Bill Text: NJ SJR88 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Recognizes Delaware Bayshore as region of special significance in NJ.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-06-29 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Environment and Energy Committee [SJR88 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-SJR88-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator JEFF VAN DREW
District 1 (Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland)
SYNOPSIS
Recognizes Delaware Bayshore as region of special significance in NJ.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Joint Resolution recognizing the Delaware Bayshore as a region of special significance in New Jersey.
Whereas, The Delaware Bayshore, which stretches along the southwestern coast of New Jersey in Cape May, Cumberland, and Salem counties, contains numerous farms, forests, rivers, streams, and wetlands; and
Whereas, The Delaware Bayshore is home or a critical migratory stopover for over 300 species of birds, including many threatened and endangered species, and each year supports the second-largest shorebird congregation in North America; and
Whereas, The region also contains the world's largest population of horseshoe crabs, which march up bay beaches each spring to lay their eggs, and these eggs, in turn, provide food for thousands of shorebirds traveling from South America to the Arctic; and
Whereas, The wetlands of Delaware Bay are recognized as wetlands of international importance by the Ramsar Convention, an international treaty on wetlands, and as a Hemispheric Reserve by the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network; and
Whereas, Delaware Bayshore residents and wildlife are dependent upon the area's wetlands, which help protect the region from floods, filter the water, and are among the most productive vegetative areas on earth, also hosting oysters, blue claws, stripers, and other seafood species; and
Whereas, The Delaware Bay, its rivers and many tributaries provide fresh water to residents, and help sustain the region's industries, including commercial and recreational fishing, farming, commercial food processing, and nature tourism; and
Whereas, The Delaware Bay is also responsible for much of the State's shellfish production, including oysters, crabs, and clams, which create millions of dollars in economic activity for the State each year; and
Whereas, In addition to its ecological importance, many towns in the Delaware Bayshore region are snapshots of a different era, providing cultural and historic opportunities and events; and
Whereas, Bridgeton and Greenwich in Cumberland County, in particular, are listed on the National and New Jersey Registers of Historic Places, and New Jersey's official Tall Ship, the A.J. Meerwald, sails out of Port Norris, Cumberland County; and
Whereas, Those who visit the Delaware Bayshore can take advantage of its many recreational opportunities, including world-class fishing, hiking, biking, kayaking, sailing, and dining in some of the best seafood restaurants in America; and
Whereas, The Delaware Bayshore is also home to some of the oldest lighthouses in New Jersey, such as the Cape May and East Point lighthouses, which have guided ships in the Delaware Bay since the mid-eighteenth century; and
Whereas, Despite the region's importance, loss of farmland and wildlife habitat, lack of historic preservation, contamination of streams and fisheries, depletion of drinking water, and natural disasters have threatened the Delaware Bayshore economy, traditions, and way of life; and
Whereas, In particular, Superstorm Sandy destroyed beaches, homes, and infrastructure along the Delaware Bayshore, and because Delaware Bayshore communities have had few resources to recover from the storm, some are facing extinction; and
Whereas, For these reasons, it is necessary and proper for the State to recognize and help preserve the important cultural, ecological, economic, historical, and recreational resources of the Delaware Bayshore; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Delaware Bayshore, including Cape May, Cumberland, and Salem counties, is designated as an area of special significance in New Jersey due to its important cultural, ecological, economic, historical, and recreational resources.
2. The Delaware Bayshore Council is urged to submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature detailing various threats to the Delaware Bayshore's cultural, ecological, economic, historical, and recreational resources, and to make policy recommendations, including any proposed legislation, on how the State could design programs or direct resources to help address these threats.
3. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate or the Clerk of the General Assembly to the Delaware Bayshore Council.
4. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This joint resolution would recognize the Delaware Bayshore as a region of special significance in New Jersey.
The Delaware Bayshore, which stretches along the southwestern coast of New Jersey in Cape May, Cumberland, and Salem counties, contains numerous farms, forests, rivers, streams, and wetlands. It's home or a critical migratory stopover for over 300 species of birds, and each year supports the second-largest shorebird congregation in North America. The region also contains the largest remaining population of horseshoe crabs on Earth, which lay their eggs on the beaches each spring, and these eggs, in turn, provide food for thousands of shorebirds. The Delaware Bayshore's internationally recognized wetlands help protect the region from floods, clean the water, and are among the most productive vegetative areas on Earth.
In addition to its ecological value, the Delaware Bayshore, its rivers and many tributaries provide fresh water to residents, and help sustain the region's industries, including commercial and recreational fishing, farming, commercial food processing, and nature tourism. The region's towns are snapshots of a different era, providing cultural and historic opportunities and events. Those who visit the Delaware Bayshore can take advantage of its many recreational opportunities, including world-class fishing, hiking, biking, kayaking, and sailing, and eat some of the freshest and best seafood in America.
Despite the Delaware Bayshore's importance, however, loss of farmland and wildlife habitat, lack of historic preservation, contamination of streams and fisheries, depletion of drinking water, and natural disasters have threatened its economy, traditions, and way of life. In particular, Superstorm Sandy destroyed beaches, homes, and infrastructure along the Delaware Bayshore, and because Delaware Bayshore communities have had few resources to recover from the storm, some are facing extinction. For these reasons, it is necessary and proper for the State to recognize and help preserve the important cultural, ecological, economic, historical, and recreational resources of the Delaware Bayshore. It is hoped that the designation affixed by this joint resolution will bring necessary attention to the importance and plight of the Delaware Bayshore region.
The resolution would also urge the Delaware Bayshore council, an unofficial body composed of local officials and public interest groups, to submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature detailing various threats to the Delaware Bayshore region, and to make policy recommendations, including proposed legislation, on how the State could help address these threats.
