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Environmental Commision
Liberty Township Environmental Commission
349 Mountain Lake Road, Great Meadows, NJ 07838
908.637.4579, x26
The Environmental Commission serves as an advisory board to the Land Use Board and the Township Committee. It is concerned with the quality of the surface and ground water, air, soils, flora, fauna, and general life in our community.
Learn More…or Volunteer!
Attend a talk, followed by a training meeting.
When: Saturday, February 4th from 10:00 am – noon
Where: Liberty Twp Municipal Building (349 Mountain Lake Road)
RSVP: MacKenzie.Hall@ConserveWildlifeNJ.org
Announcement
Schedule of regular meetings of the liberty township
environmental commission.
Take notice that, pursuant to the provisions of the Open Public Meetings Act,
Chapter 231, PL 1975, the following is the schedule of the regular meetings of the Liberty Township Environmental Commission to be held in 2011 and January 2012. Unless otherwise indicated, all meetings shall begin at 7:00 pm on the third Thursday of each month at the Liberty Township Municipal Building, 349 Mountain Lake Road, Great Meadows, NJ 07838
2011
Thursday, 17 February
Thursday, 17 March
Thursday, 21 April
Thursday, 19 May
Thursday, 16 June
Thursday, 21 July
Thursday, 18 August
Thursday, 15 September
Thursday, 20 October
Thursday, 17 November
Thursday, 15 December
2012
Thursday, 19 January
Members
| Phillip Woolridge, Chairperson | expiration of term 31 dec 2013 |
| Tom Webster | expiration of term 31 dec 2011 |
| Beverly Gloumakoff | expiration of term 31 dec 2013 |
| Eckhardt Debbert | expiration of term 31 dec 2013 |
| Shannon Buckley | expiration of term 31 dec 2012 |
| Doug Hankin | expiration of term 31 dec 2011 |
| Karen Cook | expiration of term 31 dec 2012 |
| Michael Van Clef, first alternate | expiration of term 31 dec 2011 |
| Diane Gonaski, Second Alternate | expiration of term 31 dec 2012 |
| Eileen Greason, Secretary | expiration of term 31 dec 2011 |
Open Space Advisory Committee
Take notice that, pursuant to the provisions of the Open Public Meetings Act, Chapter 231, PL 1975, the Liberty Township Open Space Advisory Committee meetings shall begin at 7:30 pm on the fourth monday of each month in the Municipal Building, 349 Mountain Lake Road, Great Meadows, NJ as posted.
The Open Space Advisory Committee makes recommendations to the Township Committee for the purchase of properties utilizing the Open Space Tax, and oversees the management of those properties.
The Committee oversees the boat launch, giving public access to Mountain Lake. The fee for launching is $5.00.
If anyone in interested in putting their land into preservation or learn more about the Township's Open Space program please feel free to contact Kathy Dossena at 908.637.4579, ext 30 for more information.
Hope Road Crossing
These photos are from the Hope Road crossing, which was a new rescue site for us this year - working just uphill from the intersection with Far View Road.
We went out on two nights - Sunday the 6th, and Thursday 10th, putting in a total rescue time of 2.5 hours (it was cold on the Sunday!) and carried across 91 spotted salamanders, 160 wood frogs, and 6 spring peepers.
We were working with the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife as part of their Wildlife Conservation Corps. Thanks go to MacKenzie Hall for providing the signs, vests, survey forms and flashing lights, and to our DPW for loaning us the traffic cones.
It was quite an experience!
- Phil Wooldridge
Amphibians Crossing!
When the first early spring rains come, thousands of salamanders, frogs, and toads will emerge from their winter slumber. They'll make short, stealthy migrations through the forest to breed and lay their eggs in vernal pools.
In many places across New Jersey, roads now stand in their way. A single vehicle can crush dozens of these slow-moving animals as they try to cross the road during migration. High enough traffic volumes can wipe out entire populations over time.
Liberty Township has a number of these amphibian crossings, including a significant one on Hope Road (County Route 611). During at least one rainy evening from late February through March, a team of local volunteers will be out on Hope Road to slow traffic, move amphibians across the road, and collect data about the migration. Reflective signs and flashing lights will help to warn oncoming motorists of surveyors on the road.
If you happen to pass by on one of these rainy nights, please help to keep everyone safe by slowing down and watching carefully for frogs and salamanders on the road. These are sensitive nights for amphibians, so avoid driving if you don't have to!
You can learn more about amphibian migrations and this effort at http://www.conservewildlifenj.org/protecting/projects/amphibian/.
Meeting Minutes
- January 18, 2007 (Reorganization meeting)
Annual Report
Official information:
A series of studies was undertaken to provide data on one of the townships most valuable resources, the watershed of Mountain Lake, the largest natural glacial lake in Warren County.
- 1992: Mountain Lake Watershed Study done by Warren County Soil Conservation.
- 1995: DEP grant Environmental Resources Inventory – Eric Snyder Associates $5,000
- 1998: DEP grant Water Quality Study of Mountain Lake – Amy Greene Assoc. $5,000
- 1999: DEP grant Bathymetric Map of Mountain Lake – Aquatic Analysts, Inc. $5,000
- 2000: DEP grant Phase I Storm Water Study of Mountain Lake – Aquatic Analysts $5,000
- 2001: DEP grant Phase II NPS Loading of Phosphorous Modeling – Aquatic Analysts $5,000
- 2003: Clean Water Act 319h grant for filtering storm drains at Mountain Lake. – Applied
Water Management, Inc.
$117,000 - 2005: Additional funds for stormwater monitoring- $47,628
Ongoing projects:
In 2005 the Commission purchased a computer for the use of GIS mapping, and was accepted into the NJ ICAT Program in 2006. This program includes a grant of ArcView software and training in its use. This will enable the Commission to prepare maps and overlays for planning and the protection of environmentally sensitive areas, as well as updating the Environmental Resources Inventory.
The Commission participates in Liberty Township Community each year, manning a public education booth.
"Welcome to the Watershed" tote bags containing brochures and flyers on environmental issues and other Township information are distributed to new residents. The bags were obtained through the Warren County Environmental Commission’s Richard Dunlap Memorial Grant.
Working closely with the Mountain Lake Community Association, the Commission also supports a volunteer water monitoring project and weed control program for Mountain Lake.
Other functions of the Environmental Commission include review of development plans that come before the Land Use Board, recommending environmental ordinances to the Township Committee, and most importantly, offering public education on environmental issues. A series of educational brochures has been developed, and presentations by experts are offered on a quarterly basis.
The Commission is a member of the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions (ANJEC).
Environmental Brochures:
