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Part 1 of the Littoral Society's three-part overview of the Wreck Pond restoration project. By the time Superstorm Sandy smashed into the New Jersey coastline, Wreck Pond was a bit of a wreck. The 73-acre coastal lake located on the border of Spring Lake and Sea Girt, NJ, was badly polluted and prone to flooding surrounding homes during heavy rains.
Partnering with the municipalities around the pond, as well as state and federal agencies, the American Littoral Society stepped in with a plan to address pollution, reduce flooding, and restore the pond as a breeding ground for migratory fish such as river herring. Since 2014 the Littoral Society and our partners have been working on the pond and it's surrounding watershed. On Thursday, August 27 at noon, the Society will host a virtual lunch and learn to discuss ongoing efforts to increase ecological and community resiliency in and around Wreck Pond.
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 The American Littoral Society is working on a mapping project focused on fish and fish habitat in the Mid-Atlantic. We are especially looking at areas that may be impacted by ocean uses or development, such as sand mining and offshore wind farms.
If you fish at any of the named and outlined areas on the map shown above, your knowledge about those fishing grounds is invaluable. We would appreciate your input in identifying some of the most important areas to you, when you fish there, and what species are typically present. Keep reading to learn how you can provide input and qualify for a gift card.  Date: August 3, 2020
1 - 4 p.m. Held Via Webinar Join the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) for a public meeting to discuss the draft New Jersey Offshore Wind Strategic Plan to address the state’s goal of 7,500 megawatts of offshore wind energy development by 2035. The meeting will consist of a brief presentation by NJBPU Staff recapping the State of New Jersey offshore wind goals and activities to date, as well as some brief background on the requirements of the Offshore Wind Economic Development Act (OWEDA) and Executive Orders (EO) No. 8 & No. 92. A brief presentation of the content of the draft Offshore Wind Strategic Plan will follow. The floor will then be opened for comments by members of the public.  The Littoral Society’s mission is to promote the conservation and study of marine life and its habitats. That is the “why” of our work.
Having been around since 1961, the language of our mission harkens back to a more formal, subdued era. But make no mistake, “promoting the conservation and study” of coastal wildlife is dynamic, growing, community-based, and aimed at strategically putting back missing pieces – whether they are gone because of a storm or human irresponsibility. Our largest effort has been restoring miles of beaches along the Delaware Bay. Those beaches are critical to spawning horseshoe crabs and migrating shorebirds such as the Red Knot. The beaches, fundamental components of the Bay ecosystem, were simply gone after Hurricane Sandy.  Putting sand back on a beach is fairly common practice on the east coast of the US, but not for restoring and protecting the places that wild things live.
However, the American Littoral Society and partners have been doing such projects on the New Jersey shoreline of the Delaware Bay for nearly a decade. The result has been better habitat for horseshoe crabs and migratory shorebirds. A study in the July 9 edition of the Marine Ecology Progress Series (a peer-reviewed scientific journal) quantifies the benefits of that work, while also indicating that outcomes can be further improved by expanding project scope and integrating other coastal restoration strategies.  As part of #PlasticFreeJuly the American Littoral Society is asking members and supporters to join the global movement to #breakfreefromplastic by signing your name in support of the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act.
This bold federal legislation was introduced by U.S. Senator Tom Udall (NM) and U.S. Representative Alan Lowenthal (CA-47) to tackle the plastic pollution crisis. Take the pledge and do your part to protect our ocean, waterways, and wildlife from plastic pollution. Together we CAN make a difference. In late June, the Littoral Society and partners, spent a day banding 20 young osprey living in New York City's Jamaica Bay.
These raptors have made a come back in NYC as water quality has improved, harmful chemicals have been banned from use, and our waterways have become more abundant with fish. Don Riepe, Director of the Littoral Society's Northeast Chapter and the Society's Jamaica Bay Guardian, was joined by staff from the Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy, and Chris Nadareski, research scientist for the city's Department of Environmental Protection Wildlife Studies unit.  Every year in September, the American Littoral Society and partners typically kick-off the New York State Beach Cleanup (NYSBC), which brings out thousands of volunteers to help collect and document litter on New York's shorelines.
The Society's Northeast Chapter has led the NY State Beach Cleanup (as part of the International Coastal Cleanup) since 1985. This year may bring a delay to the start of the 35th Annual NYSBC, but the program's new coordinator is working closely with everyone involved to determine the best strategies for the work in light of ongoing concerns over the spread of COVID-19. Lisa Scheppke, who has focused on marine debris removal during her time as Restoration Project Coordinator for the Littoral Society's Northeast Chapter, is taking over the NYSBC program from Natalie Grant.  ~ Tim Dillingham
Executive Director, American Littoral Society It sort of feels like summer. The weather is here, the crowds are (somewhat) cautiously going back to the beaches, and we are seeing the arrival of seasonal wildlife – ospreys, terrapins, butterflies and an increasing number of whales. Amidst these comforting familiar signs of summer, we face new enormous challenges: a pandemic which is showing unfortunate resilience and possible resurgence, a nation struggling to come to terms with racial inequalities and injustice, and an election with tremendous consequences for environmental protection and coastal and ocean protection. These national challenges have cast their shadows on the sunny days and warmer weather. The environmental issues which face our ocean and coasts, as well as marine life and their habitats, have changed little. One of the most persistent is the ever-growing impact of plastics in the ocean.   Asbury Park, NJ – June is National Ocean Month and in celebration of protecting our ocean environment the City of Asbury Park has joined a regional effort to reduce marine pollution, with a special focus on balloon litter.
“Reducing the amount of marine debris and plastic pollution, including balloon litter, is so much greater when coordinated and carried out on a regional basis," said Asbury Park Deputy Mayor Amy Quinn. "We are proud to work with the American Littoral Society, other New Jersey coastal communities, and additional partners throughout the Mid-Atlantic region to help protect our ocean and marine life.” The initiative involves partnership in the “Prevent Balloon Litter” website. Other participants include the American Littoral Society, along with environmental programs throughout the Mid-Atlantic region such as the Virginia Coastal Management Program, Clean Virginia Waterways of Longwood University, US Environmental Protection Agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Coastal Management Program, the New York Department of Environmental Conservation, and others. |
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