Coastal Recovery

In a series of flyovers of the Jersey shoreline and coastal areas this summer, photos were taken by the Northeast Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Most of this surveying is still in response to the effects of Superstorm Sandy in October 2012.

The Northeast Region includes Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Rhode Island, West Virginia, Delaware, and Virginia.

 Aerial Tour of Hurricane Sandy Recovery Sites: Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, NJ.

At Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, the salt marsh protects the homes of those who live on the shore, acting as a buffer zone for these communities.

This dike protects the refuge from being completely flooded. 

PHOTOS via www.flickr.com/photos/usfwsnortheast/ The Official Photostream for the Northeast Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Fish and Wildlife Service also maintains an online digital media library at www.fws.gov/digitalmedia

Hands Across the Sand May 18

A number of groups and individuals - New Jersey Sierra Club, Surfrider Foundation: Jersey Shore Chapter, Clean Ocean Action, Assemblyman Houghtaling, Assemblywoman Downe - are uniting on Saturday, May 18th to say NO to offshore drilling and YES to protect our coast from offshore drilling.

The symbolic locking of hands to make a wall across the beach is one of hundreds of synchronized events globally to raise awareness about the dangers of dirty fuels and the need to speed the transition to available, affordable clean energy solutions.

The possibility of an oil spill or leak would threaten New Jersey’s billion-dollar coastal economy and jeopardize over 50,000 jobs. Our state will not only be at risk from a spill or explosion, but we will see more climate impacts threatening people and property. If we had drilling platforms off our coast and a storm like Sandy hit, we could see catastrophic spills.

Hands Across the Sand is an annual international grassroots event designed to demonstrate local opposition to the exploration for and transport of dirty fossil fuels. It occurs in NJ on Saturday, May 18th from 11am to 2pm. The joining of hands will be at noon on the beach. Following that will be a paddle out at 12:30pm. Bring signs and your friends and be sure to dress appropriately for the weather forecast.

WHERE: 5th Ave. & Gazebo Ocean Ave., Bradley Beach, NJ 07720

Facebook Event Link: facebook.com/events/845746975817922/

Coastal Protection for Atlantic County

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has awarded a $63.3 million contract to build engineered beaches and dunes in Margate and Longport and to replenish beaches in Atlantic City and Ventnor, Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin announced today.

The Absecon Island Coastal Storm Damage Reduction project is a joint effort of the Army Corps’ Philadelphia District and the DEP.

DEP PHOTO/Atlantic City

“This project is vital to the protection of homes, businesses, lives and infrastructure in these Atlantic County communities,” Commissioner Martin said. “I want to thank the Army Corps of Engineers for working closely with the DEP to ensure this project moves forward as an important part of the Christie Administration’s integrated strategy to make our economically vital shore communities more resilient by protecting them from storms and flooding.”

“I'm proud of the efforts of the team that has worked so hard to move this project forward,” said U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Philadelphia District Commander Lt. Col. Michael Bliss. “When complete, the engineered dune and berm will be one system with the purpose of reducing damages to the infrastructure on the island.”
The contract was awarded to Cranford-based Weeks Marine Inc. and covers about eight miles of shoreline stretching from Brigantine Inlet south to Great Egg Harbor Inlet. The contract amount could increase based on options for placement of additional sand based on conditions that exist when the sand is placed.

The Army Corps will issue a notice to Weeks Marine Inc. directing work to commence before the end of the year. The work is expected to be completed by October 2017.
Work involves constructing an engineered dune and berm system in Margate and Longport as well as the scheduled nourishment of the previously constructed sections of the project in Atlantic City and Ventnor.

The contract calls for a 200-foot-wide beach, also known as a berm, and a dune built to an elevation of nearly 15 feet above sea level for Atlantic City. A 100-foot wide berm and a dune to an elevation of nearly 13 feet above sea level will be built for Ventnor, Margate and Longport.

More than 3.8 million cubic yards of sand will be dredged from approved offshore areas and pumped through a series of pipes onto the beaches of the four municipalities. The sand will then be built into a dune and beach system designed to reduce potential damages to infrastructure, businesses, and homes that can occur from coastal storm events.
In addition, the contract includes the construction of public access dune crossovers, placement of sand fencing, dune grass plantings, and the repair or extension of existing storm water outfalls and drainage structures.
The Absecon Island project was only partially completed when Superstorm Sandy slammed the state in October 2012. The project in place helped to dramatically reduce damages along those sections of the island.

