Environmental Commission

Our goal is to protect Byram's abundant natural resources and

work with our Township's committees and residents

to preserve our quality of life and keep Byram GREEN!

Located in the heart of the New Jersey Highlands, Byram Township is known as "The Township of Lakes," having more than two dozen lakes and ponds within its 22.48 square miles. Byram Township is also the proud home of Allamuchy State Park, Waterloo Village, Wild West City, and large areas of parkland with many miles of hiking, biking, and cross-mountain skiing trails.

Established in October 1974, the Byram Township Environmental Commission participates in a broad array of Township issues. The ordinance establishing the Commission defines its responsibilities as "all things necessary to promote the conservation and development of the Township's resources, to provide the impetus and take leadership in natural resources planning, and to inform the public about local conservation programs and the need for conserving the natural resources of the Township." The Commission also reviews all applications before the Township Planning Board, makes site visits, and submits written comments to the Planning Board and applicants.

The Byram Township Environmental Commission is a proud member of the Association of N.J. Environmental Commissions, the New Jersey Highlands Coalition, and the Musconetcong Watershed Association.

Upcoming events:

Thank you for those who supported our Plastic Bag Collection Challenge.  Plase help support Recreation Committee's Challenge.  Click here for more information.

 Recent Commission projects: 

- Annual events such as Arbor Day and Byram Day activities and participation

- Support the Amphibian Tunnel project on Waterloo Road and provide assistance during the annual spring migration of the amphibians

- Development of the growing town-wide network of hiking and biking trails, including the 2013 update of the Township Trail Guide, first published by the Commission in 2006.  Current ANJEC grant project work includes optimizing Trail information posted on township website

- Support community programs for Byram Schools and Boy Scouts

- Grant projects, including repairing two Byram sections of Sussex Branch Trail, creating trails on three Township open space parcels, linking trails with Stanhope and Hopatcong, expanding Brookwood Park, developing a Community Forestry Plan, obtaining No Net Loss tree planting funds

- Cleanups of Byram's trails, parks, and streams; articles and film-showings on various environmental issues, especialy protecting our lakes, streams, and wells; Tri-County Forums on environmental issues of regional significance

- 2010 update of the Townships Natural Resources Inventory as part of the Highlands Conformance process; the NRI was written and published by the Commission in 1994

 Past Commission work:

- Participation in the development of the Township's Smart Growth Plan, Master Plan, Lakefront Development Plan, and Village Center ordinances

- Grants for the Lubbers Run Greenway Study and the townwide Groundwater/Aquifers Study

- Application for and implementation of grant projects totaling about $500,000 over the past 20 years

- Establishment of a community Collaborative Planning process for Township residents and developers

- Byram Day activities, including the "Name the Stream" contest, which resulted in official State and federal adoption of names for nine previously unnamed streams in Byram

- The Commission submits annual summaries of its work to the Township Council

Interested in joining us? We are always looking for residents to help on projects or serve as Commission members. If you are interested, please call Environmental Commission Secretary Rachel Popadich at 973-347-2500 x 138 or attend a Commission meeting (held on the 4^th Thursday of each month, except on or near holidays ,at 7:30 p.m. at the Township Municipal Building).

Volunteers are needed!   Several times a year, the Environmental Commission sponsors trail clean-ups on Byram Township's trails.  Volunteers may be needed to remove fallen branches off trails, trim bushes and cut back invasive species like barberry that encroach on the trails, remove trash, etc.   If you are interested in being on the distribution email for this, please contact .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). 

Meeting Minutes / Agendas

Forms

Documents

Appointed Members

• Member - James Myers
• Vice Chair - Eric Duch
• Member - Lisa Shimamoto
• Member - Christine Aboulhosn
• Secretary and Non-Voting Member - Fran Frederick
• Township Council Liaison - Harvey Roseff
• Member - Peter Dlugos
• Chair - Vacant
• Chair - Dana Flynn
• Alternate I - Vacant