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Sportsmen's Use of Marsh Threatened
by J.B.Kasper
Friday December 12th 2003
(from Jersey Coast Anglers Association January 2004 Newsletter)
I have been fishing the Delaware River in the Trenton area for better than 40 years. Most residents that now live in the Trenton area know very little about what the marshes south of Trenton were like 40 years ago. When I was growing up, I trapped the marshes for muskrat, fox and other furs. We hunted the marshes for ducks, rabbits and other game, as well as canoed and fished the backwater areas.
Some of you might remember Ray Londell who operated a bait business, first on Route 206, then in Yardville. Ray taught me how to trap the swamps for baitfish, something I've done for a good part of 40 years and still do during the cold water season.
While I have no problem with protecting the marshes from pollution, development and for future generations, I have to question what is being proposed by the Friends of the Marsh, a front organization of the Delaware and Raritan Greenways (D&RG). I have looked over their proposal for the marsh to be included into the Federal Protection Program under the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS), and can see many threats to the use of the marshes by sportsmen.
The marshes already come under the protection of the state and the federal wetlands programs. Development is taboo, water and land quality is scrutinized and the marshes are monitored by the New Jersey EPA. All too often getting an area included in the NWRS is nothing more then an attempt to secure funding for environmental groups such as the Friends of the Marsh. In turn, the groups trample on the rights of sportsmen who have used an area since the beginning of this country.
One look at what happened to the Holegate tract when it was given to the feds as part of the Foresyth National Wildlife Refuge, and how they have tried to stop the use of four-wheel drives by surf fishermen illustrates my point. It's a good bet if the marsh is made part of the NWRS or the D&RG is able to get overseeing authority for the marsh that private property rights and the rights of sportsmen to use the marsh will be the first thing they try to do away with. I have seen this in numerous places before where residents of an area were told of all the benefits of such a move, only to have to go to court to protect their rights after the move was made.
A small portion of their management plan illustrates the type of threat it poses to the boating and sporting public. Under the section labeled "Strategy" it states: Foster use of the Marsh by the public for compatible recreational activities including: a) walking, hiking, jogging, cross-country skiing, nature study, birding, canoeing and kayaking, picnicking; b) bicycling and horse-drawn carriages on designated trails only; c) fishing and hunting in designated areas during designated seasons only. Another portion of the strategy section states: Prohibit incompatible recreational activities including off-road motorized vehicles (snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), dirt bikes, four-wheel drive vehicles), jet-skis and gas-powered watercraft.
Talk about a hidden agenda, I find it very hypocritical that the Friends of the Marsh want to close the marsh off to the boating public, as well as dictate the where and when of fishing, hunting and other outdoor use can take place, recreation that has been part of the marsh for decades, but want to allow bird watching, cross-country skiing, kayaking and guided tours (under their supervision of course), as well as building a nature/visitors center. What's next, make the entire river their private preserve?
The marsh is already more then adequately protected by state and federal wetlands programs that will allow it to revert to a more natural state, a state that it has not been in since William Trent first set foot in the Trenton area at the foot of what is now Lalor Street, centuries ago. Like I said in the beginning of this story, I have no problem with protecting the Trenton Marsh, however, guarantees in writing to protect private property rights, boaters' rights and the rights of sportsmen need to be in place long before any such consideration (such as National Wildlife System Status) is given. If this is not done the rights of the outdoor sporting public will be trampled on, as has been done in numerous other places.
I spoke with Pete Rohrbacher a representative of the "Crosswicks Creek Alliance" an organization which was formed to combat this growing threat and see that boaters, sportsmen and property owners interest are protected. Pete owns property along the Crosswicks Creek and he and his wife have attended several of the Friends of the Marsh meetings. After attending these meetings Pete said he has serious reservations about what the group's intentions are and has doubts about the validity of the organization itself. In addition, Pete said at the group's last meeting a good number of people opposed the Friends Management Plan for the Marsh showed up including the Delaware River Yachtsmen's League, Bordentown Yacht Club, Yapewi Aquatic Club, Boater Voter Coalition, Property Rights Foundation of America, hunters, boaters, and a fair turnout of concerned property owners. In fact, the opposition attending far outnumbered the Friends members present.
Sportsmen and boaters interested in joining the "Crosswicks Creek Alliance" should contact Pete at 609-298-3915 or by e-mail at CCA@ROHRTECH.COM . In addition the alliance is asking boaters and sportsmen contact Congressman Chris Smith at 609-585-7878 to ask him to withdraw his support of the Management Plan. Congressman Smith is in the process of proposing legislation that would help make the marsh party of the National Wildlife Refuge Program.
(Note: Whether or not to support this issue will be discussed at our December 30th General Membership Meeting)