Monmouth County's First Wildlife Passage System Left: Under-road tunnel at Assunpink Wildlife Management Area. Source: NJDEP The New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife (NJDFW) is constructing the County’s first wildlife passage system in the Assunpink Wildlife Management Area (WMA), Upper Freehold. The project aims to reconnect habitats fragmented by roads to provide animals with a safe passage between wetlands. It’s part of a statewide effort called Connecting Habitat Across New Jersey (CHANJ). CHANJ projects make roadways and landscapes more conducive to wildlife movement.  The passage system at Assunpink WMA is almost complete. Currently the tunnel is in place and fencing will be installed before the end of the year. Fencing will guide animals to the tunnel, preventing them from crossing the roadway. Over several seasons, the NJDFW has monitored the roads and wildlife and will continue to monitor to determine the project's effectiveness. For more information  click here

Opportunity for Municipalities to Enlist Volunteers for Sustainable Jersey Projects

Sustainable Jersey and the Center for Community Engaged Learning and Research (CELR) at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) are accepting applications to enlist 10-20 TCNJ student volunteers for applicable Green Team projects that contribute to Sustainable Jersey certifications. Local green teams must arrange for all materials and training for the day, TCNJ CELR will provide transportation to site, lunch, and supervision for TCNJ students.

Applications are due by midnight, Sept. 2. Municipalities may submit more than one proposal for projects on different days. Notifications of selected municipalities will be made on a rolling basis.  Selection is based on distance to TNCJ campus, scheduling availability and the proposed projects.  Applicants should expect to hear back within two weeks of their submission. Click here to learn more. For questions, contact Megan Nicholson at TCNJ.

Upcoming Environmental & Outdoor Events in Monmouth County:

Some activities require registration and/or fees:

• Aug. 3, 6, 10, 13, 17, 10-11:30 a.m. Seining on the Bay Sandy Hook  parking Lot C, Bayside
• Aug. 8 & 22 6-8 p.m. Sunset Seining, ALS Ft. Hancock Building 18 at Sandy Hook
• Aug. 9, 16, 23, 30 11am-12 pm Enviro-Quest, various Monmouth County Parks
• Aug. 14, 1-2 p.m. Sustainable Jersey Maximizing Energy Efficiency in Your Building Webinar, Online  
• Aug. 16, 6-8 p.m. Bird Walk, Sandy Hook, parking Lot M
• Aug. 16, 8-11 p.m., Stars of Sandy Hook, Lot E Beach Plaza 
• Aug. 18-19, 12-2 pm Potato Harvest at Historic Longstreet Farm 
• Aug. 25, 9 a.m.- 12 p.m. Shore Birds & Wild Edibles, Parking Lot M at Sandy Hook
• August Weekends, Wednesdays, and Holidays, Drop-In Eco-Boat Tours, Manasquan Reservoir Visitor Center
• Sept. 6, 5-7 p.m. Monmouth County Environmental Council Meeting, Hall of Records Annex, 2nd Floor, Freehold

2018 Horseshoe Crab Monitoring Results

Horseshoe crabs at Keyport Harbor. Source: Carla Mallm

On June 28, the Bayshore Regional Watershed Council concluded its 10th annual horseshoe crab monitoring study along Sandy Hook Bay and Raritan Bay.  The goal of the study is to determine whether the local spawning population is stable, increasing or decreasing. On four full moon and high-tide nights this season, volunteers counted horseshoe crabs simultaneously at five sites: Plum Island at Gateway Sandy Hook, Many Mind Creek in Atlantic Highlands, Leonardo Beach in Middletown Township, Keyport Harbor near Chingaroa Creek, and Cliffwood Beach in Aberdeen Township.  Each site this season supported crabs.

Results this year are they highest recorded in 10 years of the Council’s monitoring. This season, volunteers counted 6,543 crabs. The Bayshore Regional Watershed Council’s End-of-Year Report for 2017, shows a total of 2,077 crabs counted in 2017. The highest recorded population was 2,913 crabs in 2013. The significant increase in crab population for 2018 is a good sign of a recovery in the bay.

Clinging Jellyfish Sighted in Monmouth County

Clinging Jellyfish compared to a quarter. Source: NJDEP

In July, NJDEP issued an advisory on clinging jellyfish for recreational users in the Shrewsbury and Manasquan Rivers, as well as locations in Ocean County. Clinging jellyfish range from the size of a dime to a size of a quarter and have a distinctive, red, orange, or violet cross across the middle. Its 60-90 tentacles contain stinging cells that can cause muscle cramps, sweating, anxiety, hypertension, heart dilation and other symptoms. NJDEP urges the public to use caution where these jellyfish may be present.

Clinging jellyfish are not typically found at ocean beaches.  Instead, they inhabit shallow bays and estuaries and attach themselves to submerged sea grass and algae. People swimming and boating in bays and estuaries should take extra precaution and wear protective boots or waders if walking through submerged vegetation. Click here for more information. 

The NJDEP is partnering with Montclair State University to study the species presence in New Jersey.  If you see a clinging jellyfish do not capture it, but take a photograph if possible and send it to Dr. Paul Bologna or Joseph Bilinski along with location information. Click here to view a NJDEP Clinging Jellyfish presentation.