DEP AND DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE PARTNER TO EDUCATE PUBLIC ABOUT TREE-KILLING PESTS
Unveil Interactive Forest Pest Exhibit at Jackson Center

(11/P96) TRENTON- Visitors to the State’s Forest Resource Education Center (FREC) in Jackson Township can learn about five insects that kill trees and what to do if they see these pests through a new, interactive exhibit, part of the Center’s interpretive trail.

The joint project between the Departments of Agriculture and Environmental Protection was funded by a $10,000 grant from the United States Department of Agriculture.

“Now is the peak time for the emergence of some pests that are deadly to trees,” said Carl Schulze, Department of Agriculture Plant Industry Division Director.  “The exhibit will assist us in our efforts to make people aware of the invasive pests threatening New Jersey’s forests.  Public interest is our greatest resource in combating invasive pests since most discoveries of these insects are made by private citizens.”

The multi-sensory board tells about the Asian longhorned beetle, emerald ash borer, Sirex woodwasp, southern pine beetle and gypsy moth.  Visitors simply push a button to hear a two or three minute message with a brief history of the bug and what to look for.  The bugs are pictured on the board and a short synopsis is posted next to the picture.  Information on who to contact if there is a sighting is included.

The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Forest Service designed and built the display in a “green” manner, using wood harvested and cut at the FREC and using solar energy to power the board.

"This kiosk features pests that currently damage or kill New Jersey trees, as well as pests yet to be found in our state," said State Forester Lynn Fleming. "Visitors who learn the signs and symptoms will be able to identify and report infestations, which alerts foresters to the problem and they initiate suppression action."

The FREC, a 900-acre property, provides free environmental education programs to groups of all ages, teaching forest stewardship.  The facility includes an interpretive center, featuring exhibits on forest succession, wildlife, tree seeds, forestry tools, forest fire and pruning.  There also is a tree nursery that grows 400,000 seedlings yearly for reforestation across New Jersey.

The Department of Agriculture (NJDA) has been battling an infestation by the Asian longhorned beetle since 2002 when the wood-boring pest was discovered in Jersey City.  The beetle was declared eradicated in 2008 after a five-year federal/state operation. Asian longhorned beetle was again found in Middlesex and Union counties in 2004 involving.  An eradication effort continues in that region.  No new infested trees have been discovered in New Jersey since April of 2006.

Emerald ash borer (EAB), a small emerald green insect native to Asia, was discovered in July 2002 feeding on ash trees in southeastern Michigan.  Since then, it has afflicted more than 100,000 square miles of damage to ash trees in 12 states, as well as Canada, including New Jersey’s bordering states.  A survey is currently being conducted to see if EAB has spread into the Garden State.

Gypsy moth caterpillars, which reach about 2 inches long when full grown and have pairs of blue and red spots on their backs, emerge in May and early June.  The gypsy moth population reached its peak in New Jersey in 2008 with 339,240 acres defoliated before the population began to decrease in 2009 through a combination of regular life cycle drop-off, beneficial fungus activity and natural predator increases in combination with the Department’s aggressive spray program.  While gypsy moth populations were down this year, damaging only about 1,300 acres of trees, the state must continually monitor the situation to avoid outbreaks that kill large numbers of trees through repeated defoliation.

Sirex woodwasp is a threat to pine trees.  This large, dark insect is native to Eurasia and North Africa and can be up to 1.5 inches in length.  Identified in New York State in 2006, it has since affected many other states including Michigan, Ohio and Vermont.  If the pest continues to spread, it could eventually cause billions of dollars of damage to United States forest life.

Southern pine beetle is a native insect that killed 14,000 acres of pine trees in New Jersey last year. This 1/8-inch long, dark, reddish-brown insect has been a destructive pests in the southern U.S. for more than 30 years. Some 70 percent of outbreaks have taken place on private lands. Infestations are marked by a sudden onset of yellowish needles that quickly turn brown.

The State Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Parks and Forestry, oversees more than 430,000 acres of land that receive over 18 million visitors annually.  About 42 percent, or 2.1 million acres, of New Jersey is forested, which includes state and private lands that serve as environmental resources.

