October 30, 2024 Planning Board Special Meeting Transcript - WEHI

11/06/2024 03:21:43 PM Page 77 to 80 of 203 20 of 80 sheets 77 use the deer fence? I know you said Duke Farms and1 Essex County, are there others that promote, like does2 DEP have a stance on the deer fence?3 THE WITNESS: To my knowledge I don't, I4 haven't seen anything published by the DEP, but there5 have been and I have read over the years multiple6 studies, Cornell University, Penn State, University of7 Syracuse. Many have done studies. US -- sorry.8 Department of Agricultural -- US Department of9 Agriculture Forestry has done studies on deer fencing.10 What I have read, I would say to summarize it11 succinctly, is it works but they're expensive. Probably12 the single most expensive means of trying to preserve a13 forest and not feasible as most would say when you're14 trying to preserve a national forest or something to15 that size. It's just not feasible. Duke Farms happens,16 apparently, to have a significant resource base of money17 to be able to create that much fencing. Some of their18 fencing however was also paid for by settlements with19 polluters over the years. That's how they could afford20 it. In this case you have an ordinance based on the21 settlement, was I close, that does call for the22 applicant to pay for the deer fencing.23 MS. KAPFERER: Thank you.24 And then question about, I'm not sure if25 78 this questions for you or for us. Does somebody review1 the design for the fence? If it's something that, you2 know, maybe is unfamiliar, how do we determine --3 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: I think he testified to4 the design of the fence.5 MS. KAPFERER: Okay.6 THE WITNESS: Yes, I did testify to the7 design of the fence, it was actually part of my report.8 The US Department of -- New Jersey Department of9 Agriculture design standard.10 MS. KAPFERER: Okay.11 And then one question, I believe you said12 something about that the deer are herded out when the13 fence is actually closed. How does that work? Maybe14 this is a silly question, but thinking it's, you know,15 so many, it's a very large area, how do you make sure16 all the deer are out and any other wildlife for that17 matter?18 THE WITNESS: Yeah, I'm not worried about any19 animal other than deer not getting out of there on their20 own. I'm not going to worry if they get out on the day21 that the fence is closed. They will get out.22 The deer, not much different than herding23 out any other

er not getting out of there on their20 own. I'm not going to worry if they get out on the day21 that the fence is closed. They will get out.22 The deer, not much different than herding23 out any other animal. You're going to have to, I don't24 have the exact methodology in front me what you would25 79 have to do, because it would be determined at that time,1 but essentially you do a sweep. You start at the2 farthest points from the gates and you make, it's going3 to sound rather archaic but similar to driving game when4 hunters do that. They drive game by having people move5 game in a specific direction. If we go to the, let me6 go back and show you probably the easiest. So I'm not7 going to even go to the next slide since I have such bad8 luck with it. Presuming that, let's presume for9 argument sake right now, because the final design isn't10 done, that the gate is here. Just for argument sake.11 So what you would start to do is create, whether it's12 with people or some other means, probably people because13 you can't get a machine in here. You create a line and14 you begin walking in this direction and you begin a15 sweep, so you create an arc and the deer are not going16 to come towards you, they're going to move away and you17 continue that until you arc, and they only have one18 point to go and that's out the gate. They can't get19 over it, so they're going to go through the gate. It's20 not a very sophisticated thing but it can be very21 effective.22 MS. KAPFERER: That's my questions. Thank23 you.24 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Guess who's up, the25 80 engineer. Do you have any questions about his1 testimony?2 MR. HESS: One quick question, if I may.3 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Sure.4 MR. HESS: The, you have indicated also5 invasive species within the understory area that's going6 to be fenced with the deer fencing?7 THE WITNESS: Correct.8 MR. HESS: Are there any plans, since that9 will be fenced in, are there any plans to do anything to10 remove the invasive species in that area?11 THE WITNESS: That's not something that we12 discussed to any great length. There are no plans that13 I know of to do that.14 MR. HESS: Okay.15 Just wait naturally then and hope that the16 new growth causes the invasive species to back off or17 succumb?18 THE WITNESS: Over time that's what we would19 anticipate. But I also don't know that, the applicant20 may not want to put a trail, a walking

wth causes the invasive species to back off or17 succumb?18 THE WITNESS: Over time that's what we would19 anticipate. But I also don't know that, the applicant20 may not want to put a trail, a walking trail and do21 something, it's up to the applicant. They may choose22 over time to say, let's do something. Create a garden23 club. I'm not saying they will, but perhaps the24 community in there wants one. Any number of things can25