Wharton State Forest Road Closure Opposition

John Szurley

STOP WHARTON STATE FOREST ROAD CLOSURES NOW!!
Have you noticed brown fiberglass posts labeled 'No Motorized Vehicles' spring up around our public lands in Wharton State Forest (W.S.F.)? These closures are part of the State Park Service's new Motorized Access Plan, which was forged in secrecy in hopes of closing 55% of the roads in W.S.F. Visual inspection of the recently released map suggests the closure may affect as much as 70-90% of the roads in Wharton, but it is also unlikely State Park administration is fully aware of how many roads actually exist. They only know and care about what they will be 'kind enough' to ALLOW to remain open on OUR STATE LAND, which we, the tax payers, pay for and have a right to enjoy.
This plan represents a blanket closure of virtually ALL narrow interior woods roads and non-through roads that lead to points of interest, a large amount at water’s edge, while citing motorized damage for the closures. Don't believe the hype. Irresponsible damage is already illegal and is quite simply an issue of enforcement and lack of maintenance. Additionally, the explanations being given by the administration are NOT consistent with the types of roads being closed.
The remainder of the still open major roads will be 'rehabilitated' into wide, graded, orange gravel roads which will likely be dusty and heavily wash-boarded in short time with all traffic focused on so few roads. These wide graded roads, made of non-natural earth, represent a HUGE environmental impact themselves and will forever change the inherent charm of Wharton. This closed-door shift in policy is the largest and most negative change in the management of Wharton State Forest since it was purchased in 1957.
On 8/13/15, the Borough of Medford Lakes unanimously passed Resolution 83-15 opposing the Wharton Forest Motorized Action Plan (MAP). They will be reaching out to other local towns bordering W.S.F. encouraging them to follow suit. If you live in any of these towns, please attend the council meeting and voice your opposition to the plan. Email and call them to educate them and let them know exactly what we are losing. They need to hear our voices.
Join FB group to learn more:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/930187020358299/

What can you do?
Email, call, and visit in person your local state representative: http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/legsearch.asp
Call Governor Christie: 609-292-6000 Call Lt. Gov. Guadagno: 609-777-2581
Call Director Bob Martin DEP: 609-292-2885
Call Mark Texel, Head of the State Park Service: 609-292-2773
Sign Petition online at: http://tinyurl.com/nqdx3jt
Tell them:
* You are concerned by the lack of transparency and public involvement in reaching this decision.
* You are concerned this closure is not consistent with the plan of conservation under which the Wharton Tract was originally bought and paid for by tax payers.
* You are concerned the closure of many of these 100+ year old roads will negatively impact accessibility of cultural and historic sites, which will in time be lost to NJ.
* You feel this closure unfairly affects veterans, the very old, the very young, and the disabled.
* You are concerned about the severe negative effects these closures will have on Hunting, Fishing, Canoeing/Kayaking, and many, MANY other forms of recreation.
* You are concerned about the State Park Service's intimate relationship with special-interest groups and you wonder if these closures may more closely represent the interests of these groups than the publicly stated purposes of the closures.
Be polite, be honest, but BE FIRM. This land BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE and motorized access should remain open for ALL to enjoy EVERYTHING it has to offer!
Please donate: www.gofundme.com/opentrailsnj
The NEW Wharton LIMITED Motor Vehicle Access Map can be found:
http://www.njparksandforests.org/…/wharton_map_web_version.…

How these road closures affects you:
• Hunters have now lost that road to favored hunting spot/s or even perhaps their own land and will most likely have to walk several miles to reach these once accessible areas. As this may not seem bad to some, what about the elderly and/or disabled hunters who can’t walk that far?
• Kayakers/Canoers will not have access to launch sites that they’ve been using for years unless you want to drag your kayak/canoe down a dirt road. You will even have a hard time launching at sites from roads that are still open. We feel you are now being forced to use a company backed by a strong preservation society behind the road closures who just so happens to own a kayaking/canoeing livery/tour service near the Atsion ranger Station.
• Fishermen won’t have access to all of your favorite hidden little spots, quite areas to get away, relax; enjoy the beauty and peacefulness of the pinelands.
• Horseback Riders have lost access to these roads as well which now put you and your horse on the main roads with all the newly formed condensed traffic. This is a hazard to you and your horse which will lead to injuries and accidents.
• Hikers will be losing locations as well because of loss of access; especially those who only like to get out for a short hike to a favorite area deep in the pines. If you are not a distance hiker you will be out of luck. But who really suffers from this are the elderly and disabled hikers due to distance, not to mention the fact that if there’s an emergency the response time for the Police/Fire/EMT will be longer because of no direct access.
• Enduro Riders (Riders of street legal motorcycles) will no longer be able to ride on less traveled roads and fire cuts where they could help the forestry service keep these fire lines open, creating less maintenance for them. Sadly, Enduro riders have been losing ground on their events through-out the years and this new plan will highly affect them and the revenue they bring into the State of New Jersey from the permits they purchase.• Elderly and Disabled get affected we feel the most, no matter what they enjoy doing they have had their rights and their forest taken from them. Some enjoyed just trail riding, parking near their favorite water spot for a break and some fresh air to enjoy the forest while others enjoy a wide range of outdoor activities.
• “Jeepers/4x4 enthusiasts” (legal, registered, insured, not to be confused with the term ORV) who enjoy going out and just exploring the dirt roads with their family and friends, exploring, picnicking and even making new friends along the roads. Many of those roads they enjoy are now closed, and for what? The “4x4” community is one of the most active in doing cleanup events, for the last 13 years they have had annual organized clean ups to preserve the land the love so much. Without their support illegal dumping will most likely pile up and become a problem.
• Geocachers have already been forced out of the forest and off the rivers, at one time over 1000 caches could be located within in the pinelands now they have been reduced to less than 300, with severe restrictions. Many of the historic locations that once attracted and educated, enticing visitors to deeply appreciate the gem we call the Pine Barrens are now off limits soon to be forgotten and lost.
• Local Residents are in danger of a fire emergency. These roads that have been closed have been there for many years; many on maps dating back to early 1900’s and have been used by the firefighters all along. With fewer roads and no direct routes these homes become in jeopardy. We are being told that these road closures will not affect response time but logically that’s impossible.
• Local Businesses will see a large decline in revenue. Many people who travel to Wharton patronize local establishments and often also use them for charity and group events. Restricting people’s rights and denying access to public land will encourage them to seek out alternative areas to enjoy their outdoor activities, maybe in other states, causing a reduction in business for surrounding establishments and lost tax revenue for the state.
• New Jersey State Voters are losing another thing without their input. It was put in place without any notification. This is already in the works for other State Parks, this is NOT just a Wharton State Forest issue!

Open Trails For All fund set up
http://gadfly01.blogspot.com/2015/08/wharton-state-forest-open-trails-for.html

Write letters to DEP
http://gadfly01.blogspot.com/2015/08/how-will-wharton-state-forest-road.html

Related posts at
http://gadfly01.blogspot.com/2015/07/wharton-state-forest-roads-being-closed.html