Protecting Brightwood Park's Wetlands
Compiled by Denise Ricci
Previously misunderstood as wastelands, wetlands are now being recognized for their vital ecological and socioeconomic contributions. Wetlands contribute to the social, economic, and environmental health of our nation in many ways:
For some history and details on the Departments regulatory authority over freshwater wetlands in New Jersey, please see the NJ DEP's webpage: "The United States Environmental Protection Agency and its relationship with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection".
from NJ Department of Environmental Protection Land Use
- Wetlands protect drinking water by filtering out chemicals, pollutants, and sediments that would otherwise clog and contaminate our waters.
- Wetlands soak up runoff from heavy rains and snow melts, providing natural flood control. Wetlands release stored flood waters to streams during droughts.
- Wetlands provide critical habitats for a major portion of the State's fish and wildlife, including endangered, commercial and recreational species.
- Wetlands provide high quality open space for recreation and tourism.
For some history and details on the Departments regulatory authority over freshwater wetlands in New Jersey, please see the NJ DEP's webpage: "The United States Environmental Protection Agency and its relationship with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection".
from NJ Department of Environmental Protection Land Use
Is the Mountain Biking proposal being rushed through without adequate consideration of the ecology of the park and the damage it could do to the fragile environment there?
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The proposed bike trails cut through areas identified as wetlands in Noel Taylor's book, Brightwood Park (pages 50-51).
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Trails in freshwater wetlands are governed by rules promulgated under the Freshwater Wetlands Protection Act N.J.S.A 13:9 B-1, et.seq.
The NJ DEP's rules require permits for trails in areas where there are wetlands. The DEP recognizes two types of trails that require a permit: 1) multi-use trails that are designed for both pedestrians and bicycles and 2) trails that are designed only for the use of bicycles and other non-motorized wheeled methods of transport. Regardless of which of these two trails are to be developed, the rules require the permittee (in this case, the town) to take measures necessary to ensure that use of the trails will not interfere with the natural hydrology of the area and to minimize the impact of activities on vegetation. See N.J.A.C. 7:7A-7 and 7:7a-7.17A.
It is essential that the town study the hydrology and vegetation in Brightwood to ensure that any impact on the environment complies with the permitting rules. In order to fully assess the extent of the wetlands, there must be a wetlands delineation.
Wetlands are commonly referred to as swamps, marshes, or bogs, however many wetlands in New Jersey do not fit this familiar description. Wetlands may be appear to be dry on the surface for much of the year but be wet in the spring or during storm events. The NJ DEP requires that the 1989 Federal Manual for Identifying and Delineating Jurisdictional Wetlands be to determine the presence and extent of freshwater wetlands. The 1989 Federal manual uses a three-parameter approach that evaluates hydric soils, wetland hydrology and hydrophytic vegetation.
The wetlands delineation would require a site plan, drawn to scale, that includes both the wetlands and transition area. Additionally, to obtain a permit, the town must establish the area that would be disturbed by the proposed activity with the size, location and details of the trail among other requirements.
Understanding the hydrology and vegetation in the park is thus essential before the impact of any trail proposal on the environment can be fully appreciated.
It is essential that the town study the hydrology and vegetation in Brightwood to ensure that any impact on the environment complies with the permitting rules. In order to fully assess the extent of the wetlands, there must be a wetlands delineation.
Wetlands are commonly referred to as swamps, marshes, or bogs, however many wetlands in New Jersey do not fit this familiar description. Wetlands may be appear to be dry on the surface for much of the year but be wet in the spring or during storm events. The NJ DEP requires that the 1989 Federal Manual for Identifying and Delineating Jurisdictional Wetlands be to determine the presence and extent of freshwater wetlands. The 1989 Federal manual uses a three-parameter approach that evaluates hydric soils, wetland hydrology and hydrophytic vegetation.
The wetlands delineation would require a site plan, drawn to scale, that includes both the wetlands and transition area. Additionally, to obtain a permit, the town must establish the area that would be disturbed by the proposed activity with the size, location and details of the trail among other requirements.
Understanding the hydrology and vegetation in the park is thus essential before the impact of any trail proposal on the environment can be fully appreciated.
Bog Turtles
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The bog turtle was federally listed as a threatened species in 1997.
Per the US Fish and Wildlife Service, bog turtle habitats are recognized by three criteria; suitable dyrology, suitable soil and suitable vegetation. Bog turtle habitat has been found in Union County and, per the NJ DEP, in Scotch Plains. Brightwood Nature Park borders on Scotch Plains.
