Finesville Dam removal - 2nd public mtg. 12/1

[Rusty Spinner]

Looking for strong support from the trout angling community for the public meeting regarding the environmental assessment we (Musconetcong River Restoration Partnership of which TU is a primary partner) completed. Details attached. I know several of you attended our first meeting at this same location last December.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Barbara L. Phillips, Public Affairs Specialist
(732) 537-6044 or barbara.phillips@nj.usda.gov
Musconetcong River Restoration Public Meeting Set
Final Draft Environmental Assessment for the Restoration of the Lower Musconetcong River at
the Finesville Dam to be presented.
November 19, 2009 - The Final Draft Environmental Assessment for the
Restoration of the Lower Musconetcong River at the Finesville Dam, prepared by
USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service, will be presented at a public meeting
on Tuesday, December 1st at the Bloomsbury Fire Company RiverView Banquet
Facility, 91 Brunswick Ave., Bloomsbury, NJ, from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. The assessment
was developed in cooperation with several Federal and State agencies and non-profit
groups working together as the Musconetcong River Restoration Partnership.
The Environmental Assessment considers the impacts of river restoration alternatives
relative to air quality, noise, water resources, sediment, vegetation, aquatic resources,
wetland resources, threatened and endangered species, cultural resources,
environmental justice, hazardous waste and materials. Comments received following a
public meeting held last year and the subsequent comment period were used to identify
local concerns regarding river restoration in the Finesville vicinity.
Comments received at the December 1st meeting and written comments submitted by
December 29, 2009, will be incorporated into the final version of the Environmental
Assessment. A copy of the Final Draft Environmental Assessment, the agenda for the
December 1st public meeting, and information about the Musconetcong at Finesville are
available online at Restoring the Musconetcong | New Jersey NRCS.
Participants in the Musconetcong River Restoration Partnership include the
Musconetcong Watershed Association, the Natural Resources Conservation Service
(NRCS), the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National
Marine Fisheries Service, the US Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS), American Rivers (AR),
North Jersey Resource Conservation and Development (RCD) Council, New Jersey
Trout Unlimited (TU), the NJDEP Division of Fish & Wildlife (DFW), National Park
Service (NPS), Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC), private landowners and
others.
Contact Barbara Phillips, Public Affairs Specialist, USDA, Natural Resources
Conservation Service at (732) 537-6044 or barbara.phillips@nj.usda.gov for more information.

 

[dcabarle]

I had some woman contact me regarding this via email last month. She asked me if I could have this stopped or try to have it stopped. She said that it's going to affect the community... I think she thought that because I run this site I could help her out.

 

[mbwmn]

IShe said that it's going to affect the community...

well of COURSE it's going to affect her community...
i (and all the other conscientious fishermen) will be picking up all the blue bait containers and cheap booze bottles in the new gorge that's created...
tell her not to worry, i'll leave the used condoms so she'll feel at home...

 

[Rusty Spinner]

I had some woman contact me regarding this via email last month. She asked me if I could have this stopped or try to have it stopped. She said that it's going to affect the community... I think she thought that because I run this site I could help her out.

I'm fairly certain I already spoke to this woman. She reached out to all sorts of people except directly to me although the newspaper article she read in the Daily News not only had my name but a picture of me standing next to the Warren Glen dam. A quick Google search would have given her my contact info ASAP. Instead she reached out to the reporter, our Jersey Shore chapter (?) and then to our Mid-West Watershed Coordinator (?) who is the person that ultimately put us in contact. Sounds like the same person.

Her fears are that we are removing dams without state oversight, and that flooding may be the end result to her or her neighbors downstream. A legitimate concern if one does not know the process of dam removals. She was even in contact with the DEP who, as I did, assured her that we have proper surveying, flood control plans, permitting, etc. prior to removals as well as mandatory public meetings where she can attend and speak her mind. This in New Jersey after all, not the Wild West. We are the ones that get flooded - under a mound of DEP paperwork!!!:down:

Dennis - PM me if you have her name still. I'd like to make sure. Sorry for your troubles.

