N.J. Admin. Code § 7:7-16.7
Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 11, June 3, 2024
Section 7:7-16.7 - Vegetation(a) Vegetation is the plant life or total plant cover that is found on a specific area, whether indigenous or introduced by humans.(b) Coastal development shall preserve, to the maximum extent practicable, existing vegetation within a development site. Coastal development shall plant new vegetation, particularly appropriate coastal species, native to New Jersey to the maximum extent practicable.(c) Rationale: The steady loss of vegetation is a nearly inevitable result of urbanization. Terrestrial vegetation stabilizes soil, retards erosion and runoff, promotes infiltration of surface water, reduces the force of wind, provides food, shelter and breeding sites for wildlife, and adds to aesthetic values for recreation and domestic life. Trees release life-giving oxygen, filter particulate pollutants, provide foods and fuel, with no energy input necessary by man. Because each site is unique, the degree of vegetation preservation required will depend upon the environmental conditions within and adjacent to the development site. In general, the greater the intensity of development permitted, the less vegetation preservation required. "Appropriate native coastal species" means that species selection must reflect the natural physiological limitations of species to survive in distinct habitats, which include all environmental processes (natural and artificial) that operate within a site. Non-suitable species plantings will do poorly or die, or, if preserved through an intensive maintenance program of pH adjustment fertilization and irrigation, will cause unacceptable ground and surface water impacts. New vegetative plantings should reflect regional geophysical suitability. Illustrative appropriate species can be grouped into three categories:
(i) Barrier Beach Sites - Plants tolerant of salt spray and occasional saline flooding, such as American holly, red cedar, black cherry, beach plum, beach grass, bayberry, beach heather, etc.(ii) Pine Barrens Sites - Plants tolerant of infertile sandy soils, frequent fires, and acidic water, such as pitch and short-leaf pines, Atlantic white-cedar, dogwood, American holly, oaks, blueberry, etc.(iii) Inner Coastal Plain and Southern Outer Coastal Plain - Plants compatible with fertile, well drained soils; such as oaks, beech, hickory, dogwood, black cherry, white pine, gray birch, laurel, etc.(iv) Piedmont Sites - Oak, hickory, beech, ash, elm, hemlock, dogwood and laurel cherry. Within these regional groupings, the selection of individual species should take into consideration the depth to seasonal high groundwater table. Species which provide food for wildlife or other desirable traits are favored for new planting.
N.J. Admin. Code § 7:7-16.7
Renumbered from 7:7E-8.8 by 47 N.J.R. 1392(a), effective 7/6/2015Amended by 50 N.J.R. 361(a), effective 1/16/2018