June Littoral News June 1, 2021 Join us on Sandy Hook for Members Day on Saturday, June 26   Please join us for the annual Members Day celebration, Annual Meeting, and Board of Trustees election on Sandy Hook on Saturday, June 26!   We’re pleased to announce this year’s event will feature lunch provided by our new neighbor McFly’s on the Hook. McFly’s is located in the former Post Exchange (Building #53) of Fort Hancock and has coffee, snacks, and ice cream.   Members Day is a members-only event, 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.   If you are a current member, you will receive an email with a link to register online. You will also receive a notice in the mail that will include a ballot for you to vote in the annual Board of Trustees election.   All current National Park Service, local, state and national COVID-19 restrictions and precautions must be observed at all times by Society staff, volunteers, and event attendees. COMING UP Rally for the Rivers Eco-Fest Saturday, June 5 Rain date: Sunday, June 6 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Victory Park and River Road Rumson, NJ Free Click here for more info   Join eco-friendly organizations for a day of fun and environmentally- friendly activities. Hosted by Clean Ocean Action and the Rumson Environmental Commission, this free, family event is an environmental celebration of the Navesink and Shrewsbury Rivers.   Fun and engaging activities at the Eco-Fest, provided by Rally for the Two Rivers partners, include seining, eco-friendly crafts, hands-on educational demonstrations, face painting, and more!   Participate in as many activities as possible to complete the Passport Challenge and unlock special rewards from local businesses, including free treats and big discounts!   Marsh Grass Planting in Jamaica Bay   Saturday, June 5 Sunday, June 6 Two Sessions Each Day Sunset Cove Park Meet at West 22nd Road & Shad Creek Road Broad Channel, NY Free Registration required   Join the American Littoral Society's Northeast Chapter, NYC Parks and NYC Audubon to help restore a saltwater marsh in Sunset Cove Park. Volunteers will be planting marsh grass, so please dress in clothes that can get dirty and close-toed shoes. We also encourage volunteers to bring their own water bottles.   Space is limited and registration is required. Volunteers under 18 must be accompanied by a chaperone.   Urban wetlands provide a variety of benefits including improved water quality and storm water retention. They also serve as critical habitat for native wildlife. Click here to register for planting from 9 a.m. to Noon or Noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 5. Click here to register for planting from 9 a.m. to Noon or Noon to 3 p.m. on Sunday, June 6.   Beach Cleanup at Spring Creek Park Saturday, June 5 8 a.m. – Noon Spring Creek Park 92nd Street 165th ave Queens, NY Free - Registration Required View Map   Join the American Littoral Society and Abuela Neighborhood Maintenance for a beach cleanup at Spring Creek Park in Queens, NY. Meet inside the park, near the shoreline.   Participants should bring sunblock and a reusable water bottle, while wearing clothes they don't mind getting dirty.   The following will be provided for participants: Trash bags Trash picking tools Safety vests Working gloves Basic First aid kit (at the sign-in table) Face Masks Click the registration link for more information. Blackwall Marsh Island Planting Saturday, June 12 Noon - 3 p.m. Meet at the American Littoral Society Northeast Chapter office 28 West 9th Road Broad Channel, NY Free Registration required (email: alexandra@littoralsociety.org for link) Limited to 30 volunteers   Since 2012, the American Littoral Society has been restoring marsh islands within Jamaica Bay. Through volunteer efforts, over 30 acres of critical habitat for resident and migratory fishes, shorebirds, and other wildlife that call Jamaica Bay their home have been restored.   Join NYC Audubon and the Society to help with the effort on one of these restored islands. Volunteers will meet at Society headquarters in Broad Channel and we will shuttle you on the "Jamaica Bay Guardian" boat to help with the planting of Spartina alterniflora grasses!     