Groups give their views on Sparta Mountain

NEWTON — Susan Williams, Chair of the Skylands Group, N.J. Sierra Club, residents, and representatives of other organizations met for more than an hour on March 9 at the Sussex County Board of Chosen Freeholders meeting, to present their ideas on the controversial Sparta Mountain Forestry Stewardship Plan.

The reasons that some oppose the plan include the effects they believe it will have on soil, drinking water, wildlife, ecology, human health, forest recreation, property values, scenic beauty, and dam safety.

Opponents describe the N.J. Department of Environmental Protection's plan to selectively "harvest" large expanses of mature, contiguous interior forest as more of a logging operation on publicly owned lands than "stewardship." They say the DEP's plan to create "young forest habitat" for a small number of bird and animal species — a proposal that was drawn up in conjunction with and supported by the New Jersey Audubon Society — represents both a difference in philosophy and a conflict of interest between environmentalists and commercial interests.

In response, NJDEP's Fish and Wildlife division's state representative, Senior Zoologist Sharon Petzinger, apologized to the board, the townships, and the public on behalf of the DEP for missteps in public notification. To make amends, the DEP once again extended the public comment period to March 31.

Petzinger said N.J. forests require human intervention to restore balance to vegetation and wildlife. She said the forest would not heal itself.

Former Vernon Mayor Vic Marotta suggested the board follow the money trail and conflicts of interest.

The Chairwoman of the Vernon Environmental Commission, Beverly Budz, read a resolution adopted by the commission that opposes the plan. The commission opposed state bills passed last January that established the state forest stewardship plan for Sparta Mountain.

Jesse Paladini of Vernon said the bills refer to “public lands,” so the township has a stake in the plan.

New Jersey Audubon representative Donald Donnelly said he is a primary author of the plan; the public comment period's purpose is to make the plan better; and funding comes from federal grants.

N.J. State Federation Sportsmen Clubs representative John Rigalo advocated forestry management for healthy forests. He said the Wild Life Management Area desperately needed such actions.

Richard VonVoros said proposed access to zone 33 through Lake Tamarack would travel over water mains, which cannot support truck traffic. He also asked if the Wildlife Division had spoken with the Dam Safety Division. After preliminary consultation, their engineer said the proposed changes would affect the inundation map, possibly impacting their dam safety, and costing taxpayers more money.

George Stafford, a representative of the N.J. Highlands Coalition, also encouraged the freeholders to stand against the plan.

Freeholder Deputy Director Carl F. Lazzaro said all players — the N.J. DEP, the Sierra Club, N.J. Audubon, and homeowners — need to come together and arrive at a viable, reasonable solution.

Petzinger said she took his comments to heart, and that they would work with the affected parties for a solution.

Petzinger then addressed issues brought up during public comment. She said it is not about the money, but about the health of the forest and wildlife management; the plan affects 110 to 210 acres, not 900 acres. She said there will not be massive clear cuts, but enough to allow regeneration; the DEP is not exempt from the Highlands Act, and must abide by all rules.

Any state approved forest stewardship plan is exempt from the Highlands Act.

Also, the DEP is open to suggestions, including volunteers hand-cutting trees, which was proposed in the plan for area 33.