40:55D-88.2 Findings, declarations relative to the Dismal Swamp Conservation Area.

2. The Legislature finds and declares that:

a. The Dismal Swamp Conservation Area in Middlesex County is approximately 660 acres of freshwater wetlands, forested uplands, and meadows in a densely populated, highly developed central part of the State, offering unique natural habitat including federal priority wetlands;

b. The Dismal Swamp Conservation Area is a birding oasis in a densely developed region of the State where over 175 different bird species have been spotted including the threatened and endangered grasshopper sparrow and yellow-crowned night-heron;

c. In addition to over 175 bird species, 25 mammals and over a dozen reptile and amphibian species have been sighted in the Dismal Swamp Conservation Area;

d. Archeological digs in the Dismal Swamp Conservation Area have uncovered at least five significant archeological sites, including one at least 10,000 years old;

e. This area, spanning Edison Township, Metuchen Borough, and South Plainfield Borough in Middlesex County, represents one of the last remaining wetland ecosystems in a highly urbanized environment in the State;

f. The area consists of privately and publicly owned parcels of land within three municipalities, each with its own planning and zoning authority, and as a result, decisions concerning development within the area are made without a coherent plan; and

g. It is therefore appropriate and in the best interests of the State to encourage the local governing bodies of Edison Township, Metuchen Borough, and South Plainfield Borough, respectively, in Middlesex County to establish a Dismal Swamp Preservation Commission to provide comprehensive regulatory authority and regional planning for the area with a primary focus on protecting and preserving the ecological, historical, and recreational values of the area.

L.2009, c.132, s.2.