While We Were Sleeping, Very Bad Things Happened

[RednekF350]

I did a little solo coyote hunting back in Rockwood beyond the old foundations this past Saturday.
A 2-legged sign that was installed a long time ago blocking the primary dike road that leads to the big open water area has been yanked and is laying in the woods on the south side of the road here. The dike road has no obstructions.

boydsmaps.com

So far, no blockades or signs at the end of the line for John Q. Public which is the foundation area.

Here are pics of the sign and the unobstructed road.
And a picture of me enjoying the quietude of the woods in one of four chairs graciously dumped by someone way back deep in the holler a few years ago. They haven't moved an inch and the area remains free of trash. Unless

we consider the chairs trash.

 

[RednekF350]

I also visited the memorial that I posted about in February 2023 at the far end of the easternmost dike in Rockwood. I think I might have been the last one there. There is a small deadfall across the dike about 3/4's of the way down that is wrapped with green brier. I had to cut a hole to walk through. I don't know what kind of paper was used for those photos on the trees, but it they really withstood the UV very well, given their full southern exposure.

 

[ecampbell]

I finally caught them in the act. State workers in their white trucks were installing those plastic posts on every little road or pull off this morning along Carranza Road from the boot camp to Friendship. There's not even places to park!

 

[Teegate]

Thanks Ed. I have sent out a few texts to various individuals.

 

[Teegate]

So here is the deal. There are only two roads open on Carranza now between Tuckerton and Friendship other than the memorial itself and the road across from it to the campground. The roads that are open are the road in the cedar swamp that goes to High Crossing and the road at the curve just past the ruins at Sandy Ridge just before the long stretch to Friendship.

NJPineBarrens Maps

NJPineBarrens Maps

 

[dragoncjo]

This is just beyond messed up. The people that make these decisions are just so out of touch with things. If people can’t access area that taxpayers pay for then the whole area will be forgotten. I love the barrens and it’s the only thing that keeps me living in nj. After this if I can’t enjoy the freedom of the pines then what is the point.

 

[imkms]

This is just beyond messed up. The people that make these decisions are just so out of touch with things. If people can’t access area that taxpayers pay for then the whole area will be forgotten. I love the barrens and it’s the only thing that keeps me living in nj. After this if I can’t enjoy the freedom of the pines then what is the point.

Yes it is, but what’s next?

 

[Allan]

So here is the deal. There are only two roads open on Carranza now between Tuckerton and Friendship other than the memorial itself and the road across from it to the campground. The roads that are open are the road in the cedar swamp that goes to High Crossing and the road at the curve just past the ruins at Sandy Ridge just before the long stretch to Friendship.

NJPineBarrens Maps

NJPineBarrens Maps

The second road you listed is actually shown as close on the new "map".

 

[M1 Abrams]

The second road you listed is actually shown as close on the new "map".

It's the side of the fork farther away from Friendship (the left side when looking at the map) that is still open. The other side of the fork is posted.

 

[Teegate]

It's the side of the fork farther away from Friendship (the left side when looking at the map) that is still open. The other side of the fork is posted.

The side posted gets trash dumped. Jessica and I was there early morning one day and the state crews in the truck were pulling up and dumping trash into it. People are slobs.

 

[Allan]

I have a kmz file dated Oct 27, 2022 from the PPA recommending areas to be closed. The 2024 map released by the DEP includes almost 100% of the PPA recommendations.

I wonder if this would be useful in a lawsuit against the DEP.

 

[svr32]

I have a kmz file dated Oct 27, 2022 from the PPA recommending areas to be closed. The 2024 map released by the DEP includes almost 100% of the PPA recommendations.

I wonder if this would be useful in a lawsuit against the DEP.

wow, I also hadn't realized Rob Auermuller is the NJ State Park Service Southern Regional Superintendent. No wonder things resumed where they left off back in 2015 when the map was squashed over the first unannounced takeover. I seem to remember him being removed and sent up to north NJ after the the DEP/stakeholder blowout. Anyway, Rob+PPA = MAP

 

[bobpbx]

wow, I also hadn't realized Rob Auermuller is the NJ State Park Service Southern Regional Superintendent. No wonder things resumed where they left off back in 2015 when the map was squashed over the first unannounced takeover. I seem to remember him being removed and sent up to north NJ after the the DEP/stakeholder blowout. Anyway, Rob+PPA = MAP

I rather think it's: PPA+Outrageous and rogue influence campaign to enlist Rob in pursuing their cause irregardless of what the public users think= Map

 

[dragoncjo]

This to me is a few loud voices with a lot of power. I’m pretty confident this isn’t a large group of people who pushed this through.

 

[Teegate]

I drove Carranza today to check everything. They basically closed most of the roads that go nowhere. However, they did close quite a few roads that many people use to do whatever they want or need to do responsibly.

 

[Teegate]

One of the plastic posts appears to have melted with no fire nearby. Not sure what happened there. It is bent over about a foot from the ground.

 

[Gibby]

This is not good. At least the powers that be aren't hiding their intent. They don't want anyone in the woods and I believe it will only get worse from this point on. They got away with closing the woods and it will happen again but only bigger. It is sad.

grumble grumble grumble....

 

[svr32]

This is not good. At least the powers that be aren't hiding their intent. They don't want anyone in the woods and I believe it will only get worse from this point on. They got away with closing the woods and it will happen again but only bigger. It is sad.

grumble grumble grumble....

you are not grumbling, you are 100% correct. What the DEP did here under the influence of the PPA is a crime to the residents of NJ. They really don't realize or care what value the freedom to roam respectfully is to the residents. So please do not ever think this is complaining, its voicing your opinion on something so many of us have enjoyed for years and its a big part of our lives.

They will not be happy until there is just about zero access, and its written in the DEPs own site. When the roads that remain become overcrowded as expected, they will begin to close as well. They blatantly stuck that worded slightly different in the FAQ section:

" The Wharton Visiting Vehicle Use Map is a living map which will be updated to reflect current on the ground conditions in the forest."