Woodlands Committee Meeting Minutes
Attendees: Martha
Dwyer-Bergman, Linda Spencer-Green, Patie Graham,
Jerry Uhrig
Guests: Susan Marshall
First on the agenda were
introductions and getting acquainted. It
turns out that we come from across the country, east (Patie,
Two administrative matters:
minutes compiled cooperatively; reference map obtained from Gary Webb by Jerry.
We also spoke briefly about
invasive exotic species. Susan suggested that we could avoid some confusion by
using the technical names in our lists, as Richard Radis
has done in his report. It was also suggested that perhaps someone from a
garden club could give a talk on invasives. (There was an excellent exhibit at
last year's garden club plant sale.)
We reviewed some of the
previous major threats to our woodlands and how they were countered. In the
early 1970s the Tourne Reservoir was stopped by a small group of able and
determined citizens. Copies of their report can be found in the Environmental
Commission library. Subsequently, the gypsy moths threatened the destruction of
our oaks, primarily white oaks. They were eventually brought under control and
a balance restored by introduction of predators.
Currently our hemlocks are
being threatened by woolly adelgids. The future of this species in the wild in
our area is in question. Experimental predators have been introduced in some
areas (Adams Creek in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area).
And of course a major threat
to our woodland habitats as we know them is the burgeoning deer population.
This threatens ultimately all four layers of our forests and with them the
other species that depend on the habitat.
We discussed our mission
statement. Martha suggested that we use the term "natural balance" in
the paragraph on the health of the woodlands. (Jerry will fix it and circulate
for review.) The plan is to do the tasks in the mission statement in order. The
first task is to evaluate the current conditions of the woodlands. As we proceed,
we need to be as complete and critical as possible, learning as we go. We
should review what we have in hand and then see where the holes might be. So
initially this should be a primarily a paper study until we figure out what
field work is needed. We will divide up the woodlands into four categories and
each take one.
Wilcox and contiguous
woodlands - Martha
Halsey Frederick - Phil
Small lots - Linda
Other large areas - Patie
Resources identified initially
are:
League of Women Voters
Consensus (in packet)
1995 Woodlands Study (in
packet)
Peterson Guide to Eastern
Forests (excerpt in packet)
Radis
Report (Borough website)
Tourne Coalition Report (EC
library)
EAC Report on Tourne (EC
library)
Emilie K.
Hammond Wildflower Trail in Tourne (fenced for 5 years)
People (Marianne Wilson, Rob
Jennings, Richard Radis, Emile DeVito,
John and Carol Knapp from Morris Highlands Audubon, et. al.)
Numerous other sources to be
identified
As Susan was leaving, we noted
that Brian Marshall is one of those very competent bird observers who can
identify species by sound. This could prove to be very useful in determining
which species we have. Birds can be very helpful indicators of the health of a
woodland habitat.