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Environmental Commission
Annual Report 2007-2008
Posted: August 21, 2009
BYRAM TOWNSHIP
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION
2007-2098 ANNUAL REPORT
The Byram Township Environmental Commission submits this annual rep ort, summarizing its work during the 2007-2008 year. Current Environmental Commission members include Chair Sheila Hall, Council Liaison Scott Olson, Rowena McNulty, Daven Baez, Michelle Rehse, Caryn Sega!, Adam Rosenberg, Lisa Shimamoto, Dawn Boyer, and Susan Wise, Th e secretary is Margaret McGarrity.
TRAIL PROGRAM
The Commission has been concentrating on the Township trail program since obtaining a grant to produce the first town-wide trail map in 2000. In 2006, the Commission obtained a second grant to update the map and to publish a pocket-sized Trail Guide. In 2007-2008, the Commission:
o Designed and purchased “Byram Trails” and “Byram Parks” markers
. Parks
markers were installed on the perimeter of the Vetter open space parcel.
o Posted for ‘no Al ‘/ use’ the parcels owned by the Board of Education and NJ Natural Lands Trust along Lubbers Run.
o Initiated a partnership with the Stanhope Environmental Commission on trail linkages, including a link between Mansfield Bike Trail and Lenape High School.
o Continued its hike series—September 2007, Highlands Trail; November 2007, Jefferson-Glen Bike Trail; March 2008 Sussex Branch Trail; April 2008 hlands Trail, June 2008 Wolf Lake t
RIVER PROGRAM
o Funded and installed the Lubbers Run riparian buffer planting at Neil Gylling Park to protect the rner and keep geese off the playing fields
PUBLICATIONS AND WRITTEN MATERIALS
o Ongoing articles for the regular full-page “Environmental Come?’ in the Township newsletter on various issues, including phosphorus-free products, recycling, the Vetter cleanup.
o Design and town-wide mailing of postcard about the impact of phosphorus and other homeowner practices on our lakes.
o Articles in local newspapers about environmental issues and EC events.
o Site visits and written comments on Planning Board applications.
o Site visits and written comments on quarry relicensing application before the Council.
o Written comments on Highlands Regional Master Plan, Village Center Redevelopment Plan, and Governor Corzine’s park closure proposals.
SPECIAL GUESTS AT COMMISSION MEETINGS
o To speak about C-i stream designations—Ernie Hofer, President of Lake Mohawk Board of Trustees and Watershed Specialist at Wallkill River Watershed Association, and Dave Peifer, Highlands Project Director from the Association of NJ Environmental Commissions.
o To speak about alternative energy for public buildings, homes, businesses--Frank DeWitt of Alternate Energy Associates, Mr.DeWitt is to do a free energy audit of the town complex.
o To discuss and seek advice about the re-routing of the Highlands Trail—Glen Oleksak, Brenda Hoizinger, and Adam Rosenberg from the NY-NJ Trail Conference.
PARTNERSHIPS
o With federal AmeriCorps Watershed Ambassadors on cleanups and planting projects.
o With Recreation Director Janet Meisner on various recreation and park issues, including the EC-funded planting of the detention basin at the entrance to C.O. Johnson Park.
o With Lake Mohawk, Lake Lackawanna, and Forest Lake community clubs on lake management issues.
o With NJDEP on complaints from residents regarding violations of State regulations.
SPECIAL MEETINGS
The Commission sends members to special meetings regarding environmental issues, especially those of particular interest to the Township, including:
o The special Township Council meeting on Highlands Regional Master Plan.
o The NJDOT Collaborative Planning meeting on 206.
o The Sussex County Chamber of Commerce Rail-trail Subcommittee (sending a regular representative).
o The Musconetcong River Management Council (sending a regular representative).
o Sussex County 208 Water Quality Management committee (fill-in attendance for the Township).
o Sussex County Solid Waste Advisory Committee (EC member is the Township’s alternate member).
o League of Municipalities’ Mayors Committee for a Green Future (sending a regular representative>.
RESEARCH AND ADVOCACY
Along the ongoing efforts listed above, in 2007-2008 the Commission researched and/or advocated the following:
o A Township ordinance to restrict the use of phosphorus-containing lawn fertilizers, presented to the Board of Health with support from the Lake Lackawanna Investment Company, Lake Mohawk Country Club, and Forest Lakes Community Club.
o A Township ordinance to protect trees/forests, now one of the requirements in the Preservation Area under the Highlands Regional Master Plan,
o A Township ordinance regulating soil importation ordinance, with the Planning Board engineer now recommending a similar ordinance.
o A Township ordinance for ‘High Performance Building’, in support of this effort by the Township’s Architectural Review Committee.
o Better review of septic issues on applications to the Planning Board and the Construction Office and a better process for inspecting and repairing septic problems townwide, also to include better collaboration between the Environmental Commission and the Board of Health.
o The preservation of existing mature trees along the Route 206 NJDOT project area.
o A Township ordinance to ban billboards.
o A list of proposed planting sites for No Net Loss tree funding.