Trees exist for many important environmental reasons including filtering air pollution chemicals and dangerous small dust particles from the air, reducing water runoff, flooding, erosion and storm water management costs, and helping recharge groundwater and keep sediment and pollutants from streams. They offer summer shade and protection from winter winds and snow, which increases comfort and cuts winter heating and summer cooling costs by at least 20 percent.

New infestations of invasive pests are known to occur due to movement of wood and wood products.  People can accidentally spread the pests by bringing firewood along with them.  A pledge against moving firewood can be taken at www.dontmovefirewood.org.

To learn more about invasive pests threatening New Jersey’s trees, visit www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/forest/community/Pests_and_Diseases.htm or www.nj.gov/agriculture/divisions/pi/prog/asianlonghornbeetle.html.


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The following is a news release from the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

Horseshoe Crab Survey Funding Secured
NFWF Match Ensures Continuation of Survey for 2011

Arlington, VA - Full funding for the 2011 Virginia Tech Horseshoe Crab Trawl Survey has been secured through a matching donation from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF).  NFWF funds match the combined $100,000 contribution from Lonza Walkersville, Inc. and Charles River Laboratory, providing the full $200,000 needed for survey operations in 2011.

The survey, which has been administered by Virginia Tech since 2002, is the only survey designed to sample the horseshoe crab population in coastal waters. Its data are a critical component of the coastwide stock assessment and the new Adaptive Resource Management (ARM) framework, both of which were endorsed through an independent peer review in 2009.  The ARM framework includes modeling that links management of horseshoe crab harvest to multispecies objectives, particularly red knot shorebird recovery. It was developed jointly by the Commission, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. Geological Survey in recognition of the importance of horseshoe crab eggs to shorebirds in the Delaware Bay Region.

"We are thrilled that the 2011 survey can be conducted with the combined funds from NFWF and the biomedical industry," stated Thomas O'Connell, ASMFC Horseshoe Crab Board Chair and Maryland DNR Fisheries Service Director.  "Without the initial commitments of the biomedical companies and the fishing industry, this opportunity could not have materialized.  I hope that these commitments will spur other interested groups to pledge resources, as the 2012 survey is still in need of funding."

"Ensuring that there are adequate horseshoe crab resources to support rebuilding Delaware Bay shorebird populations depends upon good science and management, which this survey and the ARM framework support," said Dr. Anthony Chatwin, Director of Marine and Coastal Conservation at NFWF. "We are happy to help support the survey this year, particularly when all of us are being challenged by tight budgets."

Additional donations have been pledged by Associates of Cape Cod, Inc., and members of the horseshoe crab and whelk industry including the Chesapeake Bay Packing, LLC, Bernie's Conchs, LLC, LaMonica Fine Foods, Southern Connection Seafood, Inc., Sea King Corp., Spot's Fish Company, and Delaware Valley Fish Company.  These funds will provide seed money for the 2012 survey, the status of which will be based on the ability to secure full funding.

STATE CONTINUES WORK TO SUPPRESS PINE BEETLES IN THE PINELANDS,  BUILDS PARTNERSHIPS TO PINPOINT AND RESPOND TO INFESTATIONS

(11/P82) TRENTON - The Department of Environmental Protection continues to battle the southern pine beetle in the Pinelands this summer, forming partnerships with local governments to identify and attack outbreaks, conducting weekly aerial surveys to assess damage and pinpoint suppression efforts, and using a federal grant to develop a plan for further suppression efforts that may include controlled burning of infested woodlands.

“The infestation this season is on pace to equal or possibly surpass the estimated 14,000 acres that were killed last year,” Commissioner Bob Martin said. “We are stepping up our efforts to protect this unique ecosystem, building partnerships that will ensure early detection and rapid response to outbreaks.”

The New Jersey Pinelands Commission, the state agency charged with protecting the million-acre Pinelands National Reserve, has pledged to work closely with the DEP, recently authorizing the emergency cutting of 300 acres of dead and dying pine trees on state-owned lands in the Pinelands.