The Army Corps had completed the initial construction of the project at Atlantic City and most of Ventnor in 2004. These sections of the project received sand nourishment in the spring of 2012, months before Sandy. The areas were restored in 2013, just months after Sandy.

The Army Corps will closely coordinate with Weeks Marine on the construction schedule and will post updates to its project website when further information is available.

Completing the initial construction in Margate and Longport is funded entirely by the federal government through the 2013 Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, commonly known as the Hurricane Sandy Relief Bill.

The periodic nourishment of the Atlantic City and Ventnor portion of the contract is cost-shared, with the federal government paying 65 percent of the project and the DEP paying 35 percent. Following the completion of initial construction, the project is eligible for continued periodic nourishment.

The Absecon Island project is one of several along the New Jersey coastline being funded by $1.2 billion appropriated by Congress to rebuild and strengthen the state’s beaches following Superstorm Sandy in October 2012. Many of these projects have either been completed or are well under way.

The coast-wide system of engineered beaches is part of an overall post-Sandy resiliency strategy. These efforts include hardening of infrastructure, developing innovative strategies to restore wetlands and build natural bay shorelines to buffer against storm surge, moving willing sellers out of harm’s way, and establishing new requirements for elevating structures in flood zones.

For more information on post-Sandy coastal projects in New Jersey, visit: www.nj.gov/dep/shoreprotection/projects.htm

SOURCE  nj.gov/dep/newsrel/2016/16_0114.htm

Becoming an Outdoors Woman - Coastal Workshop.

The registration deadline of Friday, August 14 is quickly approaching for the NJDEP's Division of Fish and Wildlife "Becoming an Outdoors-Woman" (BOW) Coastal workshop.

Although oriented towards women, this workshop is open to anyone who is at least 18 years of age who would like to learn about wildlife and outdoor skills on the Jersey coast. Snorkeling, fishing, geocaching, shooting, kayaking, archery, falconry, boating, crabbing and bird watching are just a few of the 24 hands-on learning sessions being offered. No prior knowledge or skills are required - just a willingness to learn from experienced and talented instructors.

Slated for September 11 - 13, 2009, the workshop is a fabulous opportunity to spend three value-packed days and two nights in beautiful Cape May when the crowds are gone and the weather and water are usually superb. The incredibly low fee of $370 includes lodging at the oceanfront Grand Hotel, seven meals and free instruction and use of equipment needed for the various wildlife and outdoor skill classes.

This workshop has been a life changing experience for many women who discovered the joy of the outdoors and enriched their lives with the skills and confidence they acquired. It can do the same for you or someone you care about.

Sending someone to the workshop is a super gift idea and a great way to say, "Thanks, you deserve some time for yourself".

Visit http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/pdf/2009/bow_coastal09.pdf today to view and print the workshop brochure and registration form.

Coastal Workshop in Cape May

Cape May Lighthouse

The NJ DEP Division of Fish and Wildlife will be hosting a "Becoming an Outdoors-Woman" Coastal Workshop in Cape May the weekend of September 11-13, 2009 at The Grand Hotel in Cape May.

The workshop is devoted to learning about wildlife and outdoor skills on the Jersey coast.

Join the staff of the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife and dedicated volunteers for a weekend workshop devoted to learning about wildlife and outdoor skills on the Jersey coast. Participants choose 4 topics from a diverse list of classes, and spend 3½ hours for each of the 4 hands-on learning sessions.

Although oriented towards women, this workshop is open to anyone who is at least 18 years of age. The workshop fee of $370 includes meals, lodging, instruction and use of equipment.

This "Becoming an Outdoors-Woman Coastal Workshop" is being conducted in cooperation with the NJ Division of Parks and Forestry, the NJ Audubon Society and the Wetlands Institute.

For more information and registration, download workshop brochure and registration.

http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/bowhome.htm

Protecting The Coast

The American Littoral Society promotes the study and conservation of marine life and habitat, protects the coast from harm, and empowers others to do the same. Littoral is defined as "of or existing on a shore."

The group has been working since 1961 to care for the coasts through integrated programs focused on advocating, conserving, and learning.

They might restore habitat, but their objective is not only to replant dune grass or reseed an oyster bed, but also to motivate people to invest “sweat equity” into a piece of the coast, take ownership and become committed stewards.

