Greenwood Lake Commission Zoom / News Coverage

[muskynut]

Hope everyone is ok....healthy. Last night 3 of us represented UFANJ at the monthly May meeting of the Greenwood Lake Commission. We all had a chance to speak our concerns. The commission told us there is basically not much they could do....to look instead to NY DEC and NJ Fish and Wildlife.

One person who attended made the Commission aware that he lives in the Village of Greenwood Lake not directly on the lake....has a boat...cannot launch from his back yard....and was denied launching at various marinas despite the fact that he is a resident.

There is a LAKE BILL in legislation, that, if passed would give Greenwood Lake 750,000/year for 10 years. When this was brought up, there was hesitancy on allocating some of this money towards a public boat launch ramp. Also, upon visual examination of Browns Point....there is PLENTY of room for a ramp. Most of it is a field used for frisbee golf.

Today, we met with a photojournalist from News 12 NJ at Browns Point Park on the lake. This important issue of limited access, no public launching was brought to the forefront as the NEWS asked representatives from UFANJ a series of questions on the issue. We were told the piece would be aired between 4-6 pm today 5/27/21 and will loop so make sure you tune in and catch it perhaps today and into this weekend.

We were told this is not something that is going to happen overnight, that our concerns/issues were made clear and that our concerns would not go unheard. We let them know that some marinas have made it clear that there is no launching between Memorial Day and Labor Day.....the entire summer!

Please, please, please, SIGN,SIGN,SIGN our petitions!

The next meeting of the Greenwood Lake Commission will be 6/23/21 at 7 pm. We again will be there....but....it is very important that NEW FACES make themselves shown and contribute concerns....each meeting, each time....with the number of attendees rising and contributing. Again you must be professional....cordial, respectful, and will have 3 minutes to talk during the public comment period. Each meeting should have old attendees and additional NEW ONES....in order to show solidarity/support.....have a list of important bullet points to cover when you are called on. WE NEED YOU

We took a ride around the lake today and quite a few launches have large forklifts/heavy equipment blocking the ramps.....not just one....these marinas are talking to one another. Our fees from our licenses stock this public body of water. THEY DON'T CARE....there are "No Launching Signs" indicating spaces reserved for slip customers. See attached pics......

At the present, we now have 49 pages of signatures (1050+) and it is STILL climbing. The link for the online petition is at the top of this feed. A paper petition can also be sent to you if you kindly provide an email address or personal address....it will be sent right out. Due date for the paper petition is on or before June 30 2021. Each person make it a goal to find 10 more.....

Send completed petitions to

UFANJ
PO Box 253
Montvale, NJ 07645

Make a Reminder Note: next Greenwood Commission Meeting again is 6/23/21 at 7 pm. Please visit the commission's website and sign up....they will send the zoom link.

We have to stop this! Greenwood today.....your lake tomorrow. If the lake becomes private.....stocking should cease. Homeowners and private customers will then have access to the fish YOUR license fee funds helped stock. NOT FAIR AND UNACCEPTABLE! PLEASE SIGN SIGN SIGN.....watch the news.....and thank you all for your continued support.

PS this does not just affect fishermen......but the entire PUBLIC of which fishermen are a percentage.....what about a father that works all week and wants to bring his family to enjoy the lake on the weekend?....and cannot because of what is currently going on. A PUBLIC LAKE WITHOUT THE PUBLIC.....

[bulletbob]

I guess I don't understand... ALL the ramps on GL are closed to the public?..
You are saying that every marina owner is colluding to prevent boaters from using the lake?.. Restricting their own business?.. Seems counter intuitive.

Is it because they want to keep the lake access exclusive for their high paying slip renters?..

I checked and could find not one state ramp in either NY or NJ, and this seems like a crime.. That really needs to be addressed. Seriously a good workable concrete ramp can be installed in a couple days, I have personally seen it done several times.

Why would these marinas turn away business?...

Makes no sense unless they are getting pressure from some source.... bob

[bulletbob]

I can attest to the fact that NYS DEC is very good at taking care of ramp access issues.. The ramps here in NY state are widespread, dirt cheap compared to NJ.. I pay nothing during the week[over 65], and most of NY public ramps are free during non peak months..

That might be your best bet,, Getting NY state fishermen/boaters involved, instead of NJ.

I have a ton of issues with NY DEC concerning fish stocking, why, when ,where, how, how often, what kind, how many, and think NJ is much better in that regard.. Its not even close.

However, NY state is far better at ramp access than NJ, and fishing access in general..
NY builds ramps, quickly and efficiently on state land.
They are very concerned about public access.

That might be your best option, involve guys from NY....bob

[Gerry Zagorski]

Thanks for representing everyone’s interest!

[nsell]

Thank you Musky Nut for all that you are doing in this endeavor. I would hope all fisherman and fisherwoman remember this treatment from all the Greenwood Lake marinas by not patronizing these businesses in anyway once the public can get on the lake. Even though the impact may not be that great, let's call it like it is and fight injustice with our power as consumers.

Capt. Dave, kudos for all you're doing to fight this battle and fight for the public's God given rights to enjoy and share in these resources. What saddens and disturbs me about all this is we discuss how kids today are absorbed by social media and not being introduced to outdoor activities. We continue taking away these resources making them available to an exclusive few, how does that help our children enjoy in this case the outdoors and learn all the valuable lessons we did growing up and spending time with our family and friends on the water. Arguably some of the best memories of our lives are being taken away from our children because of politics, greed, business and people who feel they're exclusively entitled to resources they don't pay for more than the public itself who collectively funds and pay for those same resources. $750k a year for ten years from NJ for a lake community refusing public boating access, how is that even possible.

I wouldn't give my neighbor $10k to stock his private pond with trout or walleye for his own personal use, not sure how this is any different. This state is taking away an activity that in many ways was the fabric of our communities and New Jersey's legacy. An activity which allowed families to spend time together and make a memory. Very sad it's being lost to politics and the path state and local leadership is taking us down.

Again Dave thanks for your conviction and passion fighting for what has always been a shared public resource to be respected and enjoyed by everyone.

[muskynut]

Originally Posted by bulletbob

I can attest to the fact that NYS DEC is very good at taking care of ramp access issues.. The ramps here in NY state are widespread, dirt cheap compared to NJ.. I pay nothing during the week[over 65], and most of NY public ramps are free during non peak months..

That might be your best bet,, Getting NY state fishermen/boaters involved, instead of NJ.

I have a ton of issues with NY DEC concerning fish stocking, why, when ,where, how, how often, what kind, how many, and think NJ is much better in that regard.. Its not even close.

However, NY state is far better at ramp access than NJ, and fishing access in general..
NY builds ramps, quickly and efficiently on state land.
They are very concerned about public access.

That might be your best option, involve guys from NY....bob

Hi Bob....thank you for the information. Would you happen to have any concrete examples of ramp construction quickly/efficiently. Something may be done but from what they are telling us....will be a long drawn out thing....engineers, surveyors, etc. r they yanking our chain????