Volunteers should bring their own mask, water, lunch, and sun protection, wear sturdy comfortable closed-toed shoes (old sneakers are best), and a hat. Be prepared to get into the water as we drop you off on the island that will be planted. Provided boat transportation will get as close to the shore as possible, but time and tides will affect how close we can get; typically, you can expect to be walking through 1-3 feet of water.   Bring a change of clothes, or clothes that can get wet! The Society office will have a bathroom available for changing in and out of clothes. A limited number of waders are available for borrowing if you cannot get wet for any reason, medical or otherwise. The Society will provide masks and sanitizer to anyone that needs them. Horseshoe Crab Walk - In Person Thursday, June 10 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Meet at Parking Lot B Gateway Recreational Area Sandy Hook Unit Highlands, NJ Free Registration Required   Get up close and personal with a living fossil. Take an evening walk along Plum Island, Sandy Hook to look for spawning horseshoe crabs. Learn about an animal that has survived virtually unchanged for 400 million years.   Wear foot gear that can get wet. Great for families.   For more information, contact Nicole Haines, American Littoral Society Education Director, at Nicole.haines@littoralsociety.org.   We ask that you please adhere to all local, state and CDC COVID protocols, social distancing recommendations and mask wearing, as appropriate. World Ocean Day on Sandy Hook Saturday, June 12 Noon - 1:30 p.m. Littoral Society HQ 18 Hartshorne Drive Highlands, NJ Free Registration Required   Join the American Littoral Society and Ocean Protection Advocacy Kids (OPAK) for a celebration of our Blue Planet in honor of World Ocean Day.   The two organizations will be handing out scavenger hunt kits that will surely get your whole family involved. Scavenger hunt kits can be picked up from Noon to 12:45 p.m. at the Littoral Society building on Officer's Row in the Fort Hancock Section of Gateway National Recreation Area's Sandy Hook Unit.   There will also be a database for you to post what you find during your scavenger hunt. This event is not to be missed!   Also, at 1 p.m. you can join the Littoral Society at Lot C – on the Bay side for an educational seine. This is a great opportunity to learn about the critters that live in Sandy Hook Bay and the Atlantic Ocean!   We ask that you please adhere to all local, state and CDC COVID protocols, social distancing recommendations and mask wearing, as appropriate. What the Shell?! Webinar Wednesday, June 16 Noon - 1 p.m. Via Zoom Registration Required   Do you ever wonder what the shells are that you see lying in the sand at the beach? There were once creatures inhabiting those shells, known as mollusks.   Join the American Littoral Society for a webinar all about shells you can find along the NJ shore. We will talk about bivalves, univalves, their life cycles, why they are important to our environment and much more!   Contact Littoral Society Education Director Nicole Haines for more information. Horseshoe Crabs: A Deep Dive Saturday, June 19 1 - 2 p.m. Cumberland County Library 790 E Commerce St Bridgeton, NJ Via Facebook Live stream Free, Registration is Required   Did you know that horseshoe crabs predate the dinosaurs and that they’re medical saviors? Join the Littoral Society's Quinn Whitesall for a live, family-friendly horseshoe crab lesson.   Quinn will bring a horseshoe crab or two and do a deep dive into the anatomy and significance of this pre-historic creature and will talk about the Littoral Society’s restoration efforts to protect habitat in the Delaware Bay.   Registration is required for this event. Register online at: https://forms.gle/k9ihn3SduCFwbVRE6 or by calling 856-453-2210 ext. 26105. Shark River Horseshoe Crab Tagging Dates in June Times depend on Tides Meet at Pavilion Memorial Park Riverview and Myron avenues Neptune City, NJ Map/Directions Free   Join the American Littoral Society for horseshoe crab tagging in and around the Shark River inlet. Groups will meet at the pavilion in Neptune City's Memorial Park. Schedule meeting times are 30 minutes prior to high tide in Shark River Hills to allow for training and assignment of beach.   Volunteers should dress to get wet, have a change of clothes, bug spray, and flashlights or head lamps. A limited amount of chest waders, drills, and bits will be available. A tagging packet containing data sheets, pens, ruler, clipboard or measuring board, health and safety form, tags, informational packets, and a membership brochure will be provided. Volunteers will be trained and learn about the biology and importance of horseshoe crabs prior to tagging live crabs.   