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New Jersey

pscot

(21,037 posts) Mon Mar 18, 2013, 02:45 PM Mar 2013

The Pine Barrens

I'm reading John McPhee's book The Pine Barrens and thinking, "Gee, that must be all covered with developement by now." But Google Earth shows vast patches of seemingly roadless green, right there in the heart of the Mid-Atlantic conurbation. Does anyone know the area? What's the state of the piney woods today?

9 replies

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The Pine Barrens (Original Post) pscot Mar 2013 OP

Tony Soprano and his chums were quite familiar with The Barrens. :-) virgogal Mar 2013 #1

Unmarked Mafia Graves keep it Green. formercia Mar 2013 #4

Of course. They were sensitive guys pscot Mar 2013 #5

a lot of it is a preserve hollysmom Mar 2013 #2

Interesting link pscot Mar 2013 #6

in a former career i worked on the Long Island Pine Barrens Preservation Plan... tk2kewl Mar 2013 #3

Good link pscot Mar 2013 #7

The N.J. Pine Barrens are on top of a "pan." jerseyjack Mar 2013 #8

That would be very cool pscot Mar 2013 #9

virgogal

(10,178 posts)

1. Tony Soprano and his chums were quite familiar with The Barrens. :-)

Reply to pscot (Original post)

Mon Mar 18, 2013, 02:49 PM

Mar 2013

formercia

(18,479 posts)

4. Unmarked Mafia Graves keep it Green.

Reply to virgogal (Reply #1)

Mon Mar 18, 2013, 03:05 PM

Mar 2013

It's a place where bodies go for good.

pscot

(21,037 posts)

5. Of course. They were sensitive guys

Reply to virgogal (Reply #1)

Mon Mar 18, 2013, 03:26 PM

Mar 2013

who sought out the healing solitudes of the woods to de-pressurize.

hollysmom

(5,946 posts)

2. a lot of it is a preserve

Reply to pscot (Original post)

Mon Mar 18, 2013, 02:51 PM

Mar 2013

http://www.pineypower.com/geninfopbpg10.html

pscot

(21,037 posts)

6. Interesting link

Reply to hollysmom (Reply #2)

Mon Mar 18, 2013, 03:30 PM

Mar 2013

Thank you.

tk2kewl

(18,133 posts)

3. in a former career i worked on the Long Island Pine Barrens Preservation Plan...

Reply to pscot (Original post)

Mon Mar 18, 2013, 02:54 PM

Mar 2013

I don't know a whole lot about the Pine Barrens in Jersey but here is a good resource: http://www.state.nj.us/pinelands/cmp/summary/

These areas on the glacial outwash plain are very important to groundwater quality and have been among some pretty significant wins for preservation

pscot

(21,037 posts)

7. Good link

Reply to tk2kewl (Reply #3)

Mon Mar 18, 2013, 03:32 PM

Mar 2013

McPhee talks about the huge freshwater aquifer below the Barrens.

jerseyjack

(1,361 posts)

8. The N.J. Pine Barrens are on top of a "pan."

Reply to pscot (Original post)

Mon Mar 18, 2013, 09:38 PM

Mar 2013

That means it is on top of a hard crust of (I believe) clay. Tree roots can't penetrate the pan so trees can't grow taller than about 6 feet. The land is flat and if you "climb" to the top of any of the hills you have climbed to an elevation of about 30 feet above sea level... and you can see for miles.

There are towns and a couple of cities in the barrens. Roads run through some of it and because of the dense population of N.J., the roads are moderately traveled. The biggest problem for defense of the area is the off-road vehicles.

The northern part of the barrens is about 75 miles from my house and I go there frequently to photograph. Much of it is beautiful.

If I ever figure how to post photos, I will post some of the barrens.

pscot

(21,037 posts)

9. That would be very cool

Reply to jerseyjack (Reply #8)

Mon Mar 18, 2013, 10:08 PM

Mar 2013

If you do, post them in the photography group. They will be appreciated and I'll be more likely to see them there, since things hang around for a bit longer. I think the Barrens are an amazing survivor. When McPhee wrote his little book, there was talk about putting a jet port in there somewhere, which would have been a disaster for the woods and the folks who live there.

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