“We are doing everything we can to cooperate with DEP and assist them in their efforts to combat this significant threat to the resources of the Pinelands,” said Pinelands Commission Executive Director Nancy Wittenberg.

Some 70 percent of the outbreaks are taking place on private lands, so it is critical that everyone keep a sharp eye out for signs of infestation so appropriate action can be taken to pinpoint and isolate hot spots before the beetles spread, said Amy Cradic, Assistant Commissioner for Natural and Historic Resources.

“Our best defense is to seek out and respond to hot spots of activity before the beetles have a chance to expand their destructive activities,” Cradic said.

The beetles are about the size of a grain of rice. Infestations are marked by the sudden onset of yellowish needles that quickly turn brown. Infestations usually are not recognizable until small stands of trees are affected. The bark of infested trees may show numerous excretions of yellowish-white sap oozing from tubes that the beetles bore into the bark.

Pesticides are not effective at large-scale control of the southern pine beetle. The DEP’s primary strategy is to identify affected stands, or hot spots, and cut down the affected trees before the beetles spread. The beetles become disoriented by the horizontal position of the trees and do not spread.

To bolster these efforts, the DEP is:

• Working with the Pinelands Municipal Council to reach out to municipalities in the region, asking them to appoint liaisons to coordinate with the DEP’s Forest Service in identifying and responding to outbreaks. The DEP will work with these liaisons to help them educate residents and target affected stands of trees. When a new infestation is found, the state will work with the liaison on recommended suppression activities.

• Conducting weekly aerial surveys to identify new infestations and pinpoint priority areas for suppression. In addition, Dartmouth University faculty and graduate students have volunteered to visually confirm outbreaks identified by aerial surveys. Observations will be shared with the municipalities and the liaisons to help private landowners respond to infestations.

• Developing a plan for the use of a $600,000 U.S. Forest Service grant to support pine beetle suppression efforts, including possibly targeting prescribed burns in areas impacted by beetle infestations in order to reduce the spread of beetles and, at the same time, reduce wildfire risks. In addition, the DEP is developing a plan to offer financial assistance to municipalities and landowners to address infestation on private lands.

• Developing a network of researchers and government officials to educate landowners.

• Teaming with the Pinelands Commission to develop work plans for the cutting of affected stands of trees and establishing buffers of cleared trees. The DEP will continue to coordinate efforts with the Pinelands Commission in developing future work plans.

• Working with researchers from Dartmouth, The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, Rutgers University, the U.S. Forest Service, the Texas Forest Service and the Pinelands Commission in monitoring and prioritizing beetle-suppression activities and in recommending tree salvage and reforestation activities. In addition, Rutgers has been holding public outreach sessions throughout the region.

• Hosting public information sessions and field tours of south pine beetle-affected areas with the Rutgers University Cooperative Extension Service in Atlantic, Burlington, Cape May, Gloucester and Ocean counties. Also teaming with the Extension Service to deliver a presentation on pine beetles to the public as part of the Pinelands Commission’s “Pinelands Speakers” series at 2 p.m. on Aug. 18 at the Commission’s headquarters, 15 Springfield Road, Pemberton Township.

The southern pine beetle, which is not native to New Jersey, bores into the bark of pine trees, laying eggs in tunnel-like galleries in the thin cambium layer, which carries nutrients and water to the tree.

These galleries and feeding on bark that is done by hatched larvae cut off the tree’s supply of water and nutrients, causing it to die within a matter of weeks. The species of tree most affected in the Pinelands is the pitch pine, the dominant tree throughout the region.

The infestation last year was the worst year on record since the pine beetle was first detected in New Jersey a decade ago. Previous infestations have primarily affected forests south of the Mullica River watershed, which straddles the border between Atlantic and Burlington counties.

Infestations, however, are now being detected in pockets north of the Mullica River watershed, including state-owned lands that make up the core of the Pinelands preservation area. The DEP’s Division of Parks and Forestry continues to cut stands of affected trees on state-owned lands in the Pinelands, and is working on plans for removing dead trees and reforesting affected areas when feasible.

“We have our work cut out for us,” said State Forester Lynn Fleming. “We will continue to aggressively attack outbreaks where we find them, but we will also need help from the weather this winter. Extended periods of extremely cold weather greatly reduce numbers of over-wintering pine beetles and their eggs, larvae and pupae.”

