Saturday, October 27, 2012
Parks to be shut down by noon on Sunday, officials say.
- GOVERNMENT
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Saturday, October 27, 2012
All state parks and historic sites are scheduled to be shut down at noon on Sunday in preparation for the arrival of Hurricane Sandy, Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin announced today. According to Martin, safety concerns are forcing the closure and those who are camping now at state facilities across the state are being advised to prepare to leave those sites by mid-day Sunday. Martin also said those with reservations for next week are advised that parks may be closed through the entire week. Persons with reservations will be called by DEP personnel to reschedule their visits to state parks. After the storm passes through the state, the parks and historic sites will be assessed and re-opened on a case-by-case …
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
This is part of a three-dam removal project.
- GOVERNMENT
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Wednesday, July 25, 2012
The Department of Environmental Protection has begun work on the removal of the Roberts Street Dam, the second and largest of three in Somerset County at the Raritan River. Taking care of this, according to a release from the DEP, is expected to open up a 10-mile stretch of the middle and upper portions of the river to fish migration for the first time in more than a century. The work began Monday morning. The work is being taken care of El Paso Corp., through an agreement secured by the DEP as compensation to the public for harm to natural resources caused by past pollution facilities operated by or affiliated with the company, the release said. This Roberts Street Dam, formerly called the Dead River Dam, it straddles Bridgewater and …
Friday, July 13, 2012
Heat and lack of rain take their toll.
- NEWS
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Friday, July 13, 2012
Heat and a lack of rain have made Sussex, Morris and Somerset counties highly susceptible to forest fires, according to the state Department of Environmental Protection. The state has seen almost twice as many (873) fires in since Jan. 1 than in all of 2011 (465), the state Forest Fire Service said. The state has placed the area at Stage No. 1 in fire restriction rating system, which means most outdoor fires are prohibited, unless it's in a properly constructed ring. "All fine dead fuels ignite readily and fires start easily from most causes," the Forest Fire Service said on its website. "Unattended brush and campfires are likely to escape. Fires spread rapidly and short-distance spotting is common. High-intensity burning may develop on …
Friday, April 27, 2012
Despite recent rain, New Jersey has faced a very dry season.
- NEWS
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Friday, April 27, 2012
It may have rained recently, but overall, this has been a dry season in New Jersey. To that end, the state Department of Environmental Protection is asking residents to be mindful of how much water they use. The press release is below. Due to ongoing concerns about below normal precipitation, Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin today encouraged residents across New Jersey to take steps to conserve water, both inside the home and outside. While recent rainfall has helped ease this year’s precipitation deficits somewhat, the effects of an unusually dry winter and spring are starting to be felt across the state. “Overall our major water supplies, including reservoirs and deep aquifers, remain in good shape,” …
David Rear
9:17 am on Sunday, July 29, 2012
Agree that additional dams on the Millstone should be breached. The one at Blackwells Mills will certainly help, but the upper reaches of the North and South branches of the Raritan are more suited to spawning stripers and shad. THe full length of the Millstone will never be available because I just don't see anyone ever breaching the dam on Carnegie Lake. So that makes the Millstone less … more ›