way to do this. We are requesting that a meeting be held in the field at this site to determine the best way forward. Working together we can help ensure these species are provided the proper protection.
For the future, we encourage the Forest Fire Service to review the processes you have in place to determine in advance the likelihood of planned firelines to damage critical animal and plant habitat. With the shrinking habitat we are faced with in New Jersey, the integrity of that process is more important than ever.
We hope to hear back from you regarding a meeting in the field of all interested parties.
cc:
Lynn Fleming, State Forester
Dave Jenkins, Chief, Endangered Species Program
Robert Cartica, Office of Natural Land Management
Emile DeVito, NJCF
Theresa Lettman, PPA
Kris Schantz, ENSP
Chuck Horner, NJ Pinelands Commission
 
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Teegate

Administrator
Site Administrator
Sep 17, 2002
25,984
8,737
And they continue to do whatever they want. They need to be told that before cutting begins they must give the public ample time to comment on their location choices. Nobody else could do what they do and get away with it.
 

dragoncjo

Piney
Aug 12, 2005
1,577
303
43
camden county
Bob, did anything come of the requests in that letter?

Was the biologist Kris Shantz? She is feisty and a good advocate for timber rattlesnakes.
 

ecampbell

Piney
Jan 2, 2003
2,893
1,036
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