October 30, 2024 Planning Board Special Meeting Transcript - WEHI

11/06/2024 03:21:43 PM Page 13 to 16 of 203 4 of 80 sheets 13 infection because it looks as though someone painted1 dark stripe, light stripe on every leaf as you look up2 into the canopy. Unfortunately this is happening3 everywhere. I walked three or four forests since then4 and it's, it's not a good sign.5 Historically, as you know, the ash trees in this6 forest are doomed. Ash is a species that we don't know7 how much longer it will live in the northeast. It is a8 native species. To give you a little context, in light9 of the Yankees playing tonight, you will notice that10 major league baseball players are now looking for11 alternative woods for baseball bats because there isn't12 sufficient ash for them to make their bats. This is an13 issue. We therefore suggested as part of the14 negotiation the deer fencing as much as we could get.15 The advantages are multifold. First, to put in context,16 the areas in green on this property are effectively17 undisturbed from the existing forest. The only areas in18 here that will have trees removed are in the areas that19 you see of course where the buildings are located and in20 the white areas here down to the storm detention areas.21 The areas in dark green, which are undisturbed but will22 be deer fenced, are designed to allow for regeneration23 of the forest. A lot of this area in here is wetland24 and unfortunately right now if you walk-through here you25 14 could not walk from here across here without getting cut1 up pretty bad. You would be cut up by the barberry2 thorns that are there.3 So to put some things in context, I know there's4 concern over disturbing the land, this is it. Most of5 this land will be undisturbed and will be protected.6 What does a deer fencing do is a question that I7 tried to answer. This is an example of an area very8 similar to this forest. These are all northeastern9 forests by the way, nothing taken out of this area. And10 this is the other side of the deer fencing after nine11 years. And if you notice there's a significant amount12 of undergrowth. There's significantly new trees here.13 The first time I observed deer fencing in operation and14 use was in a graduate study performed by a colleague15 back in 1982 and I can tell you that forest is almost16 fully regenerated.17 Effective deer fencing design is critical. If18 you don't do it correctly it doesn't work. In my

performed by a colleague15 back in 1982 and I can tell you that forest is almost16 fully regenerated.17 Effective deer fencing design is critical. If18 you don't do it correctly it doesn't work. In my report19 to the planning board you will see a recommendation by20 the New Jersey Department of Agriculture for a specific21 design in deer fencing, which will be this design. This22 was taken at the largest deer fenced restoration area23 that I know of in New Jersey, a total of 640 acres.24 Fully deer fenced. It's in Hillsboro at Duke Farms.25 15 The Duke Estate is a preserved 2700 acre estate. They1 have fenced one square mile, which is 640 acres. And2 they are studying the impact of how effective deer3 fencing can be. Deer cannot get through this fencing4 obviously. They will not jump it. Deer have a limit5 typically of six to eight feet and you will notice the6 large spacing here, small animals will have no problem7 getting through deer fencing. That was a concern raised8 in several of the hearings before. Fox, try to keep a9 fox out of anything, and that's not going to be done.10 If you've ever had chickens or have, chickens is the11 operative word. And other small game will have no12 issue. The issue of chipmunks, birds, they have no13 impact on deer fencing and deer fencing has no impact on14 them.15 These images are all taken at Duke Farms. This16 is three years worth of growth in a protected zone.17 Now, I'm going to go backwards quickly and I've come18 back. All right. What have I done wrong.19 See here. Put that image in your mind. Put that20 image in your mind. Sorry. There we go. And put that21 image in your mind. That is a significant change in22 growth pattern.23 Within a couple of years you really don't even24 know the deer fencing is there. Vines love deer fencing25 16 by the way, as you might imagine.1 This is deer fencing, again, taken at Duke Farms,2 because it is the largest, that I know, and oldest study3 that's been done in New Jersey in terms of continuous4 use. I don't see the deer fencing. I had a hard time5 seeing it and I was standing next to it. The6 undergrowth will come into play and takeover on that7 site.8 Another advantage of undergrowth is of course9 that the more growth I have the more plants I have, the10 more water I will absorb, if on the ground. The more11 undergrowth, the more water absorption, the more water12 absorption

rowth is of course9 that the more growth I have the more plants I have, the10 more water I will absorb, if on the ground. The more11 undergrowth, the more water absorption, the more water12 absorption the less runoff. And if you will notice on13 the map going this way -- I have to go backward, I'm14 sorry. There. If you'll will notice here, a lot of the15 deer fencing --16 MR. AFRAN: Could we just note, I'm sorry.17 Could we just note what screen it is, because there's no18 page numbers. This is a schematic of the plan.19 THE WITNESS: Just use SP-11, would that be20 helpful?21 MR. AFRAN: Yeah, that's okay.22 THE WITNESS: If you notice on this drawing23 from SP-11 a large section of deer fencing is on the24 steepest slopes. The undisturbed area is also in here25