Dozens Of Trees Felled In Preserve Near Montclair-Clifton Border

MONTCLAIR, NJ — Dozens of trees in the Alonzo F. Bonsal Wildlife Preserve were taken down earlier this week, prompting an outcry from local environmental activists who said that they were “undercut” by the effort.

Officials with the North Jersey District Water Supply Commission (NJDWSC) said that the tree cutting effort at the preserve – located near the border of Montclair and Clifton - was done as routine maintenance, as their roots could damage a water pipe that runs under the preserve, NorthJersey.com reported.

"It’s a relatively small amount of trees that were brought down in an area that has many trees," a commission spokesman told NorthJersey.com. "This work needed to be done to ensure residents are able to have safe, reliable and clean water."

But residents who live near the preserve said that the number of felled trees was more than double the predicted amount. In addition, the effort took place without consultation with local community members, they charged.

• See related article: Friends Of Bonsal Say That Uprooting Trees Will Impact Wildlife

Members of the Friends of the Bonsal Preserve posted a message about the trees on the preserve’s Facebook page on Tuesday:

“Today was a terrible day for the Alonzo F. Bonsal Wildlife Preserve. The North Jersey District Water Supply Commission indiscriminately cut down over 70 trees along its line - more than double the number they'd predicted. They proceeded despite assurances that the community would be consulted first, and without the necessary permitting from the State of NJ Department of Environmental Protection. The choice of which trees to fell was not left to engineers, but to the Boulder Hill Tree Service - so many posed no genuine threat to their infrastructure. We will be living with this for years to come.”

The group plans to hold a meeting at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 4 at the preserve entrance with their consulting arborist, who has volunteered to discuss a restoration plan to present to the NJDWSC.

Local resident Maddy Grupper shared the following statement about the situation on Wednesday:

“Ever since I was little, I would spend time in the Alonzo F. Bonsal Wildlife Preserve. This area has been a refuge for wildlife and people, and has been a constant for me throughout my time in Montclair. Today, without warning, North Jersey District Water Supply Commission cut down over 70 trees along its line in order to protect its pipe from roots, despite previously saying they would only look to cut 35. This action was done ahead of a previously stated schedule, without notifying the community, and without necessary permitting from the DEP. The choice of which trees to cut were not left to one of their qualified engineers, but to the Boulder Hill Tree Service and their one tool - measuring tape. Many of the felled trees posed no real threat to the pipe. For years, this preserve has been guarded and cherished by the people of Montclair. To be undercut like this is beyond tragic; it's a betrayal. One that will mark the preserve for years. I think local areas such as Bonsal are equally as worthy of dedicated protection as the major ones. If you have local nature preserves where you live, identify them, enjoy them, and stand up for them. They deserve it.”

• See related article: Monitors Wanted For Sewer Line In Montclair's Bonsal Preserve

Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site here. Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com

Patch file photo

Don’t forget to visit the Patch Montclair Facebook page here.