At only about 4 inches long, the bog turtle is one of North America’s smallest turtles, has a bright yellow, orange, or red blotch on each side of the head. These small, semi-aquatic turtles consume a varied diet including insects, snails, worms, seeds, and carrion. Suitable vegetation includes sensitive fern (Onoclea sensibilis), a plant identified by Noel Taylor in is 1981 survey of the park.
Bog turtles usually occur in small, discrete populations, generally occupying open-canopy, herbaceous sedge meadows and fens bordered by wooded areas. These wetlands are a mosaic of micro-habitats that include dry pockets, saturated areas, and areas that are periodically flooded. Bog turtles depend upon this diversity of micro-habitats for foraging, nesting, basking, hibernating, and sheltering. Unfragmented riparian (river) systems that are sufficiently dynamic to allow the natural creation of open habitat are needed to compensate for ecological succession. Beaver, deer, and cattle may be instrumental in maintaining the open-canopy wetlands essential for this species’ survival.
Bog turtles inhabit open, unpolluted emergent and scrub/shrub wetlands such as shallow spring-fed fens, sphagnum bogs, swamps, marshy meadows, and wet pastures. These habitats are characterized by soft muddy bottoms, interspersed wet and dry pockets, vegetation dominated by low grasses and sedges, and a low volume of standing or slow-moving water which often forms a network of shallow pools and rivulets. Bog turtles prefer areas with ample sunlight, high evaporation rates, high humidity in the near-ground microclimate, and perennial saturation of portions of the ground. Eggs are often laid in elevated areas, such as the tops of tussocks. Bog turtles generally retreat into more densely vegetated areas to hibernate from mid-September through mid-April.
The greatest threats to the bog turtle are the loss, degradation, and fragmentation of its habitat from wetland alteration, development, pollution, invasive species, and natural vegetational succession.
The US Fish and Wildlofe guidance is to avoid direct modifications to wetlands that support bog turtles and to streams that flow to bog turtle habitat. Given the park's proximity to Scotch Plains, the town should consult a certified bog turtle habitat surveyor before any action is taken in the park.
There is more information about bog turtles from the US Fish and Wildlife/DEP
Per the US Fish and Wildlife Service, bog turtle habitats are recognized by three criteria; suitable dyrology, suitable soil and suitable vegetation. Bog turtle habitat has been found in Union County and, per the NJ DEP, in Scotch Plains. Brightwood Nature Park borders on Scotch Plains.
At only about 4 inches long, the bog turtle is one of North America’s smallest turtles, has a bright yellow, orange, or red blotch on each side of the head. These small, semi-aquatic turtles consume a varied diet including insects, snails, worms, seeds, and carrion. Suitable vegetation includes sensitive fern (Onoclea sensibilis), a plant identified by Noel Taylor in is 1981 survey of the park.
Bog turtles usually occur in small, discrete populations, generally occupying open-canopy, herbaceous sedge meadows and fens bordered by wooded areas. These wetlands are a mosaic of micro-habitats that include dry pockets, saturated areas, and areas that are periodically flooded. Bog turtles depend upon this diversity of micro-habitats for foraging, nesting, basking, hibernating, and sheltering. Unfragmented riparian (river) systems that are sufficiently dynamic to allow the natural creation of open habitat are needed to compensate for ecological succession. Beaver, deer, and cattle may be instrumental in maintaining the open-canopy wetlands essential for this species’ survival.
Bog turtles inhabit open, unpolluted emergent and scrub/shrub wetlands such as shallow spring-fed fens, sphagnum bogs, swamps, marshy meadows, and wet pastures. These habitats are characterized by soft muddy bottoms, interspersed wet and dry pockets, vegetation dominated by low grasses and sedges, and a low volume of standing or slow-moving water which often forms a network of shallow pools and rivulets. Bog turtles prefer areas with ample sunlight, high evaporation rates, high humidity in the near-ground microclimate, and perennial saturation of portions of the ground. Eggs are often laid in elevated areas, such as the tops of tussocks. Bog turtles generally retreat into more densely vegetated areas to hibernate from mid-September through mid-April.
The greatest threats to the bog turtle are the loss, degradation, and fragmentation of its habitat from wetland alteration, development, pollution, invasive species, and natural vegetational succession.
The US Fish and Wildlofe guidance is to avoid direct modifications to wetlands that support bog turtles and to streams that flow to bog turtle habitat. Given the park's proximity to Scotch Plains, the town should consult a certified bog turtle habitat surveyor before any action is taken in the park.
There is more information about bog turtles from the US Fish and Wildlife/DEP