STONE HARBOR –– After a short-lived closure, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has opened a portion of Champagne Island to boaters, Business Administrator Kenneth Hawk told Borough Council at its meeting June 17.
The borough received a memo from the DEP declaring the east side of the shifting sandbar island open for watercraft to dock, Hawk said.
Other parts of the small island remain closed to protect wildlife. Dogs continue to be prohibited.
DEP will have a con-servation steward monitor Champagne Island and Stone Harbor Point, Hawk said. DEP closed the island and declared it a wildlife management area in May to the dismay of many local outdoor recreation lovers who formed an ad hoc group, New Jersey Coastal Stewards, lead by Gabriel Berkey of Middle Township, in an attempt to “advocate fair and responsible land and waterway access, while protecting the wild nature of undeveloped spaces.”
Mayor Suzanne Walters said Stone Harbor Point would need to be monitored more-closely after the closure of the island last month. Many residents and officials thought closing Champagne Island would displace boaters and outdoor recreation activities to Stone Harbor Point, which is deemed a sensitive bird sanctuary and nesting area for endangered bird species.
The shifting island is located between Stone Harbor, Middle Township and North Wildwood. The island is considered mutually owned but no municipality has taken responsibility for it.
Contact Truluck at (609) 886-8600 ext. 24 or at: ltruluck @cmcherald.com.
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