To learn more about the southern pine beetle, get the latest updates and find scheduled pine beetle information sessions, visit: www.southernpinebeetle.nj.gov

For more information or to report possibly infested trees, contact the Forest Service Trenton Office at (609) 292-2531; Southern Regional Office at (609) 625-1124, Central Regional Office at (609) 726-1621, Northern Regional Office at (973) 786-5035, or your local consulting forester or a certified tree expert.

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NEW 313-ACRE PARK IN HUNTERDON COUNTY UNVEILED;    
$7.5 MILLION PROJECT IS JOINT EFFORT BY GREEN ACRES PROGRAM, AND FEDERAL, COUNTY, LOCAL, AND NON-PROFIT PARTNERS

(11/P81) TRENTON- A new park in Kingwood Township that offers sweeping vistas of the Delaware River Valley in an area of Hunterdon County that is filled with rolling hills, forested ravines and pristine streams, and which offers habitat to many wildlife species, was dedicated today, culminating a decade-long preservation effort with local and nonprofit partners, DEP Commissioner Bob Martin announced.

The 313-acre park, to be jointly owned, managed and maintained by Kingwood Township and the Hunterdon Land Trust Alliance, will offer a venue for horseback riders, hikers, mountain bikers, bird watchers, and others who favor the peace and tranquility of nature. It includes a permanently preserved farm, with an 11,000-square-foot equestrian center, barns and other farm structures, plus seven miles of existing trails.

This preserved tract, located off Horseshoe Bend Road, is adjacent to some 500 hundreds of acres of adjacent open space and preserved farmland, resulting in creation of a more than 800-acre green space and farm corridor in western Hunterdon County. 

“Preserving the State’s natural spaces is critical to the quality of life for our residents. This land will provide countless benefits of open space preservation, including the protection of water quality, wildlife, and providing a place for people to recreate and enjoy the outdoors,’’ said Commissioner Martin. “We are very proud the Green Acres Program, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary, could join with the many other organizations involved in this effort for their vision and cooperative efforts to protect this beautiful property.’’

In addition to the DEP’s Green Acres Program, which contributed $4.5 million to this project, key players and contributing partners include the New Jersey Conservation Foundation (NJCF), State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC), U.S. Department of Agriculture, Kingwood Township and the Hunterdon Land Trust Alliance. Representatives of those groups gathered at the park today to celebrate the preservation deal.

“It is truly a celebration when organizations work together with such success; bringing resources to the table, envisioning the goal, and making it a reality,’’ said Rich Boornazian, Administrator of the DEP’s Green Acres Program. “The preservation of this beautiful property will contribute dramatically to enhanced water quality, protection of important wildlife species, and the quality of life for the people of New Jersey.’’

NJCF first sought to preserve the tract 10 years ago but could not reach an agreement with the landowner, who then sought to develop the site. But a public-private partnership subsequently put together a preservation funding plan. The first phase of the preservation took place last summer, when 73 acres east of Horseshoe Bend Road in Kingwood Township were preserved at a cost of $1.7 million.

The second phase of the preservation, targeting 240 acres also on the east side of Horseshoe Bend Road, was completed last month at a cost of $5.8 million. Partners in Phase Two included the DEP’s Green Acres Program, $4.1 million; DEP’s Office of Natural Resources Restoration, $150,000; Kingwood Township’s Open Space Trust Fund, $1.1 million; and NJCF, via a Hunterdon Land Trust open spaces grant, $444,000.

The farmland on the east side of Horseshoe Bend Road has been permanently protected with a farmland easement funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm and Ranchland Protection Program and the SADC.

The Horseshoe Bend Road property is one of the more visually stunning tracts in western Hunterdon County. Its high meadows are home to meadowlarks, bobolinks and redwing blackbirds. Bald eagles and hawks are believed to nest there.

“People care about preserving places like this because once they're gone, they're gone and we can’t get them back," said Michele S. Byers, executive director of New Jersey Conservation Foundation.

