Dwarf Wedgemussel

One of our tiny endangered creatures in New Jersey is the freshwater mussel.

Rarely longer than an inch and a half, they once existed in large New Jersey waterways like the Delaware River, Hackensack River and Passaic River.

Freshwater mussels in general are considered "canaries in the creek" because they are indicators of good water quality, and so their disappearance indicates problems in the way that canaries were once used to test the air quality in coal mines.

Now, the only known locations of the mussel are in New Jersey are the Paulins Kill, the Pequest River, Big Flat Brook and Little Flat Brook. The dwarf wedgemussel occurs only in Sussex and Warren Counties, but it had formerly occurred in Morris, Essex, Bergen, and Mercer Counties too.

The species was listed as endangered in New Jersey in 1990.

SOURCE:  https://www.fws.gov/northeast/njfieldoffice/endangered/dwarfwedge.html

Crossroads NJ Report Calls for Steps to Combat Climate Change

“Facing serious impending dangers from climate change, New Jersey needs, more than ever, to restore protecting its environment to the prominent role necessary for a healthy, secure future,” a new report from The Fund for New Jersey says.

The report, “Climate Change Adds Urgency to Restoring Environmental Protection,” is the third
in the seven-part Crossroads NJ series aimed at informing public debate in this pivotal election
year. It was produced by The Fund for New Jersey, which since 1970 has focused its
philanthropy on improving the quality of life in the Garden State by supporting good policy
decision-making. The other Crossroads NJ reports cover the state’s fiscal crisis, jobs and the
economy, criminal justice, education, housing and land use, and transportation.

The full text of the reports, as they are released, and other information about Crossroads NJ is
available at www.fundfornj.org/crossroadsnj

Calling for “a sustained, well-coordinated effort to prevent climate change from being disastrous
for New Jersey,” the report notes, “Our economic and physical health depend on devoting the
leadership, financial resources, and attention to scientific realities needed to execute common-
sense policies.” It calls for action in four areas:

1. Energy policy, including more reliance on wind, solar, and other renewable sources
2. Water supply and quality, necessary for our health and well-being
3. State and regional planning, to safeguard natural resources and communities threatened climate change
4. Environmental justice, so people do not suffer disproportionately from pollution and environmental problems because of where they live.

“The aim of Crossroads NJ is to present evidence-based policy recommendations, generated and vetted by experts, that The Fund for New Jersey Trustees feel are sound and workable,” said Board Chair, retired Chief Justice Deborah T. Poritz. 

Consistent with The Fund’s status as a philanthropic foundation, The Fund for New Jersey does not support candidates or political parties.

Yes, There Are Some Free Beaches in New Jersey

The Jersey Shore is not known for free beaches (or free parking), but you can find some free beaches all along our coast.

Atlantic City is a free beach town and Downtown Beach at Raleigh Avenue, Crystal Beach at New Hampshire Avenue or the Delaware Avenue Beach is open to surfers. Kayakers and wind surfers are allowed at the Jackson Avenue Beach. Want to surf cast? Fishing is allowed from10 am – 6 pm.

The free beaches at the Wildwoods offers 5 miles of wide, powdery sand.

Barnegat Beach in Barnegat Township has free access to Barnegat Bay, a public dock for boat launching, crabbing and fishing, and a boardwalk and the beach along with a historic and walkable downtown.

Cheesequake State Park in Matawan and Island Beach State Park in Seaside Park have free beaches if you pay for parking your carload of people.

Likewise, there are no entrance fees for Gateway National Recreation Area which includes Sandy Hook, but fees are charged for expanded amenities including beach parking to access beach centers.

Looking south toward Barnegat Inlet from the end of Island Beach State Park  (Wikimedia)

The visitNJ.org website also suggests some lesser-known free beach opportunities at the Jersey Shore:

• Corson’s Inlet State Park, Strathmere - an undeveloped beach area, where shorebirds, terns and gulls can be spotted along the forested sand dunes. 
• Highlands Beach - has small beaches between marinas with good views of sailboats, fishing boats and nearby seafood restaurants, shops and fishing rental spots. 
• Ideal Beach, Middletown Township - quiet and less congestion without a boardwalk
• Jennifer Lane Beach, Lower Township - at the southern edge of New Jersey, this is a great spot for dramatic sunsets at the Atlantic Ocean and the Delaware Bay. Try the sandy shoreline at Beach Haven W. Boulevard. 
• Manahawkin Beach, Stafford Township - summer months lifeguards are on duty and there are several parks nearby for activities such as volleyball, paths for walking and biking, fishing pier and a roller hockey pit. 
• Keansburg Beach - a kid-friendly beach with a pier and old-fashioned boardwalk.
• Leonardo Beach, Middletown Township - 1.3-acre beach can be accessed through the parking area for Leonardo State Marina, for swimming and fishing.
• Ocean County Park, Lakewood - free sandy beach and swimming area, tennis courts, open play fields, beach volleyball and a driving range, along with plenty of hiking trails and picnic areas. 
• Strathmere, Upper Township - located between Ocean City and Sea Isle City, this low-key, off-the-beaten path spot offers a beach experience minues the honky-tonk boardwalk.
• Union Beach's northeastern point has a quiet beach along the edge of extensive salt marshes. A great vantage point for birding. Park in the lot at the end of Front Street. 
• William Morrow Beach, Somers Point - a small sandy shoreline that also offers a free concert series on Friday nights during the summer. 

MORE INFO

1. Barnegat Beach
2. Atlantic City beaches
3. City of Wildwood, North Wildwood and Wildwood Crest beaches
4. Island Beach State Park
5. Cheesequake State Park
6. Sandy Hook
7. Corson’s Inlet
8. Highlands Beach
9. Ideal Beach
10. Lower Township
11. Manahawkin Beach
12. Keansburg Amusement Park & Rapids Water Park and Keansburg Beach
13. Somers Point beach and its summer beach concert series
14. Union Beach
15. Strathmere
16. Leonardo Beach

Have You Sighted a NJ Endangered Species?

You can help the Endangered and Nongame Species Program (ENSP) maintain updated records of rare species within the state. I was reminded of this recently when a commenter on a post here about bobcats mentioned that "local animal control" didn't seem interested in his sighting. That might often be true, but ENSP is interested.

You should check the list of New Jersey's endangered and threatened wildlife species maintained by the Division of Fish and Wildlife's Endangered and Nongame Species Program (ENSP).

If you have information on the location of a rare animal and would like to help build the Natural Heritage inventory, you can submit a report. This data will help develop critical habitat mapping and look at habitat and population trends, and ultimately help develop conservation strategies for endangered and threatened species.

You can fill out the sighting report form available at state.nj.us/dep/fgw/ensp/rprtform.htm (There is also one online for marine wildlife.)

Reporting includes marking the location of the sighting on a map to help biologists determine if suitable habitat is present at the location.

There is also information on submitting your report by mail or email.

Each record will be reviewed by an ENSP biologist.

Atlantic Leatherback Turtle

Leatherback  - Photo: NOAA

Atlantic leatherback turtles are the largest of all sea turtles. Adults have been known to weigh up to 2,000 pounds.

A review of the species' status published in 2013, concluded that the Atlantic leatherback population is either stable or increasing overall, but the species has been listed as endangered in New Jersey since 1979.

It is easily distinguished by its black, leathery skin, huge, spindle- or barrel-shaped bodies and long flippers. Rather than the typical marine turtles horny shields, their bodies are covered with a layer of rubbery skin that has seven longitudinal ridges (keels) on the back and five underneath.

This giant of the sea was spotted trapped in a mussel farm near Cottrell's Cove, Newfoundland and was freed.