 

[dcabarle]

I'm fairly certain I already spoke to this woman. She reached out to all sorts of people except directly to me although the newspaper article she read in the Daily News not only had my name but a picture of me standing next to the Warren Glen dam. A quick Google search would have given her my contact info ASAP. Instead she reached out to the reporter, our Jersey Shore chapter (?) and then to our Mid-West Watershed Coordinator (?) who is the person that ultimately put us in contact. Sounds like the same person.

Her fears are that we are removing dams without state oversight, and that flooding may be the end result to her or her neighbors downstream. A legitimate concern if one does not know the process of dam removals. She was even in contact with the DEP who, as I did, assured her that we have proper surveying, flood control plans, permitting, etc. prior to removals as well as mandatory public meetings where she can attend and speak her mind. This in New Jersey after all, not the Wild West. We are the ones that get flooded - under a mound of DEP paperwork!!!:down:

Dennis - PM me if you have her name still. I'd like to make sure. Sorry for your troubles.

No troubles at all.. PM sent!

 

[Rusty Spinner]

No troubles at all.. PM sent!

Thanks! Same person and she's much calmer now. We'd spoken a few times since she reached out to you and others. Always fascinating for me to learn about people's various concerns or reasons for not removing old, obsolete dams. Her's was a new one, but we've convinced her that her fears are unfounded. I invited her to this next meeting on 12/1.

 

[MR.MCR]

Hey if you can make it come on out and support Brian and this next project, look at all thats been accomplished in the last 18 months.........I will definitely try to be there....

 

[Rusty Spinner]

:bump:

See some of you there next week...

 

[gadfly]

This is tonight if anyone is interested in going....

 

[Agust]

A reminder and bump of the thread. The meeting is tonight, coffee and cookies at 6:30 followed by biologists and engineers at 7.

Be nice to see a strong turnout of supporters. By now I would imagine the questions are all answered and everyone is behind this, but the federal process is 2 hearings and this will satisfy that criteria for getting grant monies.

Come out to Bloomsbury and support a Dam Free Musky.

Also while not part of the formal presentation, last time a few of us found our way to the local watering hole for a tasty malt beverage. A distinct possibility after this one too.

 

[Hllywd76]

All will be fine since Brian will be there.
I will be at our TU board meeting. Then on to a dart league at the watering hole...

Drinkinbeer.

 

[Rusty Spinner]

See some of you tonight, I'm leaving shortly. No beers afterward for me, I've been away from the family for nearly a week at deer camp...

 

[Stonefly]

The second public meeting on the Finesville Dam was held this evening. It was a decent turnout, all wing nuts expected were in attendence.

There were a few locals against the removal, even though the property is privately owned, and the owner has all the liability on his shoulders. They still want the dam to remain of course they aren't prepared to accept the liability. One person claims that anglers leave garbage in front of this house and cross the street to piss on his retaining wall. Which means some drunk local stands in the middle of the street to do this!!!!!

Public comment in writing is still being accepted untill December 29th 2009 on the Draft Environmental Assessment.

Please send a letter of support for the removal of the Finesville Dam (or send an email) to:

Barbara Phillips
USDA NRCS
220 Davidson Ave 4th Floor
Somerset, NJ 08873

Her email is <!-- e -->barbara.phillips@nj.usda.gov<!-- e -->

thanks

 

[Rusty Spinner]

I think when I retire I'm going to attend various public meetings just for the free entertainment value. It never matters what the topic is about, come out to a public meeting for free coffee and food and sit back and enjoy the show!

Nothing last night can stop our progress. This dam is toast next year...

 

[Stonefly]

I think when I retire I'm going to attend various public meetings just for the free entertainment value. It never matters what the topic is about, come out to a public meeting for free coffee and food and sit back and enjoy the show!

Nothing last night can stop our progress. This dam is toast next year...

There are always wing nuts at these type of meetings so you'll fit right in LOL, there was plenty of coffee, and the oatmeal cookies were good.