The same beaches from past years will be surveyed to include Memorial Park Beach in Neptune City, L Street Beach in Belmar, the Marina on Riverside (2 sites), and S. Riverside Drive (2 sites). Only staff or experienced volunteers will be allowed to tag at the Hillside Avenue site. In all, up to 7 sites may be surveyed in 2021.   In the event restrictions associated with the COVID 19 Pandemic are still in effect, tagging may be cancelled, limited to staff only with a virtual component, or may still be limited and performed by a single group or persons that have been on lockdown together for at least 14 days or more. Each group or person will be responsible for one designated beach within Shark River Inlet over the survey duration. It is recommended that proper PPE be worn.   To receive tagging packets and a drill with bits contact Capt. Al Modjeski at alek@littoralsociety.org.   Check the Littoral Society calendar for other scheduled tagging dates.  NORTHEAST CHAPTER NEWS Virtual Jamaica Bay Horseshoe Crab Festival In case you missed it: The 5th Annual Jamaica Bay Horseshoe Crab Festival was held on Saturday, May 14. The festival offered both in-person and virtual attendance to those who wanting to lean more about the annual spawning ritual of horseshoe crabs. Tune into the virtual presentation for a taste of what you missed. Live Horseshoe Crab Session at 5th Annual Horseshoe Crab Festival On Saturday, May 14, as part of the 5th Annual Horseshoe Crab Festival in Jamaica Bay, the American Littoral Society's Northeast Chapter and Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy hosted a Facebook Live look on Horseshoe Crabs in their natural environment. Tune in to learn about how horseshoe crabs live and why they're important to the bay's ecosystem. Northeast Chapter R-Corps Install Marsh Grass and Pollinator Plants In May, the Littoral Society's Northeast Chapter R-Corps students were busy planting marsh grasses in Jamaica Bay. They also installed several thousand goldenrods at the B108th street boardwalk in Rockaway to support pollinator habitat.  RESTORATION NEWS Bradley Beach Maritime Forest Dedicated to Former Mayor In 2009, Bradley Beach had a parking lot at the northern end of Ocean Avenue. Almost 12 years later, that sandy lot has become a natural habitat for migrating birds and wildlife, serving also to protect Bradley’s residents from ocean surges and hurricane force winds. With support from the American Littoral Society, Monmouth County and the US Fish & Wildlife Service, the site was restored to the type of maritime forest that would have been common along the Jersey shore hundreds of years ago. The restoration project has been recognized by environmental organizations throughout New Jersey as a model for resiliency and coastal protection and has received national recognition and numerous awards. "The project incorporated innovative design and has provided a nature-based model for future resiliency projects along the east coast," said Capt. Alek Modjeski, Habitat Restoration Director for the American Littoral Society. “Perhaps most important, the area is heavily trafficked by people, and serves as a visible example of how natural systems can benefit shore communities.” It all started with the support of Bradley Beach’s former Mayor, Julie Schreck, who’s early efforts to engage environmentalists, and to secure county and private funding, has culminated in the completion of “Phase 3” of this decade-long sustainability project. Ms. Schreck was mayor from 2008-2012, and died in 2014.   Click here for more information and pictures Volunteers Wade Into Shoring Up Slade Dale Shoreline On Saturday, April 24, a group of hardy volunteers waded into the cold waters of Beaverdam Creek to place recycled Christmas trees between cribbing, where they will help reverse erosion that has been eating away at the shoreline of Slade Dale Nature Preserve for a century. The structures will help slow water flowing through the eroded area and capture sediment carried by the current. Located in New Jersey's Point Pleasant Borough, the Sanctuary’s pine-oak forest, hardwood swamp, and salt marsh provide a space of protected wilderness in an otherwise heavily developed coastal area of NJ. The salt marsh at Slade Dale helps protect uplands from flooding during storms. It also provides nursery habitat for fish, and foraging habitat for birds such as osprey, egrets, and bald eagles. The shoreline has eroded approximately 300 feet since 1930, and almost all low marsh habitat has been lost.    