The West Windsor Township Council has passed a resolution calling for the protection of the Delaware and Raritan Canal Commission, which falls on Governor Chris Christie’s list of boards and commissions to be dissolved.
The resolution, passed during the Township Council’s meeting on December 13, was supported by the Sierra Club, as well as West Windsor residents and members of the Friends of West Windsor Open Space.
Christie and state officials have cited several areas of overlap as the reason for eliminating the canal. They say the regulation and protections handled by the D&R Canal Commission could be absorbed by the staff at the state Department of Environmental Protection and other state departments.
However, Teresa Stimpfel, a resident of Robbinsville and a Sierra Club member, brought a proposed resolution, which was also supported by the West Windsor Friends of Open Space (FOWWOS), to the council last month for consideration.
The Delaware and Raritan Canal Commission has regulated the Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park’s 400-square-mile watershed — a source of drinking water for 1.5 million people. The watershed runs through four counties, including Mercer.
FOWWOS worked with the commission to preserve and protect the 6.4 square mile Duck Pond Run watershed, which is an important contributor of water to the Delaware and Raritan Canal.
According to supporters, the D&R Canal Commission is self-funded with revenue from fees for review. There is no cost savings to the state from elimination of the commission, they say, and therefore should be kept intact.
During the Township Council’s meeting on December 6, Councilman Charles Morgan volunteered to revise the proposed resolution to bolster the language, originally prepared by the Sierra Club for various municipalities. “I support the concept, but I don’t think this does justice to the cause,” said Morgan.
