​The governors of New Jersey and New York demonstrated recently that they aren't simply talking about the environment but are willing to make significant financial commitments to address climate change and clean water issues. 
 
With the creation of the Natural Climate Solution Grant Program, New Jersey becomes one of the first states to invest proceeds from Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) auctions into natural resource restoration and enhancement projects.
 
In keeping with the global theme for this year’s Earth Week (Invest in Our Planet), NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) announced the launch of the Natural Climate Solutions Grant Program, a blue and green carbon grant program that is providing $15 million for projects that create, restore and enhance salt marshes, sea grass beds, forests and urban parks to sequester atmospheric carbon in the fight against climate change. 
 
"We have long been advocates for protecting and restoring tidal wetlands, as well as restoring the capacity of habitats to sequester carbon in the fight against climate change," said Tim Dillingham, Executive Director of the American Littoral Society. "The dedication of the RGGI funds to tidal marsh stewardship is the result of advocacy by the Society when the Global Warming Solutions Act was initially being considered; we pushed for direct support to make tidal marshes a key component in responding to climate change. We commend Governor Phil Murphy and NJDEP Commissioner Shawn LaTourette for bringing this important program forward into implementation, helping to fight climate change."
 
To learn more about the program visit the Natural Climate Solutions Grant Program webpage.

Volunteers and Littoral Society staff came together on Saturday, April 23 to do routine maintenance on the restoration project at Slade Dale Nature Sanctuary in Point Pleasant, NJ by adding recycled Christmas trees to the existing branchbox breakwaters.

If you missed this opportunity but would still like to lend a hand, we will be adding around 200 more trees to three other breakwaters this year, and are currently coordinating with Point Pleasant and Lacey Township for tree delivery. The next Slade Dale volunteer day is set for Saturday, May 21 from 10 a.m. to Noon. Click here for more information.

On future work days we will also add coir logs and do some plantings along the shoreline. Later this year, a community science monitoring program will be launched.

By Toni Rose Tablante, American Littoral Society Habitat Restoration Technician              

Please join the American Littoral Society for our annual Members Day on Saturday, June 25, 2022! Our day will include awards and the annual Board of Trustees election. After the meeting, members will be treated to a picnic lunch from Local Smoke BBQ, oysters from Cape May Salt Oyster Farms​, beer from Ross Brewing, and live music.

Members Day is a members-only event, so please make sure your membership is up to date in order to attend! If you’re not sure of your membership status, please email info@littoralsociety.org and we will let you know. Click here if you know you need to renew or would like to become a member.

If you are a current member, you should have received an email with a link to register online. If you did not receive a link, please email info@littoralsociety.org to check your membership status.

SATURDAY, JUNE 25 SCHEDULE
9:00 am Registration Opens
10: 00 am Depart for morning activities
12: 00 pm Business Meeting
12: 30 pm Lunch, music and lawn games

2022 Coastal Conservation Awards
Graham Macmillan Award: Don Riepe, American Littoral Society's Jamaica Bay Guardian
Coastal Business Champion: Pinelands Nursery 
Community Partner: Karl Brown, Principal at Indian Avenue School
Conservation Practice Partner: Steve Hafner, Assistant Director at Stockton University Coastal Research Center
Coastal Educator: Michelle Williams, Woodstown High School Science Teacher & Society volunteer
Coastal Community Stewardship Award: Esaul Martin, Gateway Community Action Partnership
R-Corps Intern Achievement Award: Cameron Williams ​

Outdoor activities will include seining, a botany walk, birding, shell scavenger hunt, and a beach cleanup. Please dress for the weather and your desired activity, and bring any supplemental gear you need.

If you'd like to learn surf fishing, join the Littoral Society's Emily McGuckin for an upcoming clinic. The first is open to anyone who would like hands-on instruction in the basics of casting, knot tying, lure/bait selection, and “reading” a beach. The second is for women only. They will occur on Sunday, May 1 and Sunday, June 5, respectively.

All skill levels are welcomed. Rods, reels and tackle will be provided, but bring your own if you have it. Children under 18 are welcome with a supervising adult. The groups will meet at 8 a.m. in the Littoral Society building on Sandy Hook (GPS: 18 Hartshorne Drive, Highlands, NJ) before heading to the beach. Coffee and doughnuts will be provided for the early morning gathering but please bring your lunch.

Cost for each is $30 for Littoral Society members and $75 for non-members.
 
Click here to register for the open surf fishing clinic on Sunday, May 1

Click here to register for the women-only clinic on Sunday, June 5.

For more information contact emily.mcguckin@littoralsociety.org.

 Highlands, New Jersey -- The American Littoral Society has received a $50,000 bequest that will support coastal conservation policy and advocacy.

The bequest came from William Irving Taylor, a long-time Society member, in honor of his late wife Giuliana Taylor-Valsangiacomo.

Dr. Taylor was born in New Zealand and awarded his PhD in Chemistry from the University of Auckland. Throughout his career, which ended with International Flavors and Fragrances (IFF), he authored 138 publications, a book, and served as co-editor of a series of books. An avid reader with a sharp mind, Dr. Taylor was happiest discussing chemistry, biology, physics, and mathematics with anyone and everyone. He died last year at age 98.

Dr. Taylor’s three sons grew up in New Jersey and have fond memories of trips to Sandy Hook and other parks with their father. Frank Taylor, one of Dr. Taylor’s three sons and producer of the popular YouTube channel Nature at Your Door said, “It was my father’s guidance and walks with him that inspired me to have a lifelong career in biology education.”

William Taylor’s interest in science and nature inspired Frank and his two other sons John-Stephen and Mark to pursue careers in science, teaching, and engineering. John-Stephen is a Professor of Chemistry at Washington University and Mark is a Chemical Engineer with West Rock. He also inspired many of his grandchildren.

“We are quite honored to receive this gift and will use it to advance our efforts to ensure that the marine life and special places of our coast are protected, and that they remain available and accessible to inspire more lives towards conservation and science,” said Tim Dillingham, Executive Director of American Littoral Society. 

The American Littoral Society joins Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy, the Jamaica Bay Ecowatchers, and partners in thanking U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, their staffs, and participating federal agencies, for their advocacy on behalf of the Jamaica Bay Stony Creek Marsh Restoration, and the entire Hudson Raritan Estuary Project, securing much needed design and construction funding for this important restoration project.
  
This latest batch of funding, secured in two major bipartisan pieces of legislation—the recently passed 2022 Omnibus, and the infrastructure bill—brought in $27.2 million to the Hudson Raritan Estuary Project, which includes other sites in the New York region, with $18.91 million directly for the Jamaica Bay Stony Creek Marsh Restoration project. This funding covers both the design phase and full federal construction costs.
 
Stony Creek Marsh is an important marsh island in Jamaica Bay that has been degraded and fragmented over time. Once completed, this project will restore over 50 acres of marsh in the bay, creating important habitat and helping clean our waterways, and will provide protection to local communities from extreme weather.