The Environmental Commission has been adversely affected by the state’s new administrative policies regarding grants for environmental protection. Budget cuts have led to a complete freeze on Community Stewardship Incentives Program for our Community Forestry Management Plan which facilitates objectives such as tree ordinance establishment, tree education and awareness, and tree planting. Despite the threat to cut the NJ Environmental Services Program next year, the Borough did receive a $2500 matching grant to begin a borough-wide Environmental Resource Inventory (ERI) conducted by the Upper Raritan Watershed Association. This vital document is a primary objective of environmental commissions across the state.

56The ERI is a proactive tool in planning to protect natural resources before they are threatened any further. Due to the pressures of development, the need to protect vital resources within our community grows. This project will protect the natural resources by first identifying those resources to members of the community who are in a position to make decisions regarding the future of the resources. This documentation is necessary for the creation of ordinances for resource protection.

The ERI will identify geological factors, soil types, groundwater recharge areas, use of surface water, stream bank vegetation, wetland delineation, critical slope areas, wildlife habitat and existing species and general vegetation. This reference tool will provide a foundation where future data can be integrated by other commissions. The evolving document will be refined to continue to better serve decisionmakers. Ideally, the ERI will be adopted as part of the master plan.

In addition to carrying out the goals of the Environmental Commission, an ERI will carry out the intentions of the State Development and Redevelopment Plan. In accordance with the State Plan’s objectives, this tool will help to Aconserve the State’s natural systems and resources as capital assets,” specifically, a significant sub watershed of the Upper Raritan Watershed. It will also enhance and preserve our community and potentially ensure that areas with historic, cultural, scenic and recreational potential are protected. Most importantly, it will help the community to be more proactive rather than reactive. The process of building the ERI is in itself an educational one. The results of the project will educate us all in how to best protect and plan for our natural resources.