Barnes pushes for preservation agreement from towns

METUCHEN - The Borough Council listened to a plea by Assemblyman Peter Barnes III (D-Middlesex) to save Dismal Swamp from development, but deferred formally endorsing his proposal.

While agreeing with Barnes's statement on the nature area's importance to the township and the region, the council decided not to endorse the proposal until the environmental committee and other officials have had a chance to fully examine it.

"This is a real asset to the town," Councilman Richard Dyas said as he agreed with other Metuchen officials to refer the matter to the borough's Environmental Commission.

The issue was brought to the council's attention at its June16 meeting. Barnes planned to introduce the issue in Trenton on June 23.

"Hopefully, this is one small step to preserve what is [one of the last] undeveloped acres of land in Metuchen," said Councilman Richard Weber.

Dismal Swamp includes roughly 1,000 acres of freshwater wetlands, forests and meadows in Edison, South Plainfield and Metuchen. Environmental groups have estimated that more than 175 bird species, 25 kinds of mammals, and 12 reptile and amphibian species have been spotted in the Dismal Swamp Conservation Area. Barnes also highlighted the site's archeological importance, noting a Monmouth University-led dig that found 10,000-yearold artifacts.

Barnes' stop at the June 16 council meeting was the last stop of a day devoted to stumping for his plan that would create a regional Dismal Swamp Preservation Commission with a $95,000 price tag. Typically these types of regional authorities are not well received by legislators, because they only benefit one town, he told the council.

"We need all three towns signing off," Barnes told the Sentinel in a telephone interview. "Support from Metuchen and Edison is very crucial. The four separate ecosystems are interdependent. If one town allows development, it'll flood the other areas."

He added, "Metuchen began a trail. They've been very forward-thinking. I'd like to connect that trail to all three towns. If we can do this, it'll be the only nature area of its kind nearby."

The governor-appointed commission would include a representative from each of the three municipalities, the Edison Wetlands Association environmental group, a county representative, and two state officials with expertise in planning.

Barnes said he expected one of those representatives to be someone connected to the federal Environmental Protection Agency.

The commission would be charged with signing off on any proposed development of the area, acting much like a municipal planning or zoning board. Currently there are three privately owned parcels in danger of being sold to developers.

he Edison Wetlands Association supports Barnes' proposal, said Robert Spiegel, executive director of the Edison Wetlands Association.

"There are several things going on at the same time," Spiegel said. "We're trying to get the freeholders to buy property for open space preservation. We're trying to get the three towns together in a management agreement to deal with issues like illegal [garbage] dumping. It's similar to what they're doing with the Great Swamp.

"Third is the bill Assemblyman Barnes is working on. It would complement the other efforts. It would put land use approval in the commission's control, similar to the Pinelands and Highlands commissions," Spiegel said.

It will take time to pass the Dismal Swamp commission legislation and set it up, hence the three-pronged approach.

Both Spiegel and Barnes attended the June 19 Middlesex County Freeholder meeting, and the freeholders agreed to support a resolution purchasing the private Dismal Swamp parcels. The issue moves to the county's Open Space Committee.

Dismal Swamp supporters are working to obtain municipal, county and state funding to pay for the land.

"Over the last 50 years, the Dismal Swamp area has been allowed to degrade," Barnes said. "We have about 1,000 acres out there that are still viable."

Spiegel said that people who would like more information should log on to the Web site friendsofthediz.org.