Environmental Commission Meeting Minutes

August 4, 2010

Attendance: Corey Nachshen, Todd Terhune, Bill Albergo, Cathy Harvey,   Margaret Gossett, John Horan, Tom Carr and Charles Gormally

 

Not Present:  Khizar Sheikh and Jackie Bay

 

Minutes- The minutes from July 7, 2010 meeting were approved.

 

 

Lakes/Mountain Lakes Spillway Repairs – Gate valve work at the spillway should be completed this week.  NJDEP permitting was not required for spillway repairs.  Permitting will be required for dam repair work on Sunset and Wildwood Lake.

Sustainable New Jersey – Submitted reports for accreditation. Not sure if the group is still meeting.

Aquifer Quality Monitoring of Contaminated Industrial Sites – process in on-going. 

Refurbished Drinking Water Well No. 3- NJDEP has not issued a permit for this well due to regulatory deficiencies.  Bill Ryden and Barry Lewis will meet with the permitting engineers in Trenton to seek approval for the pump added to the well. 

Wellhead Protection Ordinance- Highlands Group has put out a model ordinance to protect the wells.  Different ordinances have been reviewed in the past.  This ordinance would put restrictions on properties near the wells. Need someone to spend time on this activity.

Succession Planning – Cathy indicated that she would be stepping down as chair this fall.  The Commission needs to start thinking about who will be the next chair.

ERI- Buffer tool is currently working on this program. Links of pre-made views will be added to site.  Need someone to work on the infrastructure report.  The full program should be ready by the end of September.

Council Liaison Report- Council is looking for grant funding to possibly purchase King of Kings property on Route 46 in an effort to acquire additional open space.

Cove Letter to be submitted to Town Manager and Council:

 

ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION

BOROUGH OF MOUNTAIN LAKES

NEW JERSEY

August 20, 2010

Mr. Barry R. Lewis, Jr.

Borough Manager

Borough of Mountain Lakes

400 Boulevard

Mountain Lakes, NJ 07046                                                                           

Dear Barry,                        

The Environmental Commission formally requests the removal of Japanese Barberry from Cove Park and replacement with an aesthetically pleasing native riparian buffer.

We realize that the Japanese Barberry was added to Cove Park many years ago to provide a visual barrier for Canada Geese at a time when we did not understand the negative impact of this dangerous invasive.  Many volunteers have spent hours removing invasive Japanese Barberry from our woodlands due to the devastating impact this highly invasive plant can have on our ecosystem.

The Environmental Commission strongly supports a preliminary plan developed by former EC Commissioner, Lynn Uhrig and Master Gardener Jeana Macleod. This plan was developed in consultation with the prior town manager, Joe Tempesta and award winning landscape design consultant, JSL Greentree. We recommend the use of this plan as a starting point for the project since it takes into consideration factors such as the long term health of the lake water quality, budget, low maintenance, biodiversity of native plants, the scenic vista, parking, recreational aspects for ice skaters and fisherman, winter road salt run-off and a visual deterrent for the Canada Geese. 

Given the complex nature of this project, we highly recommend the use of expert consultants with experience in landscape architecture of native plants and limnology.   A preliminary draft plan developed by Lynn Uhrig and Jeana Macleod is provided.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

 

The Environmental Commission of Mountain Lakes

Submitted by: Margaret Gossett