The Society's Mid-Atlantic chapter has many local activities that New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland and the headquarters office is on Sandy Hook in Highlands, New Jersey.

In July, one project is helping to restore the oyster reef habitat in Delaware Bay as part of their Project PORTS. Volunteers will help deploy 10-lb. shell bags which were constructed by local school children into the bay as part of an oyster restoration project. The bags will serve as a settlement surface/habitat for oyster larvae. Later in the summer the young oysters will be transplanted to a State-designated conservation reef site. "Project PORTS: Promoting Oyster Restoration Through Schools" is a partnership project of Rutgers University’s Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory and the American Littoral Society.


The eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica, is one of--if not the most--important species in the Delaware Estuary. For thousands of years, the oyster has served as the keystone organism in the estuary, positively influencing water quality and providing food, habitat, and refuge to a host of dependent organisms. Challenged by disease, habitat deterioration, and overfishing, the resource is now only a fraction of what it once was.

In addition to restoring historic oyster populations in Delaware Bay, Project PORTS educated K-12 school communities in New Jersey's Delaware Bay Shore region and involves them in the actual restoration of the species. The strategy of Project PORTS is to promote inquiry-based, hands-on activities that present basic scientific concepts and emphasize the local significance of the issue.

Some other projects are:

Protecting Delaware Bay: Learn about the unique coastal waterways and wildlife of New Jersey’s "other" coast, the threats to this coastal wilderness, and tools and resources you can use to help protect and preserve it.

Protecting Barnegat Bay: Get news and information about issues that impact Barnegat Bay and the Barnegat Bay watershed and what you can do to help this exceptional coastal resource.

If you are interested in joining the Society or joining them on a field trip, here are some upcoming events. These events do have a participation fee.

July 18, Fossil Hunting - Wade through Big Brook and sift for shark"s teeth, squid guards and fossilized mollusks. This is one of the best areas in the country to search for Cretaceous Era fossils. Be prepared to get wet and muddy, but the prizes are well worth it. We"ll bring the necessary gear and you bring footwear for muddy banks and shallow water. Great for families.

July 21 & August 4, 18, Family Exploration of Sandy Hook - Bring the kids any of these Tuesday evenings at 6 p.m. to explore some part of Sandy Hook. We will pull a seine net, use glass bottom buckets to search for critters in their own habitat, look at plankton and sand through microscopes, explore the dunes, pull up our "fish condo" to see what has moved in, and more. Each Tuesday will be its own adventure so come join us with the kiddies.

August 29, Fluke Tagging Trip - Join their fish tagging director for a day of fishing and tagging. Boat departs 7:00 am from Atlantic Highlands municipal marina. $65 per angler –all tackle, bait, and tags will be provided. Advance payment required. Space is limited.

More local trips at littoralsociety.org

Mid-Atlantic Governors Agree To Protect Ocean Resources

Earlier this month, Gov. Jon Corzine signed an interstate agreement with other Mid-Atlantic governors to attempt to protect the Atlantic Ocean.

The main goal of the newly-formed Mid-Atlantic Regional Council on the Ocean will be to advocate for greater state influence with the federal government on the management of offshore waters.

"Ensuring the health of our ocean ecosystems and the resources they provide is paramount to Mid-Atlantic oceanfront states like New Jersey. Any threat to these natural resources brings economic consequences that threaten jobs, local economies, and our economic well being. New Jersey is committed to working with our Mid-Atlantic partners to provide adequate safeguards and formulate a shared vision for the region's future," said Corzine at the meeting.

New Jersey has 127 miles of Atlantic Ocean coastline and an additional 83 miles of shore along the Raritan and Delaware Bays.

Oddly enough, part of the agreement has the states collaborating on improving energy security and independence in the region through development of offshore renewable energy. Though that sounds anti-ocean protection, the plan is not for drilling but using the Outer Continental Shelf as a wind energy resource.

The agreement also has more obvious environmental aspects including increased protection of offshore habitats, climate change and sea level rise study, attempts to increase federal support for water quality infrastructure improvements and the reduction of marine debris.

The meeting included Corzine, NY Gov. David A. Paterson, representatives of the governors of Delaware, Maryland and Virginia, White House Council on Environmental Quality Chairwoman Nancy Sutley, National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration Administrator Dr. Jane Lubchenco and actor/activist Sam Waterston.

Source: NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM