WMAs temporarily close due to coronavirus furloughs

[thmyorke1]

(picked up from the RV thread)

https://www.nj.com/coronavirus/2020/07/state-wildlife-areas-temporarily-close-due-to-coronavirus-furloughs.html

Round Valley and Union Lake boat ramps included.

https://i.postimg.cc/6pSYwh22/image.png

more listed here https://www.nj.gov/dep/fgw/wmas.htm?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

[nate01]

It seems strange that unmonitored boat ramps like those on the Delaware River that aren’t manned by state employees are included?

Edit: oops, didn’t realize this already being discussed in a different thread. Duh.

[thmyorke1]

It seems strange that unmonitored boat ramps like those on the Delaware River that aren’t manned by state employees are included?

Edit: oops, didn’t realize this already being discussed in a different thread. Duh.

Yea the topic basically changed in that thread to RV to a suddenly new message from NJ DEP. So I created this so it's more clear to viewers with the title.

[FASTEDDIE29]

Thanks for posting this buddy! Man, when will it end??? This is crazy. Now people will travel elsewhere causing more congestion on other lakes. Not a fan of this closure at all. Damn the man!!! Dammit!:D

[AndyS]

I'm guessing this is the reward for staying home and quickly flattening the curve ?

[HBird11]

Sucks to see them close so many areas especially when it seems senseless to throw a gate across the access entrance of a place that only requires one guy from fish and game to spend 2 hours every other week to go a little lawn mowing. On a positive note maybe all of the *******s that seemed to find there way to the Belvidere boatramp the last two weekends will find another place to go barbecuing, swimming, camping and trashing of the area! There had to be at least 30-40 people down there and not one of them had a boat or a fishing pole. Nothing but Empinada’s and Corona’s

[Mark B.]

At this time of year, on holidays and weekends, a CO would be posted at the entrance of RVR and K.L. Gorge to ensure that only people w/ hunting, fishing licenses or boat ramp maintenance permits could gain access.

[EJS]

I'm guessing this is the reward for staying home and quickly flattening the curve ?

I applaud the decision actually. This will keep people from taking up the parking spaces, letting their dog swim in your fishing hole in front of you, leaving dog shit and dirty diapers everywhere! Let the fishermen do what they love to do in peace and quiet!

[thmyorke1]

I applaud the decision actually. This will keep people from taking up the parking spaces, letting their dog swim in your fishing hole in front of you, leaving dog shit and dirty diapers everywhere! Let the fishermen do what they love to do in peace and quiet!

well not even anglers can access; these WMAs listed are fully closed, parking barricaded (from what I heard about RV at least)

[Blackfishhead]

This was Assunpink at 0442 this morning.
I am trying new spots but COVID has my going to plan B!

[thmyorke1]

This was Assunpink at 0442 this morning.
I am trying new spots but COVID has my going to plan B!

thanks for reporting back. On the bright side these bodies of water might be good once they open back up (if you get there first :D )

[RWole]

In reply to above posts. Yes having Conservation Officers present would benefit greatly, if we can realize this why cant they? Fishermen are not benefitting at all with the closures because we can not access .

[dakota560]

The unfortunate truth is as state coffers drain, were going to see more and more closures until a vaccine is found for Covid. If the state was smart, instead of closing areas to the public, they should fine the crap out of people who disobey regulations and leave trash all over the place. Use those dollars to fund enforcement efforts, reward the many who play by the rules and send a clear message to the ones that don't. CO's stay employed, public resources remain open arguably at a time most needed and the idiots who ruin it for everyone else are the ones who pay the price. Not the people who care most about our natural resources. Why is that such a hard concept to grasp? Part of the problem is the state imposes fines today in the same amount they did 30 years ago. Someone litters, fine them $2,000, guarantee they won't litter a second time but if they do make the second offense $5,000. The state would have enough CO's to patrol and I guarantee the number of infractions would decrease significantly.

[NJSquatch]

The unfortunate truth is as state coffers drain, were going to see more and more closures until a vaccine is found for Covid. If the state was smart, instead of closing areas to the public, they should fine the crap out of people who disobey regulations and leave trash all over the place. Use those dollars to fund enforcement efforts, reward the many who play by the rules and send a clear message to the ones that don't. CO's stay employed, public resources remain open arguably at a time most needed and the idiots who ruin it for everyone else are the ones who pay the price. Not the people who care most about our public resources. Why is that such a hard concept to grasp? Part of the problem is the state imposes fines today in the same amount they did 30 years ago. Someone litters, fine them $2,000, guarantee they won't litter a second time but if they do make the second offense 5,000. The state would have enough CO's to patrol our resources and I guarantee the number of infractions would decrease significantly.

The problem with this is that it makes too much sense! ;)

[RWole]

One of the biggest problems is CO's are rarely seen. Just their prescience alone would deter people. Where are routine patrols ? How many times have we all heard no one ever comes and checks.