“I've seen some beautiful, amazing properties in Hunterdon County and this one is a true gem. Losing this place to development was simply not an option,’’ added Margaret Waldock, executive director of the Hunterdon Land Trust Alliance.

“This property is a local jewel, and we’re so thankful that we and our partners were able to work together to successfully preserve it,” said Kingwood Mayor Phillip Lubitz.

“The State Agriculture Development Committee was pleased to partner in this project to strengthen the significant investment in farmland preservation in Hunterdon County -- an investment that has made Hunterdon County the statewide leader in the number of preserved farms under the state Farmland Preservation Program,” said State Agriculture Secretary Douglas H. Fisher.

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ELEVEN WIND DEVELOPERS SUBMIT PROJECT PROPOSALS AS PART OF FEDERAL OFFSHORE LEASING PROCESS
                                
(11/P75) TRENTON - Demonstrating its continued commitment to a clean energy future for New Jersey that will drive economic growth, the Christie Administration today announced that 11 companies have expressed an interest in developing wind turbine projects off the New Jersey coast as part of a federal process that will ultimately determine the development of offshore leases for these projects.

“Development of clean wind power and solar energy is a top priority for Governor Chris Christie and is a key component of the state’s energy future,” said Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin. “This robust response from offshore wind developers makes it clear that commercial interest in development of wind turbines is strong. It also solidifies New Jersey’s role as a national leader in the development of green energy that will provide jobs, economic growth and cleaner air while reducing carbon dioxide emissions.”

The U.S. Department of Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) issued a federal notice, known as a Call for Information and Nominations, to gauge developers’ interest in leasing portions of the outer continental shelf off New Jersey for wind turbine projects.

The firms submitting project nominations are: Offshore MW LLC; Neptune Wind LLC; Garden State Offshore Wind Energy I  LLC; Bluewater Wind New Jersey Energy LLC; TCI Renewables Inc.; Mainstream Renewable Power; enXco Development Corp.; US Wind Inc.;  New Jersey Offshore Wind LLC; Fishermen’s Energy of New Jersey LLC; and Iberdrola Rewewables Inc.

Ranging in size from 350 megawatts to as much as 3,000 megawatts, the proposed projects represent approximately 12,500 total megawatts of green energy capacity. Multiple project proposals overlap the same federal leasing blocks, meaning that the total power generation capacity of the wind facilities constructed would ultimately be much less than the total of the projects submitted in the Call for Information and Nominations.

The proposed leasing area encompasses 418 square nautical miles between Barnegat Light and Avalon. This leasing area begins seven nautical miles off the shoreline and extends up to 23 nautical miles into the ocean, encompassing 43 entire federal leasing blocks and parts of 34 others.

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar identified this area as a Wind Energy Area (WEA) for further study and consultation to foster responsible and efficient leasing. The leasing area was delineated in consultation with the New Jersey Energy Task Force and BOEMRE, based on extensive environmental data collected during a two-year DEP ecological baseline study of marine and avian resources.

The New Jersey Energy Task Force, comprised of state, federal and local agencies, met numerous times to ensure all stakeholder interests and concerns were addressed, including maritime, fisheries, and natural resources.

BOEMRE will now evaluate the Call for Information and Nominations and must complete a qualifications review of all of the applicants before determining whether competitive interest exists. If BOEMRE determines competitive interest exists, the agency will determine the structure of the competitive process leading to final bidding for leases.

For the Call for Information and Nominations, BOEMRE required potential developers to provide specific information, including the leasing block or blocks they are interested in, a description of the project’s objectives and infrastructure requirements, proposed activity schedule, likely power purchasers, and documentation demonstrating financial and technical capabilities.

The Christie Administration is committed to cleaner and affordable energy for New Jersey, having implemented a number of laws and policies to foster the development of renewable energy and set New Jersey on a path toward a green and secure energy future. The creation of jobs tied to green energy and the development of port facilities to facilitate this development are priorities of the administration.

As part of these efforts, the Administration this week released the draft 2011 Energy Master Plan (EMP), which establishes the framework for achieving a greener and affordable vision for the use, management, and development of energy in New Jersey over the next decade and beyond.

