The Tuckerton Environmental Commission is organized into three working committees and a Citizens advisory Committee each having a focus on key environmental topics.
Lakes & Watershed - Rehabilitation of Lake Pohatcong.
- Protection of fresh water wetlands
- Assistance with implementation of mandated Stormwater program.
Land Use & Open Space Preservation Citizens Advisory Committee - High school and college programs supporting TEC initiatives.
- Various community level programs.
If you are interested in joining the TEC or have wish to contact us with suggestions or concerns, please contact us at EnvironmentalCommission@TuckertonBorough.com
Tuckerton Environmental Commission - Meetings are held each month at 7:00pm in Borough Hall.
AUGUST MEETING SUMMARY: There was a discussion by the state of NJ DOT regarding property at Pohatcong Lake Dam Route 9. A copy of this letter was sent to each member of the TEC prior to the meeting. There was an article in the Atlantic City Press this week about the state proposed ordinance on pesticides. If this is passed, it will make our project a non-issue. Mr. Robert Rue had been working on constructing verbiage for which the TEC would propose for an ordinance on this environmental concern. Wayne informed us that this information is listed on the official state web site, all bills proposed by NJ Environmental Commissions are described. Pat Everson has been doing research on the drainage pipes that are proposed for under Rte 539—Pat stated this is supposedly going to happen within a 2 month time period. She will keep us up-to-date on the progress.
Drain pipes underneath the road are having garbage dumped on and this is being forwarded into the lake. Rte # 539 is registered under the county roads, and Pat is waiting on a call back to determine a time frame for the paving to take place. Members questioned if this issue should be turned over to the Waterways Commission for their input.
Councilman, Jim Edwards addressed the TEC concern as to the lineation between Waterways and Environmental Commissions. Lake Pohatcong issues are under the jurisdiction of the TEC, salt water/ navigatable waterways comes before Waterways. The lake is a separate entity. Waterways primary responsibility is navigable. Grace DiElmo, Borough Clerk, has the specifics broken down as to the differences of responsibilities for the TEC & Waterways. Regina stated that there has been outside correspondence addressed to TEC that has been an oversight, and that is imperative we work together with Waterways addressing overlapping community concerns.
Jim stated Waterways is working with state DEP and there are sensitive areas in making sure that they keep clear the roads open to communication. Regina spoke about the issue of Kingfisher Road, and that John Schwartz, Chairperson of Waterways had contacted TEC with concern about their relationship in jeopardy with the DEP. Regina stated we DO want to look more unified with Waterways. Councilman Edwards stated he is present tonight to request TEC answer their correspondence sent to them by the Waterways Commission. He asked that TEC get back with a response as soon as possible. Their concern was that the construction office had issued a permit prior to TEC getting involved, the permit had been issued for the construction of a dock at 396 Kingfisher Road Regina stated we addressed the concern as to the footage, did not intend to stop construction of the dock. Skip Deckman stated we were not informed that the permit had been already issued, just that the application had been filed.
Regina stated we do advocate communicate and it is imperative our two commissions work together. Jim Edwards attended this evening with an intention to help streamline questions/answers.
Wayne stated the dock itself was within the 20% but there was only 2 ft. of room to move the boat. He patrolled this area for 25 years and the effects on the far bank, the creation of erosion was an environmental issue/concern.
Robert Rue commented on the article regarding a state fertilizer ordinance would probably pre-empt our attempts at (organizing) an ordinance.
Robert stated our attempt would probably mirror Stafford’s Twp, as they seem to be a leader in the area of upholding this concern . Robert recommends our commission postpone this project temporarily.
Robert would like to talk with senators and other political personnel as to the time table and inquire as to the sponsors of some of the proposed bills. A review of the article expresses concerns very similar to what we were addressing.
Ocean County Freeholders were against regulations that were going to cost money, for example funding through charging fees to property owners and proposed costs to lawn and gardening businesses.
Regina Marvin read a letter sent by Mayor Eggert regarding natural resources including the protection and development of natural resources, including water resources that the TEC is responsible for addressing.
Robert Rue stated concerns with Pohatcong Lake. He commented he was in Ocean Twp, noticing a beautiful lake, open for swimming, Stafford Twp and the Tuckerton Borough does not allow swimming. Al O’Neil and Wayne Tonnessen stated the other town does not have geese population.
There was suggestion to replenish sand at the end of South Green Street, and therefore create a beach—a thought it would be nice to have a swimming area there or perhaps at the lake, and an objective would be to reduce the geese populations. Robert stated it would be a nice attraction. Wayne commented that we are close to the osprey nest, and the water flow slows down.
Regina inquired which of the borough engineers would help with the study of water quality for the Lake. Wayne stated a study would be necessary | Tuckerton
Environmental Commission:
Regina Marvin -- Chairperson Wayne Tonnessen --Vice Chair Al O’Neill
Paul Deckman
Sandy Cramer
Susan Maguire - Secretary
Alternate #1 Pat Everson
Alternate #2 Robert E. Rue, Esquire
"Citizen Advisory Committee
to the Commission"
Members to be determined
The Tuckerton Environmental
Commission announces the
completion of its first ever
" Natural Resource Inventory "
(NRI) for the Borough of
Tuckerton. The project was
funded in part by a "Smart
Growth Grant" from the
Association of New Jersey
Environmental Commissions
(ANJEC). The Commission
worked with Birdsall Eng. to
generate the data, maps,
and write the report.
NATURAL RESOURCE INVENTORY
Press release:
describing the NRI
Environmental Links Clean Oceans
Rutgers University Marine
Field Station
Jacques Cousteau National
Estuarine Research Reserve
Barnegat Bay Estuary
Garden State EnviroNet
N.J. Dept. of Environmental
Protection
Assoc. of N.J. Environmental
Commissions
Pinelands Water Shed Alliance
New Jersey Water Association
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