RESOLUTION OF THE BERGEN COUNTY FEDERATION OF SPORTSMEN'S CLUBS OPPOSING A PROPOSAL BY THE NEW JERSEY AND PENNSYLVANIA CHAPTERS OF THE SIERRA CLUB TO CHANGE THE DESIGNATION OF THE DELAWARE WATER GAP NATIONAL RECREATION AREA TO THE DELAWARE RIVER NATIONAL PARK AND LENAPE PRESERVE.
WHEREAS, the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (DEWA) was established September 1, 1965, one of 10 National Recreation Areas of the National Park Service, currently encompassing nearly 70,000 acres in New Jersey and Pennsylvania and is a protected area in the United States established by an Act of Congress to preserve enhanced recreational opportunities in places with significant natural and scenic resources; and
WHEREAS, the DEWA offers recreational opportunities such as hiking, walking, bicycling, fishing, hunting, swimming, camping, boating, cross country skiing, bird watching, horseback ridings, sightseeing, and special events; cultural resources, infrastructural facilities, national resources, and rare, threatened and endangered species of plants, fish, mammals, reptiles and amphibians; and
WHEREAS, The Bergen County Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs is aware of a proposal by the New Jersey and Pennsylvania Chapters of the Sierra Clubs seeking to change the designation of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area to the Delaware River National Park and Lenape Preserve; and
WHEREAS, the proposal by the New Jersey and Pennsylvania Chapters of the Sierra Club, offers no insight or plan for the change in designation; namely the environmental, economic and agricultural impact to the DEWA and to the residents and local businesses; and
WHEREAS, the proposal by the New Jersey and Pennsylvania Chapters of the Sierra Club offers no information on possible changes to public lands, namely, Stokes State Forest, High Point State Park and State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Fish & Wildlife lands as well as acquisition of private property; and
WHEREAS, the proposal by the New Jersey and Pennsylvania Chapters of the Sierra Club offers no information on the plan to facilitate this change; the implementation of fee collection and location of collection stations; and how funding will be provided for this National Park;
WHEREAS, the proposal by the New Jersey and Pennsylvania Chapters of the Sierra Club offers no explanation on the location, size and parameters of the "Preserve" area, the activities allowed and disallowed; and
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Bergen County Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs firmly opposes the proposal to the New Jersey and Pennsylvania Chapters of the Sierra Club, or any other organization, seeking to change the designation
the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area to the Delaware River National Park and Lenape Preserve.
Original resolution available as a .pdf you can download and view:
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