While We Were Sleeping, Very Bad Things Happened

[RednekF350]

This has to be a bad dream. With no substantive communication since the unveiling of all of the potential Wharton Visitor Maps, the NJDEP dropped this bomb today.
With only a 2 minute glance at the map I can see my life in the Wharton woods will be changing dramatically. Enforcement starts TODAY!!!!!

NJDEP | Wharton State Forest Visiting Vehicle Use Map| New Jersey State Park Service

NJDEP - Wharton State Forest Visiting Vehicle Use Map

www.nj.gov

 

[NJPinesExplorer]

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.

 

[bobpbx]

Very depressing. Thanks for absolutely nothing but heartache PPA. This is your fault.

 

[MuckSavage]

And they're proud enough to include the "time line"

 

[NJPinesExplorer]

Very depressing. Thanks for absolutely nothing but heartache PPA. This is your fault.

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 the proposed map from earlier this year. Examples:

• Open on Proposed but closed on Final VVUM:
  • Lower Forge / High Crossing
  • West Mill Fireline
  • Eleanor Adams Feedstrip
• Open on Proposed but only accessible to hunters on Final VVUM:
  • Old Wading River Maxwell
  • Ridge Road
  • Seaf Weeks
  • Grassy Pond
  • Piney Pond
  • Tylertown Friendship
  • Eleanor Feedstrip

The timeline on the NJDEP page says the following occurred between FEB - OCT 2024:

Field visits and additional discussions occurred among staff and with stakeholders including local and state elected officials, adjacent landowners, staff from Fish & Wildlife and the State Parks, Forests & Historic Sites programs, including State Park Police and the Forest Fire Service. Internal reviews called for keeping some routes open out of forest fire access concerns, while consideration of natural and historic resources called for more access restrictions.

 

[RednekF350]

Boot Hill Gun Club might as well open a candy store. This is horrible.
The so-called hunting roads, indicated by a dotted line, are mostly lumped up way to the east. Only swamp Road is indicated as a special hunting road in the western part of Wharton.
Six-Day is going to be interesting.

 

[bobpbx]

Now we know why they didn't want to honor the petion of over 1,000 people to open up West Mill. They stopped fighting for us when someone whispered in their ear to close it. I wonder if Hammonton will still allow it to be used by (ahem), others.

 

[bobpbx]

Found this. Have not looked at it yet. Will now.

 

[dragoncjo]

I for one will not be following this map at all. I’ll continue to go where I please as I always have. I will pay the fines accordingly.

 

[bobpbx]

I for one will not be following this map at all. I’ll continue to go where I please as I always have. I will pay the fines accordingly.

I needed a chuckle.

 

[Teegate]

I for one will not be following this map at all. I’ll continue to go where I please as I always have. I will pay the fines accordingly.

When I am with Jessica I have to give and take but by myself I will do as I please as I have for 51 years. And in most cases I go early and it has been years since we have actually encountered the Park Police. And to be honest we have been parking and walking much more than in the past so after looking at the map it won't have too much effect on us. I have no respect for anyone who thinks this is a good idea and for those that implemented it. And if things go as they have in the past it won't take long before the police get tired of being forced to engage with individuals who they know are not causing trouble or damage.

 

[Tony]

When I am with Jessica I have to give and take but by myself I will do as I please as I have for 51 years. And in most cases I go early and it has been years since we have actually encountered the Park Police. And to be honest we have been parking and walking much more than in the past so after looking at the map it won't have too much effect on us. I have no respect for anyone who thinks this is a good idea and for those that implemented it. And if things go as they have in the past it won't take long before the police get tired of being forced to engage with individuals who they know are not causing trouble or damage.

Agreed

 

[RednekF350]

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.

The NJDEP video in post #8 is nauseating.

 

[Teegate]

The NJDEP video in post #8 is nauseating.

Just realize the source. Speaks volumes.

 

[oji]

Who were the stakeholders?

 

[bobpbx]

Who were the stakeholders?

PPA member #1, PPA member #2, PPA member #3, PPA member #4, etc, etc, etc, etc........ad nauseam.

 

[Teegate]

All the Disney charactors.

 

[imkms]

At least we don’t need to purchase a yearly permit for the right to drive on these roads….Yet! It could eventually evolve to something similar to requiring a beach permit to ride the beaches of LBI, etc.

 

[bobpbx]

It's easy to see I'm not a stakeholder. This is only one of the demands I'd make. There is no real good reason to not extend this road.

 

[bobpbx]

I've been trying to make sense of this map, aligning it besides aerials on Boyd's Maps, and it wasn't making sense. Now I know why, it's not fully North up. They should have made it North up.