I’ve been very reluctant to add anything here (especially as my first post on the site). I’ve read almost all of the posts in this thread over the last couple of months.
I completely understand the gut level opposition to changes in lawful access to various areas in the Wharton state forest. The idea of being denied something you have always had is hard to take. And certainly something to rail against, fight to the end. I agree with all that has been said on one level. On the other hand, we can all probably agree that New Jersey is completely unique. It is unlike our neighbors Pennsylvania and New York. Those are big states with big acreages and scattered populations (outside of the major or minor metropolises). They can absorb ORV and ATV use with much less overall impact. New Jersey cannot absorb these impacts—we are too small. New Jersey is a tiny, crowded state sandwiched between several megalopolises; the most densely populated in the country as everyone knows. We are blessed with this truly amazing landscape, the Pine Barrens. The Wharton forest protects a large but continuously diminishing portion of it. It is a state treasure. It is a national treasure. Dare I say, a world treasure?
You want it to be the same as it was when you were younger. I do too. But it isn’t. It just isn’t. When my father (who is still alive) was born, the population of New Jersey was about 3.75 million. By the time I was born, the population had increased by 3 million. Today it is a little less than 9 million.
There has been a suggestion that because some of these are roads have been open for 200 years that they should remain so. That may be so, but 200 years ago, they were traveled by foot, horse, or horse and buggy, not by the things chewing up the sand today. And the population of the state was less than a quarter million.
This relatively small area simply cannot absorb the impacts it is faced with today. There are so many examples of these impacts. It is undeniable.
Everyone who has spent any time in the Pine Barrens over the years can attest to the fact that the impacts from motorized vehicles have been dramatic, astounding, profound.
Besides the obvious impacts of torn up roads, wasted wetlands, and party sites (some small, some gigantic), there are other impacts. The most important, obviously, would be loss or destruction of habitat for the non-human inhabitants; next, loss or destruction of the integrity of important historic and cultural sites; last, perhaps, is the loss of the sense of wilderness that some people (e.g., me) enjoy—that is freedom from noise, freedom from fumes, freedom from trash. Some people might say, “so what” and they are entitled to that. As God is my witness, as a lifer here…I just want, no…crave a little peace and quiet.
There it is: my first post. I think this is a first-class, wonderful site and I’ve really learned a lot and enjoyed reading. If you hate me for wanting some restrictions on motorized transit in the pines, so be it. Thanks for reading, if you made it to the end.