Click here for more information and pictures SIGHTS & SOUNDS Delaware River Pollution Should Be a National Concern Call for clean water, justice and jobs in communities like Camden, Chester, Philadelphia and Wilmington BY TIM DILLINGHAM, ANDREW KRICUN, DON BAUGH | MAY 11, 2021 Perhaps nowhere in the nation are the issues of environmental, social and economic inequities and injustice more evident than in a 27-mile stretch of the Delaware River valley bordered by the cities of Camden, Chester, Philadelphia and Wilmington.   Our country faces a series of challenges that have exposed long-standing vulnerabilities to the health of our environment, our communities and our democracy. In addition, the American Society of Civil Engineers recently graded our nation’s drinking water infrastructure a C- and its wastewater infrastructure a D+, which represents entirely inadequate protection of the public health and the environment.   And, unfortunately, a significantly disproportionate burden of this infrastructure inadequacy directly impacts environmental justice communities such as Camden, Chester, Philadelphia and Wilmington. We believe very strongly that everyone, regardless of where they live and what they look like, is entitled to safe drinking water and clean waterways. Yet, the 27-mile stretch of the Delaware River that flows past these cities is the only section of this 300-mile river not designated for direct water contact by government agencies.   Click Here to Read More   Vineland Park Benefits from Volunteer Maintenance On Saturday, April 14, nearly a dozen volunteers turned out to help fix tree tubes and remove invasive Japanese honey suckle at Giampietro Memorial Park in Vineland, NJ. The maintenance day was hosted by the American Littoral Society and Vineland Environmental Commission as a follow up to work done in the spring of 2019. Initial work was done with the help of the Vineland Environmental Commission, Vineland High School Environmental Club, and the Littoral Society's South Jersey Restoration Corps. It featured planting of approximately 1,200 trees and shrubs across 4 acres. That project was designed to help restore what's known as a riparian buffer along Cedar Branch, a tributary to the Menantico Creek, that regularly floods the park. As the trees and shrubs mature, they will help to slow the flow of water and reduce flooding.   Click here for more info and photos SAVE THE DATE 6th Annual Lobster Run Saturday, November 6 REGISTRATION NOW OPEN! Start and finish: The Langosta Lounge  1000 Ocean Avenue and Second Avenue, Asbury Park, NJ   Get ready to hit the boards for the 6th Annual Lobster Run 5k to Care for the Coast. Register now to get a head start on fundraising for your team! Register now at www.raceforum.com/lobster. Littorally Local Saturday, September 18   The Littorally Local Host Committee is looking for new members! Join a team of committed community members who help spread the word about the event, invite their networks to participate, and solicit auction items. If you’re interested in joining the committee or donating to the virtual auction, please contact Hillary Critelli at Hillary.critelli@littoralsociety.org. Cape Ann Whale Watch Weekend Thursday thru Sunday August 5 - 8 Gloucester, MA $595 (per person) * All participants must be vaccinated   Join the Littoral Society for a nature-packed extended weekend in Gloucester, MA. Cost includes three nights lodging (double occupancy), ½-day whale watch boat, Lobster dinner at Gloucester House, evening cruise on the Essex River, ½-day canoeing on the Ipswich River, plus scenic hike along shore at Halibut Point.   For more info and reservations call (718) 474-0896 or e-mail: don@littoralsociety.org. Chincoteague/Assateague Weekend Thursday thru Sunday November 4 - 7  Chincoteague, VA $595 (per person) * All participants must be vaccinated   Enjoy an extended Fall weekend along the Delmarva coast.   