Woodlands Management Committee Meeting Minutes
Attendees: Martha Dwyer-Bergman, Cliff Miles, Phil Notestine, Louise Davis, Linda Spencer-Green, Bob Dewing,
Laurel Durenberger, Jerry Uhrig
Administrative
Laurel
Durenberger attended as a representative of the Environmental Committee to discuss
how we might collaborate on the invasive plant problem.
Louise
is our new Borough Council representative.
Reports
Deer
Phil
reported that there are no additional deer reports since the last meeting.
Hunting activity was essentially suspended over the holidays. For the year 2005 there were a total of 3
deer deaths as a result of cars, much lower than the previous years. Bow hunters will be active until the season
ends next month. Both Phil and Cliff
reported that in their walks in the woods they have seen much less deer browse
and many more buds on the stems. It was
reported that the Environmental Commission wants to do another infrared survey
this spring to update the earlier data.
Jerry mentioned that there were concerns about the count last year. The
number seemed to be too low, and in some cases the deer were in the wrong
places. A state Fish and Wildlife biologist told us that
Invasives
The
topic of edible invasive plants was suggested as a means of fostering public
interest and involvement. An excellent
resource for such information can be found at
http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/recipes.htm
The
garlic mustard pesto recipes distributed last year were suggested by way of
example. The “Garlic Mustard Round-Up”
event held last year was discussed as a means of getting volunteers.
It
was noted that we have a lot of Japanese knotweed, which is edible, along
Pocono Road mostly opposite the Borough Garage and we did have some adjacent to
the Birchwood parking lot until Jerry removed it. We will have to watch this
year to see how successful the removal turns out to be.
We
also mentioned that the Woodlands Restoration Demonstration Project on
It
was suggested that the Garden Club could help us to inform the public as to
invasive plants that should not be planted in town.
Jerry
then mentioned that the New York/Brooklyn Botanical Gardens has information
regarding invasive plants that can be accessed from the Woodlands website. The
URL is
http://www.bbg.org/gar2/pestalerts/invasives/worst_nym.html
They
group plants into three categories: Invasive Species, Potentially Invasive
Species, and Watch Species. Invasive Species are clearly invasive in the
Phil
suggested that we budget herbicides into our budget next year to spray the
borough lots for garlic mustard control. The Borough crew would have to be
trained to use the chemicals. Cliff said that only certain chemicals would
require that training, Round Up does not require special training for usage but,
as with any herbicide, you have to follow directions carefully. Louise suggested creating a test plot to
explore different methods of eradication; however, Jerry said that he has
pretty much done that. Due to the vast number of seeds distributed by each
plant and the persistence of the seeds, it takes a long time - up to 10 years -
for complete eradication.
Phil
suggested that using the Home and School Bulletin as our forum might help to
educate the community. Jerry explained
that the Woodlands Committee space allocation for the Home and School Bulletin
is 3 pages per year. So if we used ½ page notices we would be able to reach the
community 6 times a year out of the 8 issues each year. This would enable us to keep the community
informed of new efforts required over the year and also encourage residents to
use the Woodlands Website as a resource tool.
Jerry showed us the “Calendar for Invasive Removal” that Lynn Uhrig had
begun to develop. Jerry also handed out
a list that
The
committee has decided that we will begin to use our Home and School page
allocations beginning with
Threats
Cliff
updated us as to who to notify if any tree infestations are spotted: Rutgers
Cooperative at 973 285 8300.
Other topics
Bird Houses
Cliff
mentioned that he had seen a flock of bluebirds near the playing fields at the
high school and wanted to know if he could locate some bluebird boxes in the reforestation
area to encourage the birds. Louise
suggested that he speak with Gary Webb and perhaps consult with the schools if
the bird houses were to be on school property. In any case, we might ask the
schools to involve the students in building them. Bob said that he would contact the Boy Scouts
about this project.
It
was also suggested that martin houses might be suitable for the Wildwood
parking lot. But then there was a
discussion about the fact that martins eat dragon flies, which in turn eat mosquitoes,
and thus by attracting martins you would probably increase the mosquito
population.
Vernal
Pools
Phil
also mentioned the vernal pools and felt that they should be in very healthy
condition this coming spring. The season
for the vernal ponds life cycle begins in late February. Jerry mentioned that there are pools that are
not on the
There
was a conversation about trying to make the frog and toad call CD accessible
from the Woodlands website. It turns out that there are at least two sources
that we can link to.
An
on-line guide to
can
be found at
http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/ensp/fieldguide_herps.htm
The
vocalizations are a shortened version of the ones on the training CD
"Calls
of
http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/prod_herpguide.htm
A
really excellent website that includes some of the
Borough Newsletter
Phil
asked if there was a possibility of the Borough reinstating the Borough
Newsletter and Louise explained that because the town has joined with the Home
and School to reach the community that the Borough would not be likely to print
a separate newsletter. It was mentioned
that many people read the Neighbor News, and
Native
Plants
It
was asked if there are Native Plants that we want to “celebrate” and highlight
so that people begin to know what to look for in native plants: wintergreen,
orchards and jack-in-the-pulpits were a few mentioned. Cliff mentioned that he had seen an American
chestnut in Valhalla Glen still producing chestnuts.
Pocono
Site
Jerry
mentioned that George Jackson has spoken of the Borough site across the street
from Borough Garage and the need to have it cleaned up. We want to talk to the Shade Tree Commission
about some restoration work they had done at the site. It was stated that there is waste soil and
dead deer being dumped there.
Trees
There
was a question as to whether the lawn services were being updated with
information in regards to trees. Perhaps it can be addressed at our joint
meeting with Shade Tree in February.
For
our joint meeting next month, Linda said that we should do a series of short
presentations for them to begin a dialog on topics of mutual concern. Linda
will be the organizer of the meeting. We
should plan to speak about 5 minutes on each topic. The topics and speakers
are:
DVD
Presentation Overview Linda
Invasives Martha
and Jerry
Threats
and Diseases Cliff
General
Forestry 10 years out Bob (a
list of trees that should be encouraged)
Deer Phil
Vernal
Pools Phil