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Politics & Government

Group Continues Work to Preserve Pristine Forked River Mountains

Cleanup planned for Sunday, April 22

Just three miles west of the Garden State Parkway and minutes from the more than 27,000 residents of Lacey Township is an area of the Pinelands called the Forked River Mountains. The 20,000-acre tract features two sand and gravel hills, the larger rising 184 feet above sea level, which form a ridge between the Cedar Creek and Forked River watersheds.

In an effort to preserve the largely still pristine area, The Forked River Mountain Coalition was formed 18 years ago. President Kerry Jennings was one of the founding members.

"It's in the Pineland so people think, 'Isn't it protected?'" said Jennings. "But it has large privately-owned tracts so it could be developed."

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The Coalition has purchased 100 acres toward the preservation. Ocean County, through its Natural Lands Trust Fund Program, preserved two tracts in 2003 and 2005 totaling almost 1,000 acres. 

“The land surrounding the Forked River Mountains is home to both the Cedar Creek and Forked River watersheds.Protecting pristine acres such as this is exactly the mission of the Ocean County Natural Lands Trust Fund,” said Freeholder Deputy Director John C. Bartlett Jr. “We want to ensure that this historic and environmentally sensitive region remains untouched and preserved for generations to come.”

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The New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife and the New Jersey Conservation Foundation manage a 3,000-acre tract, the Forked River Mountain Preserve. In all, between 6 and 7,000 acres of the Mountains is preserved, according to Jennings.

"It's fairly pristine and unique," he said, who grew up in the area and came to the Mountains the first time most likely on a Cub Scout hike. "It's like Ocean County's rain forest."

Jennings said there is a variety of rare plant species and wildlife living in the Mountains, such as coyote and beaver. Visitors to the area hunt and hike, but there also is a fair share of off-road vehicle traffic.

"People visit there and some respect the land and some don't respect the land," he said. "Once more people visit the area, more eyes will be watching what's going on and then we'll get a better handle on what's happening."

The Coalition, in cooperation with the Ocean County Parks Department and the Pinelands Preservation Alliance, is sponsoring its 19th annual cleanup of the Forked River Mountains area on Sunday, April 22. In that time, volunteers have collected 496 tons of debris.

"I'm sure we will surpass the 500-ton limit and that will surpass 1 million pounds this year," said Jennings. "This year, we have a boat to remove."

Ocean County Department of Solid Waste is providing dumpsters that will be taken to the Ocean County Landfill in Manchester Township. Others are providing help and equipment to move the debris, including: A's Home Center, Bamber Lakes Volunteer Fire Co., Brick Wall Corp., Forked River German Butcher Shop, Fusciello's Butcher and Deli, Hometown Builders, Joseph Brunetti Construction Co., Lacey Liquors, Lacey Township Cub Scout Pack 35, Little Hawk, New Jersey Conservation Foundation, Ocean County Clean Communities Task Force, PRP Construction, Quelch and Son Builders, Shop Rite of Lacey and Lacey Township.

They typically have more than 100 volunteers participate in the cleanup. It is a way for people to see the area if they have never been there, said Jennings.

Volunteers will meet at the Lacey Township Municipal building on Lacey Road at 8:30 a.m.

To find out more about the Forked River Mountains and how to get involved in the area's preservation, visit the Coalition's website at www.frmc.org.

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