 Hello Dock Owners, Oyster Wranglers, Operation Oyster followers and all Oyster lovers,
We'd like to bring you up to date on what has happened so far with the Operation Oyster: Two Rivers. We hung our first oyster shell bags on June 2 at the Oyster Point Hotel in Red Bank. Soon after, we hung dozens of additional bags at locations along the Navesink and Shrewsbury rivers in order to determine if wild oysters are living in the rivers and to assess what other species might make their homes in an oyster shell habitat. Bag hanging was followed on June 19 with a training session for volunteer oyster wranglers at 2nd Jetty restaurant in Seabright. Almost two dozen people turned out for that event. Soon after, those official oyster wranglers began monitoring 65 bags at 59 different locations.  Last week, American Littoral Society restoration staff, along with project partners Steve Hafner of Stockton University’s Coastal Research Center and biologists Drs. Larry Niles and Joe Smith of LJ Niles Associates, met with permit reviewers from the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) for a site visit at the marsh behind Thompsons Beach.
Due to a history of salt hay farming, like many of the marshes in the Delaware Bay, the sites at Thompsons Marsh have not been able to reach an elevation that could support a variety of vegetation and habitat for marsh nesting birds. Marshes also play a major role in keeping our coastlines resilient by absorbing wave energy and protecting surrounding communities from flooding during storm events. Our team has proposed to dredge the creeks on either side of the project area and re-use the sediment on the adjacent marsh, which would raise the marsh to an elevation that would support other species of vegetation and help maintain protection for surrounding communities. The USACE permit reviewers showed particular interest in this project, wanted to gain better understanding of the ecological benefits, and praised the thoroughness of our pre-restoration scientific research. We are currently in the final permitting stages and hope to begin work by late September.  Please stop by our Operation Oyster: Barnegat Bay exhibit on the second floor of Jenkinson's Aquarium in Point Pleasant, NJ. The exhibit is part of a series of oyster-oriented projects and events the American Littoral Society has embarked on this summer.
The exhibit at Jenkinson's is centered on a small spat tank in the aquarium. The tank is filled with shell bags that have been seeded with oyster larvae. The exhibit includes displays focused on the Society's work in Barnegat Bay, the history of oysters in New Jersey's coastal waterways, and why it would be beneficial to re-establish oyster reefs. Eventually, the Jenkinson's spat tank will become a living oyster reef that will include other marine species that typically make their homes in such habitats. The Society will also be working in partnership with Jenkinson's Aquarium on a reef in a much larger tank. That tank will help determine how long oysters need to spend in a controlled environment before being placed in a natural habitat and other factors that may affect oyster survivability.  The Delaware River Watershed: Protecting Today and Tomorrow
September 15, 2017 8:30 a.m. to noon An event by NJ Spotlight and StateImpact Pennsylvania The Delaware River Watershed spans four states, contains vital ecological resources, is home to more than eight million residents and provides drinking water to millions more. As the region faces stress from pollution, overuse and a changing global climate, recent moves in Washington D.C. to change federal regulations are also complicating the picture; questions abound on both the quantity and quality of the area’s water supplies. On Friday, September 15, NJ Spotlight and StateImpact Pennsylvania will host an event examining the impacts of the changing regulations and taking a closer look at both how and if state governments and policymakers should respond to growing challenges in managing these resources. American Littoral Society Executive Director Tim Dillingham will be among the panelists, and Carol Collier, former head of the DRBC, will give a keynote talk. The event will will held from 8:30 a.m. to noon at Camden County College in Camden, NJ. Admission is free, but registration is required. Continental breakfast will be served. For more information and to register, click here.  Volunteer registration is now open for the 2017 Sandy Hook Student & Family Bioblitz. Sign up here to take part in this annual event.
The BioBlitz will take place within Gateway National Recreation Area's Sandy Hook Unit on September 29, 2017 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The event is free and open to students of all ages and their family members.  Sea level rise, increased storm events, and our ability to mitigate and adapt to these hardships created by climate change are extremely difficult to discuss on a warm, sunny day in Lavallette, New Jersey, in the heart of Ocean County. Most people would rather spend the day at the nearby ocean, sinking their toes into a (replenished) sandy beach.
Despite the beckoning of the nearby waves, every August New Jersey environmental policy makers hold a joint Senate and Assembly Environment and Energy Committee meeting at the Jersey Shore. Lawmakers hear from experts and the public about a particular issue of importance to our New Jersey coast. This year lawmakers took input on what some say is the biggest environmental challenge facing our shore and our state … climate change.  The 2017 Sandy Hook End of Summer Party promises to be the beach bash of the season. The American Littoral Society is pleased to again partner with the Sandy Hook Foundation for this unique event, which will take place on Friday, September 8 from 6:30 to 11 p.m. at the North Beach Pavilion in Gateway National Recreation Area's Sandy Hook Unit.
From North Beach, event goers will be treated to a beautiful sunset followed by a stunning view of the New York City skyline as dusk turns to night. In addition to live music, dancing and a special auction, there will be cocktail, wine, and raw bars. In addition, this year Ross Brewing Company will be providing craft beer for the occasion, including an oyster stout brewed just for the occasion.  Helping children and adults learn about the beauty and wonders of the shore is a core part of the American Littoral Society's mission, which is why the Society runs summer camps and other programs that bring students of all ages onto the sand and into coastal waters.
Thanks to the generosity of the OceanFirst Foundation, the Littoral Society has been able to expand the coastal classroom experience in dramatic ways. In addition to providing scholarships to children in grades 5 through 8 through the Horizons at The Jersey Shore student enrichment program, the foundation is also sponsoring a Student & Family BioBlitz on Friday, Sept. 29. |
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