Jersey Shoreline: Nov. 20

November 20th, 2015

Jersey-Shoreline

The Jersey Shoreline  is a weekly round-up from New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium that scours the Garden State’s press and broadcasters for reports on several key topics related to the consortium’s research and outreach.

The Barnegat Bay Study

One of the biggest coastal stories this week was the release of 10 three-year research projects on the health of Barnegat Bay. The projects were commissioned by the state Department of Environmental Protection managed in part by NJSGC.

N.J., environmentalists differ over health of Barnegat Bay — The state Environmental Protection Department on Tuesday presented three years of scientific data that it says shows the bay is healthy overall, with problems such as pollution and stinging jellyfish in spots. Environmental groups, however, say the bay is in far worse shape than the state claims. Read more from the Associated Press.

DEP: Barnegat Bay’s health a “mixed bag” — While portions of Barnegat Bay’s ecosystem appear strained by pollution, life remains resilient under its murky waves. Read more at the Asbury Park Press.

The Good, the Bad and the Unexpected Results of Barnegat Bay’s Studies — The state calls the Barnegat Bay research so important and so extraordinary, that it’s making it available to world and plans to use this research for years to come, because as it says, improving Barnegat bay won’t happen over night. Watch the report at NJTV News.

Aquaculture & Fisheries

New Jersey ban on using oysters to clean waterways to remain under new rules — New Jersey’s ban on using oysters to naturally clean up waterways like the Hackensack River will essentially remain in effect under new rules issued Monday by the Christie Administration. Read more at the Record.

Court case highlights conflict between fishermen and marine mammals — A Cape May County tuna fisherman is fighting federal charges of shooting a pilot whale that was feeding on his boat’s catch. Daniel Archibald denies the charges filed against him in U.S. District Court. But his lawyer, Bill Hughes Jr., said in court papers that even if Archibald shot the animal, he wasn’t breaking any laws. Read more at the Press of Atlantic City.

Oyster Reef in Delaware Bay Dedicated To New Jersey Veterans — Conservation organizations leading the efforts to restore New Jersey’s Delaware Bay beaches organized “Veterans Day on the Bay,” a celebration to dedicate the oyster reef at South Reeds Beach in honor of military veterans’ service to our country. Read more at the Cape May Herald.

Coastal Processes & Concerns

Judge to mortgage lenders: no double-dipping on Sandy foreclosures — A mortgage lender has to disclose before a property is sold through foreclosure whether it has insurance money to repair any damages, otherwise there’s the potential for double-dipping, a Superior Court judge has said. Read more at NJ.com.

N.J. coastal lakes to be part of federal flooding study — New Jersey could be in line for federal funding to repair 12 of its coastal lakes in Monmouth and Ocean counties after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers agreed to include those bodies of water in a major study after Hurricane Sandy’s devastation. Read more at NJ.com.

Community Resilience & Climate Adaptation

IN THE NEWS — Green Infrastructure for Coastal Resiliency Focus of Conference — Amy Williams from the Stevens Institute of Technology, vice president of the Alliance for a Living Ocean based on Long Beach Island, spoke to the group about work she had done with the Hudson River Sustainable Shorelines program: creating “rock-sills,” a series of planted terraces bordered by rocks; gambian baskets that let tidal water flow through to pools for public access along the river. Read more at the Sandpaper.
Editor’s note: Williams works with Dr. Jon Miller, the NJSGC coastal process specialist, on consortium projects and programs.

THE LIST: TEN WAYS CLIMATE CHANGE COULD IMPACT LIFE IN THE GARDEN STATE — The potential threats to New Jersey have been well-documented in numerous research papers and studies,yet the Garden State lags behind many of its neighbors when it comes to consideration of long-term climate change predictions. Read more at NJSpotlight.

N.J. files more eminent domain actions against beachfront residents — The Christie administration has filed its first eminent domain actions against beachfront property owners in northern Ocean County. Read more at NJ.com.

Marine Recreation & Jersey Shore Tourism

New Jersey/Delaware Bay Fishing Report with Jim Hutchinson, Jr. — Blitzing stripers, record bluefish, and a bounty of biscuits and blackfish at the coastal wrecks. It’s all about variety along the NJ and DE coast this third week of November, as boaters and beach fishermen are all getting into the action. Watch the report from the Fisherman.

WATCH: Massive school of fish fights off predators in Raritan Bay — A group of New Jersey fishermen pulled their boat into a breathtaking scene last week and captured video of massive numbers of menhaden schooling to avoid the jaws of predator bluefish. See the video at NJ.com.

A-Cat Sailboats Donated to Maritime Museum Will be Used by Local Sailing Groups — The New Jersey Maritime Museum, famous for its collection of marine artifacts from prehistoric fossils to antique navigational equipment, recently received two very big contributions: a pair of A-cat sailboats. Copies of the original boats once used for fishing and sailing parties, the 28-foot by 11-foot sailboats carry 615 square feet of sail, have masts that are 46 feet high and weigh nearly 4,700 pounds. Read more at the Sandpaper.

Water Resources & Coastal Access

ASSEMBLY PANEL SEEKS TO PULL PLUG ON STATE DEP’S WATER REGULATIONS — Legislation to prevent the adoption of a new proposal that critics say will increase pollution and lead to more flooding easily cleared an Assembly committee yesterday. Read more at NJSpotlight.

COALITION HOPES TO PRESSURE CHRISTIE ADMINISTRATION INTO RELEASING NEW WATER PLAN — Worried that the state is not planning adequately to meet future water demand, a new coalition is launching a campaign to push the Christie administration to release a long-completed master plan dealing with water supply issues. Read more at NJSpotlight.

Proposed changes to New Jersey water rules prompt flood of criticism — Residents and developers can build on flood-prone land in New Jersey, but it requires going through a rigorous permitting process first. According to the state Department of Environmental Protection, that process is too tough and needs to be relaxed. Listen to the WHYY report at Newsworks.