The state will accomplish this through a diverse energy portfolio that promotes renewable sources of energy, saves money, stimulates the economy and job creation, and protects the environment.

In addition, the Offshore Wind Economic Development Act, which the Governor signed into law last year, authorizes creation of an Offshore Wind Renewable Energy Certificate (OREC) program and makes available financial assistance and tax credits from existing programs for businesses that construct, manufacture, assemble and provide water access facilities to support the development of qualified offshore wind projects.

The OREC program calls for a percentage of electricity sold in the state to come from offshore wind energy. This percentage would be developed to support at least 1,100 megawatts of generation from qualified offshore wind projects - or enough electricity for approximately one million homes.

The state has identified nearly 500 companies that could become involved in the development of wind power through the construction of wind turbines and supply chain support. The Christie Administration also has been working closely with local officials to redevelop the Port of Paulsboro as a hub for companies needed to provide and construct wind projects.

For a list of the companies that filed in the Call for Information and Nominations process, visit:
http://www.boemre.gov/offshore/RenewableEnergy/PDFs/stateactivities/NJ/NJTableofResponsesFinal.pdf

For other information about the Call for Information and Nominations process, visit: www.boemre.gov/offshore/RenewableEnergy/StateActivities.htm#New_Jersey

To read the DEP’s Ocean/Wind Power Ecological Baseline Studies, visit: http://www.nj.gov/dep/dsr/ocean-wind/

Location: St. Michael's Property
Compiler: Sharyn Magee:

St.Michael's, Mercer, US-NJ
Jun 15, 2011 5:40 AM - 7:54 AM
Protocol: Traveling 1.3 mile(s)
33 species

Mourning Dove  4
Chimney Swift  1
Downy Woodpecker  1
Northern Flicker  2
Willow Flycatcher  5
Eastern Phoebe  1
Blue Jay  1
American Crow  3
Tree Swallow  4
Barn Swallow  7
Carolina Chickadee  2
Tufted Titmouse  2
House Wren  1
Eastern Bluebird  3
American Robin  17
Gray Catbird  12
Northern Mockingbird  4
European Starling  23
Cedar Waxwing  2
Yellow Warbler  16     Male feeding fledgling.
Common Yellowthroat  4
Eastern Towhee  2
Chipping Sparrow  2
Field Sparrow  5
Song Sparrow  8
Scarlet Tanager  1
Northern Cardinal  8
Rose-breasted Grosbeak  1
Red-winged Blackbird  5
Brown-headed Cowbird  14
Baltimore Oriole  4
House Finch  9     Cowbird fledgling in tree with HOFI.
American Goldfinch  1


Aunt Molly Woods St. Michael's, Mercer, US-NJ Jun 15, 2011 7:54 AM - 9:22 AM
Protocol: Traveling 0.9 mile(s)
20 species (+1 other taxa)

Red-tailed Hawk  1
Great Crested Flycatcher  1
Blue Jay  2
American Crow  4
Carolina x Black-capped Chickadee (hybrid)  1
Tufted Titmouse  4
White-breasted Nuthatch  1
Carolina Wren  1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher  1
Wood Thrush  1
Gray Catbird  3
Prairie Warbler  2
Ovenbird  1
Common Yellowthroat 3
Eastern Towhee  5
Song Sparrow  1
Northern Cardinal  3
Rose-breasted Grosbeak  1
Indigo Bunting  1
Red-winged Blackbird  1
Common Grackle  1


St. Michael's, Mercer, US-NJ
Jun 15, 2011 9:23 AM - 10:17 AM
Protocol: Traveling 1.1 mile(s)
Comments:     Only birds not seen in early morning walk to Aunt Molly Road recorded in return walk.
13 species

Great Blue Heron  2
Turkey Vulture  4
Bald Eagle  1
Mourning Dove  3
White-eyed Vireo  1
House Wren  1
Eastern Bluebird  1     Parents feeding fledgling.  Parents seen earlier.
Northern Mockingbird  1
Cedar Waxwing  5
Blue-winged Warbler  1
Yellow Warbler  1
Chipping Sparrow  1
House Finch  1