 Communities in New Jersey and all along the East Coast are searching for ways to protect themselves from the impacts of climate change. Many roadways are impassable at high tide; oceanfront beaches are washed away by rough storms; and marshes are being engulfed by rising waters.
Now, more than ever, we need a strategic plan and set of tools to prepare for and react to coastal threats - including policies that reduce our vulnerability to the impacts of sea level rise, more frequent and powerful storm and rain events, and storm surge. Ensuring our coastal communities are prepared and resilient requires a collaborative effort between federal, state, and local governments and residents of our communities and coastal stakeholders. As New Jersey continues to face the harsh climate realities, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) announced a new commitment to developing a New Jersey Coastal Resilience Plan during a coastal resilience summit at Monmouth University, an event that brought more than 150 coastal experts and stakeholders together to help inform the plan. We applaud them for their dedication to protecting the New Jersey coastline and communities.
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 Jenna Valente, Ocean Policy Manager and Healthy Oceans Coordinator for the American Littoral Society, is bringing a Sea Change to podcasting.
The Sea Change Podcast kicks off today, Thursday, Oct. 18, on the American Shoreline Podcast Network, which also hosts shows such as The Next Shoreline and The Beach Shack Trailer. The Sea Change Podcast will offer insight into the powerful world of coastal non-governmental organizations and coastal advocacy. Jenna is a coastal advocate and a conservationist who has worked for the American Littoral Society as the Ocean Policy Manager and Healthy Oceans Coalition Coordinator for three years. Prior to her role with the Society previously worked for the Chesapeake Research Consortium at the Chesapeake Bay Program, where she was a member of the communications staff and focused on building the brand of the program and ensuring the health of the Chesapeake Bay.  Coastal communities support regional ocean planning, ban balloon releases, and oppose offshore oil and gas activities The City of Asbury Park became the sixth New Jersey municipality to be recognized as a Champion of the Coast by the American Littoral Society. The recognition follows Asbury Park's September 26 adoption of an ordinance banning intentional balloon releases, marking the third action in a series required by the Society to achieve Champion of the Coast status.
The Littoral Society, a coastal conservation nonprofit organization, developed the Champions of the Coast initiative early this year and is seeing rapid growth in participation from communities seeking to ensure a clean and healthy ocean and coastline into the future. "As a shore community we have a significant responsibility to provide leadership that will protect our coastal economy and a healthy ocean," said Asbury Park Mayor John Moor. "These collective Champion of the Coast actions help us fulfill that responsibility."  Work is underway on the permanent living shoreline at the Slade Dale Nature Sanctuary in Point Pleasant, NJ.
Phase one of the living shoreline project began with American Littoral Society contractor, Atlantic Dock and Bulkhead, installing wooden pilings that will serve as the foundation for the structure designed to eliminate erosion and restore lost land. "We're excited to be taking the next step in our work in this area," said Capt. Al Modjeski, Habitat Restoration Director for the Littoral Society. "This is a great opportunity to show how living shorelines can provide a low-cost, natural solution to a long-term problem."  On October 20th the American Littoral Society is hosting Oh, Oysters! A Celebration of Re-Oystering New Jersey’s Waters to raise funds for coastal conservation and bring awareness to the plight of the once prolific Eastern Oyster.
The event will include a reception prior to a screening of "The Oyster Farmers" film,,as well as a panel discussion with the featured farmers, Society staff, and other experts. What: Oh, Oysters! A Celebration of Re-Oystering New Jersey's Waters When: Saturday, October 20, 2018 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM Where: House of Independents, 572 Cookman Avenue Asbury Park, NJ 07712 Why: To raise funds for coastal conservation and bring awareness to the plight of the once prolific Eastern Oyster  Communities in New Jersey and all along the East Coast are searching for ways to protect themselves from the impacts of climate change. Many roadways are impassable at high tide; oceanfront beaches are washed away by rough storms; and marshes are being engulfed by rising waters.
Now, more than ever, we need a strategic plan and set of tools to prepare for and react to coastal threats - including policies that reduce our vulnerability to the impacts of sea level rise, more frequent and powerful storm and rain events, and storm surge. Ensuring our coastal communities are prepared and resilient requires a collaborative effort between federal, state, and local governments and residents of our communities and coastal stakeholders. As New Jersey continues to face the harsh climate realities, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) announced a new commitment to developing a New Jersey Coastal Resilience Plan during a coastal resilience summit at Monmouth University, an event that brought more than 150 coastal experts and stakeholders together to help inform the plan. We applaud them for their dedication to protecting the New Jersey coastline and communities.  The New Jersey Appellate Division affirmed, with modification, the approval of a Green Acres land swap in I/M/O Seaside Heights Borough Public Beach. Litwin & Provence LLC and Eastern Environmental Law Center represented the American Littoral Society and the New Jersey Conservation Foundation, who appealed the June 2016 New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and NJ State House Commission (SHC) Green Acres disposal approval. The approval allowed for the unprecedented transfer of 1.37 acres of municipally-owned beach to a private developer in exchange for a wooden carousel built in the 1890s, a smaller “boardwalk facing” land (but not beach front), and a 67-acre wetland parcel in Toms River. Following the swap, the private developer built a private amusement pier on the beachfront parcel. Monday’s decision modified the challenged approval, but ultimately affirmed the disposal of the public beach.
 Editor’s Note: In June 2018, U.S. President Donald Trump issued Executive Order 13840 Ocean Policy To Advance the Economic, Security, and Environmental Interests of the United States. This executive order formally revokes Executive Order 13547 Stewardship of the Ocean, Our Coasts, and the Great Lakes, issued in July 2010 by former U.S. President Barack Obama. MEAM interviewed Sarah Winter Whelan, director of the American Littoral Society's Ocean Policy Program and Healthy Oceans Coalition, about what these changes mean for ocean planning in the U.S., including existing regional ocean plans.
MEAM: This new ocean policy will likely lead to big changes in how the U.S. federal government participates in regional ocean planning. What are your thoughts on what this means for the existing Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regional ocean plans?  Jennifer Crow, a science teacher at Rumson's Forrestdale School, receives her 2018 Coastal Conservation Award from Tim Dillingham, Executive Director of the American Littoral Society. In August the American Littoral Society will recognize two supporters for their outstanding contributions to coastal conservation.
Jennifer Crow, a teacher at Rumson School District's Forrestdale School, and Mayor Gary Engelstad of Bradley Beach, will join Chris Cole, a partner at Metrovation, and Greg Quirk, who is retiring from the American Littoral Society Board of Trustees, as recipient of 2018 Coastal Conservation Awards. "The Littoral Society is honored to have supporters such as these," said Tim Dillingham, Executive Director of the American Littoral Society. "Their efforts not only help us continue our work protecting and preserving the coast, but provide an outstanding example for others."  Recent rains provided enough moisture to gauge the functionality of the rain garden constructed by the American Littoral Society at Cumberland Insurance on Shiloh Pike in Bridgeton, NJ.
The result? Exactly as intended, with stormwater from the site collecting in the new garden and eventually seeping into the ground. The 4,000 square foot rain garden is part of a two-phase projectand addresses water runoff from the company's parking area. The project builds upon work begun in 2014 with the creation of a 7.5 acre grassland along Barrett’s Run, a tributary of the Cohansey River, that runs through Hopewell Township, Cumberland County. |
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