Newsletter

    A special Thank you to the dozens of individuals who recently joined or renewed their membership with the Coalition. This support will enable the Coalition to continue our grass-roots initiative so we can all realize our goals of preserving the Forked River Mountains and the vast wilderness that surrounds them.
    Members of the Coalition will be able to participate in the seventh Annual Meeting and election of members to the Board of Trustees. The Annual Meeting is scheduled for May 9, 2001 at 7:00 p.m. at Wells Mills County Park. If you are a member of the Coalition, you will receive a written notice of the election about a month before the Annual Meeting.
    If you are not currently a member of the Coalition but would like to join, or if you are a member and have not yet renewed your membership, simply complete the registration form. Be sure to mark the appropriate box and return the form along with your $15 membership dues for 2001. Contributions are tax-deductible.

Here are three exciting opportunities to learn more about the Forked River Mountains and view the area's unique flora and fauna. . .

Barnegat Bay Festival

       The fifth annual Barnegat Bay Festival will be held on Saturday, June 9, 2001. The festival is a cooperative effort of non-profit organizations and government agencies dedicated to maintaining the health and quality of the Barnegat Bay and its vast watershed covering most of Ocean County. The festival is designed to heighten environmental awareness about the natural resources of the watershed and the impact of human activities on these resources. Nearly two dozen activities are being planned.
       The Forked River Mountain Coalition and the New Jersey Conservation Foundation, will present a program entitled: Exploring the Forked River Mountain Reserve. The program will begin with a slide presentation about the Forked River Mountains and this vast Pinelands wilderness. Afterward we will hike into the forest to explore a pristine Pinelands stream and an Atlantic white cedar swamp.
       Open space conservation in the Pinelands compliments efforts to protect Barnegat Bay because many of the streams and rivers that flow into the bay originate in the Pinelands. The Forked River Mountain area contains the headwaters to three major tributaries of Barnegat Bay, including the Cedar Creek, Forked River and Oyster Creek.
         There is a limit of 20 persons for our program so pre-registration is necessary. For additional information call (732) 506-5313.

* Some illustrations from A Field Guide to the Pine Barrens of New Jersey, by Howard Boyd, Plexus Publishing, Inc. Medford, NJ by Howard Boyd, Plexus Publishing, Inc. Medford, NJ

Canoe Trip

      The Forked River Mountain Coalition will sponsor our seventh annual canoe trip down Cedar Creek on May 28, 2001. We will depart Double Trouble State Park at 10:00 am and return approximately 3:00 pm. The cost is $10 per person. There is a three (3) person limit per canoe.
         Bring lunch, drink, insect repellant, sun tan lotion, hat or sun glasses. Long pants and sneakers are recommended. No alcohol.
          We will provide canoes, life preservers and transportation back to Double Trouble State Park.
        Persons who are interested in attending should complete and return the registration form or call (609) 971-1635 for more information.

Treefrog Hike

       If you would like to try your luck at discovering an endangered Pine Barrens Treefrog join us on the evening of Friday, June 8, 2001. We will meet at the Bamber Village Store at 7:30 pm and return around 9:30 pm. The Bamber Store is located at the intersection of Lacey Road and Dover Road about 5 ½ miles west of the Garden State Parkway exit 74.
         There will also be an opportunity to view several unique plants during the hike including sundews, pitcher plants and the endangered curly-grass fern. Our favorite amphibian is featured in an article in this newsletter.
          The cost for this program is only $5 per person. You must provide your own transportation. Long pants and boots are recommended. Bring insect repellant and a flashlight. Persons who are interested in attending should complete and return the registration form or call (609) 971-1635 for more information.

The Pine Barrens treefrog is a stout bodied little frog averaging about 11/2 inches in length. A bright emerald green color and a lavender side stripe that is bordered in white easily distinguish it. The insides of their hind legs are tinged with orange. Pine Barrens treefrogs have large adhesive toe pads and the linear markings between the legs and feet give the impression that the frog is wearing gloves.

This species of treefrog can be found in proper habitat in portions of Florida, Alabama and the Carolinas as well as New Jersey. Here in New Jersey, the treefrog’s range is generally limited to the Pine Barrens, which is the northern most and largest population known.

Pine Barrens treefrogs are restricted to habitat associated with Atlantic white cedar swamps and pitch pine lowlands. During warm, humid evenings in May, June and early July, the treefrogs seek out shallow ponds or temporary vernal pools having high acidity where males emit a distinctively nasal “quonk-quonk-quonk” in an effort to attract females for mating. Mostly nocturnal, Pine Barrens treefrogs generally spend the day backed into a burrow in sphagnum moss and under damp logs or exposed roots.

In New Jersey, the Pine Barrens treefrog is considered an endangered species. Habitat loss and degradation, including the introduction of pollutants such as sediment and pesticides, threaten the treefrogs. Other negative impacts are direct disturbances from motorized vehicles and habitat trampling.