 'Tis the season to recycle Christmas trees! Once again, the Littoral Society is collecting trees for use at our Slade Dale Sanctuary living shoreline project.
Trees can be dropped off by anyone at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (708 NJ-88, Point Pleasant, NJ), in the field behind the parking lot (the location will be marked). Point Pleasant borough residents can leave their trees curbside for normal Dept. of Public Works pickup. Be sure to remove all ornaments, tinsel and lights before discarding the tree. For more information, contact Zack Royle at the American Littoral Society, [email protected]. In 2019, the American Littoral Society constructed a living shoreline at Slade Dale Sanctuary, a 13-acre preserve located in Point Pleasant, NJ. Living shorelines use nature-based methods to stabilize shorelines while also creating or enhancing habitat, increasing biodiversity, filtering water, storing carbon and protecting communities. They also tend to be far less expensive to construct and maintain than hard structures. The bonus is that living shorelines can grow over time.
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 We would like to thank all our members and supporters for all they have given towards coastal conservation this year. Many have contributed their time, energy, and passion in addition to monetary donations.
Together, we have achieved so much, such as:
 New Jersey Senator Cory Booker has long been a champion for the environment and an advocate for the natural and built communities of the Delaware Bayshore.
To keep Sen. Booker informed about the Littoral Society’s ongoing efforts to protect and restore this vital region, our restoration staff and Executive Director Tim Dillingham recently hosted a field tour with members of his team. Leah Hill, Senator Booker’s Legislative Director, joined us from Washington, D.C., along with Mackenzie Belling from his South Jersey office. Together, we spent a beautiful day exploring the innovative work underway on the Maurice River and Delaware Bay. With Restoration Project Manager Shane Godshall and Restoration Technician Toni Rose Tablante crewing our trusty skiff, the group toured key restoration sites, including Basket Flats and the Northwest Reach. These areas showcase the Littoral Society’s nature-based approaches to combating the impacts of climate change.  Flooded streets in Ocean City, N.J., after a winter storm in March 2013. (Photo by U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Evan Lyon) In 2020, former NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) Commissioner Catherine McCabe issued an administrative order requiring the NJDEP to begin a regulatory reform effort to help reduce greenhouse gases and other climate pollutant emissions while making our natural and built environments more resilient to the unavoidable impacts of climate change.
This year the New Jersey Protecting Against Climate Threats (NJPACT) rules were finally released, kicking off the process – which included opportunities for public comment – to have them put in place to regulate future development in the state. These reforms were said to represent a PACT with the current residents of the state to help stave off the worst consequences of climate change and adapt to those already occurring, while also creating a more sustainable and resilient world for our children and grandchildren. The following is a Q&A with Lucia Osborne, the American Littoral Society’s Delaware Bay Program Director, examining the history of these new rules, why they are important, and what they will mean for New Jersey.  Want an unforgettable way to celebrate the new year? Then embrace the crisp winter air and stunning coastal scenery while taking a walk with the American Littoral Society.
For the 49th year in a row, we will be hosting New Year's Day hikes in New York and New Jersey! The New Jersey group will meet on Sandy Hook and the New York group will meet at Fort Tilden on Breezy Point.   The Fall session of SeaQuest is currently in full swing, bringing exciting, hands-on marine education to students at Sister’s Academy in Asbury Park, NJ. Led by the American Littoral Society’s Education Specialist, Samantha Hemming, this program helps build meaningful connections between local students and their coastal environment.
Each week, Samantha delivers dynamic lessons in the classroom, introducing students to critical topics such as:
These interactive sessions are designed to build awareness of local and global environmental challenges while fostering a sense of stewardship and belonging. A park in Vineland, NJ has been subject to flooding after rain storms. A culvert connects the park to impervious surfaces outside its boundaries and the park is in a low-lying area. These are only a few of many reasons that make it more susceptible to flooding.
Recently, the American Littoral Society has completed a project designed to address the flooding and help improve the water quality of the park. During the week of November 10th, the Littoral Society, in collaboration with local partners, installed a bioswale at Giampietro Park in Vineland, NJ. The new bioswale aims to address these flooding issues while safeguarding the park’s natural ecosystems, including Memorial Pond and the Cedar Branch stream. Stormwater runoff from flooding events can carry sediments, chemicals, and litter into the pond and creek. The standing water left from these flooding events can limit access to park amenities as well. Native plants within the bioswale help pull water into the ground, reducing the standing water.  At the American Littoral Society, we have always embraced the philosophy of "hands dirty, feet wet," engaging students of all ages in the stewardship of their coastal environments. With climate change posing increased risks to the coastal communities we serve, hands-on educational experiences are more crucial than ever.
Our flagship programs — Beach Grasses in Classes, SeaQuest, and Stream Savers — integrate climate change concepts with place-based, experiential learning. These programs help students build practical skills, immerse them in nature, and inspire local action. They also inform students to pressing environmental issues in their communities and empower them to become part of the solution. Leading the Way in Climate Change EducationIn 2020, New Jersey became the first U.S. state to integrate climate change education across all nine K-12 New Jersey Student Learning Standards (NJSLS). This bold step ensures students learn not only about the causes and impacts of climate change but also how to take meaningful action.  Residents of Morris Avenue in Bridgeton, NJ, have faced persistent flooding issues during rainy days, with water pooling on the road and even seeping into basements. The water would often sit for up to four days, creating hazards and damaging homes. Seeing a chance to make a difference, the American Littoral Society stepped in with a solution: bioswales.
With funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), the Littoral Society installed bioswales along Morris Avenue from October 15–23. Seven were constructed in front of various homes along the road. Project partners include: Gateway Community Action Partnership, Cumberland County's Road and Engineer divisions, and Rutgers University. Similar to rain gardens, the bioswales were created by digging shallow trenches, adding sandy soil for effective drainage, and layering with mulch and native plants.  Large and enthusiastic crowds came out for the two Raptorama events held recently on the shores of Jamaica Bay. In addition to the many live raptors brought to the event for live demonstrations, the initial festival also featured sightings of wild Eagles, Snowy Egrets and many migrating Hawks.
Raptorama I took place Saturday, October 12 and attracted more than 100 visitors to the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. The 6th annual event featured Hawks and a Great Horned Owl brought by the Wildlife Center of Long Island. In addition, Don Riepe, the Littoral Society's Jamaica Bay Guardian Don Riepe, and naturalist Tod Winston led a ‘Hawk Walk’ around the West Pond that included sightings of several Hawk species, many great and snowy egrets, as well as two majestic adult bald eagles soaring through the sky. |
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