Neighbors and conservation groups press Pinelands Commission to redesignate Black Run headwaters as forest area

Public commenters at the December 21 Pinelands Commission meeting urged immediate action to protect lands near the Black Run Preserve, a mosaic of Pine Barrens habitat valued by volunteers, educators and nearby residents.

Multiple speakers — including John Volpa (founder/former chair of Friends of the Black Run Preserve), Amy Golden, Max Murphy (ecologist), and callers from conservation and education organizations — described ecological values such as headwater protection, groundwater recharge, endangered and threatened species, and community recreation. Several speakers urged the commission to redesignate headwater parcels to forest area and to prioritize acquisition and preservation.

What staff said: commission staff told the meeting that the redesignation proposal is nearly complete and is expected to be submitted to the governor’s office soon; formal publication in the New Jersey Register and a formal hearing with written and oral comment opportunities are expected next year. Staff also reiterated that today’s meeting was not a formal hearing on redesignation and that public comment provided at today’s meeting would not substitute for the record created during the formal rulemaking/hearing process.

Public concerns and proposals: commenters called for stricter safeguards on endangered-species surveys (one speaker recommended the commission maintain a vetted list of qualified consultants rather than relying solely on applicants’ consultants), emphasized the role of the forest and headwaters in flood mitigation and water supplies, reported recent on-the-ground threats (contractors marking parcels, recent wildfire response), and pledged community organizing and volunteer support for preservation.

Representative remarks included John Volpa’s request that the commission “redesignate Eastern Headwaters to forest area” to begin protection and acquisition work and Max Murphy’s description of the headwaters as providing groundwater recharge and ecosystem services for communities in both New Jersey and Philadelphia. A volunteer firefighter (caller Hannah Katz) described responding to a recent wildfire in the preserve and called for conservation attention.

What’s next: staff said the formal redesignation proposal will be published in the New Jersey Register next year, followed by a formal public hearing and an opportunity to submit written comments as part of the rulemaking record; the commission will schedule that hearing and post associated documents when ready.

Sources: multiple in-room and phone public commenters and staff remarks during the public comment period and staff update earlier in the meeting.