Join the American Littoral Society for a fall weekend along the Delmarva coast. Birdwatchers are  likely to see snow geese, widgeons, teals, ruddy ducks, loons, shovelers, eagles, late shorebirds, and maybe a surprise or two.   Mammals you might encounter include Sika deer, the endangered Delmarva fox squirrel, wild ponies, red fox and otters.    Cost includes 3 nights lodging (double occupancy), 3-hour boat tour of island, 2-hour Safari bus tour of back dune areas, welcome seafood dinner, evening program and star watch, plus guided hikes at Chincoteague Refuge and Assateague National Seashore.   For more info and reservations call 718-474-0896 or e-mail: don@littoralsociety.org.  JOIN US Buy a Sticker for Jeff In January, the Littoral Society unexpectedly lost a member of our family: long-time Fish Tagging Director Jeff Dement. To memorialize Jeff and his contributions to the Society and fish tagging, one of his former interns (Sam Glover) created a sticker that can be purchased online. $2 from each sale will be donated to the Society in support of the Fish Tagging Program. Click here to purchase a sticker   Membership, Renew or Join Today! Your loyalty and support enable us to continue to protect and care for the coast. Your membership supports marine science education programs for thousands of students, protecting and restoring marine life and habitat, and our efforts to defend the coast from harm. You are vitally important to this work; coastal conservation is a group effort. Your membership in the Society adds your voice to many others in support of marine life and the coast. Seniors can join or renew for $30, and Individuals for $40, or Families for $50. Click here to join, renew or give the gift of membership   Show Your Support with Littoral Society Gear There are more ways than ever to show your support for the American Littoral Society. Now available at the Society online store are short-sleeve t-shirts in multiple designs/colors, as well as long-sleeve t's and baseball caps with the Society's name and/or logo. The long-sleeve shirts have the definition of littoral on the back. The baseball caps are focused on the Society's Fish Tagging Program and feature a tagged black seabass. Purchase proceeds cover the cost of the item and contribute to the Society's operating budget. Click here to find Littoral Society wearable gear in the online store.   More Littoral Merch Available at Bonfire You can support the Littoral Society by purchasing our official merchandise through our store on Bonfire.com. All proceeds support coastal conservation! In addition to shirts in a variety of designs, our Bonfire merchandise now includes Coastal Canine Doggie Tees, a beach tote, and a women's racerback style bearing the Knots for Crabs design.   Bonfire is a free online platform where anyone can design, sell, and buy custom products. We handle payment processing, order fulfillment, and customer service so you can focus on connecting with your community. Find our swag at: https://www.bonfire.com/store/american-littoral-society/ Remember the Coast Make sure that our coast remains a home  for the coastal wildlife you love. A bequest to the American Littoral Society is a generous and straightforward way to care for the coast. This can be expressed in a will as simply as, “I bequeath [a sum of money, a percentage of my estate, or an IRA, life insurance policy, or investment/bank account] to the American Littoral Society, 18 Hartshorne Drive, Suite 1, Highlands, NJ 07732.”   Consult with your attorney to determine what is best for your situation.   To learn more about planning a gift for the Society, contact Director of Development Hillary Critelli at 732-291-0055 or Hillary.critelli@littoralsociety.org  Other Ways to Support the Society Your membership donation helps the Society reach its fundraising goals to keep our coast safe and healthy. It also helps our staff create new and exciting ways to connect you with the coast even if we can't be there physically together. If you would like to go above and beyond membership, please explore these other ways you can help the Littoral Society continue to care for the coast. Tribute Gifts Donor Advised Fund Planned Giving Corporate Matching Gifts AmazonSmile Facebook/Instagram Fundraisers Official Merchandise from Bonfire Our Contact Information *{{Organization Name}}* *{{Organization Address}}* *{{Organization Phone}}* *{{Organization Website}}* *{{Unsubscribe}}*

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