Monmouth County Environmental Newsletter: September 2018

Monmouth County, New Jersey sent this bulletin at 09/10/2018 02:32 PM EDT
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Monmouth County Seal 2018

Monmouth County Environmental Newsletter:  September 2018

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MCEC Tours OHMSETT Facility

ohmsett

On Aug. 2, 2018 the Monmouth County Environmental Council (MCEC) received a private tour of the National Oil Spill Response Research & Renewable Energy Test Facility in Leonardo. The facility is home to the Oil and Hazardous Materials Simulated Environmental Test Tank (OHMSETT), a 2.6 million gallon saltwater tank used to test oil spill response systems. The MCEC close up look at the vast crystal blue tank.  It's hard to believe the massive tank can turn completely black during testing. Staff pointed out the unique wave generator, tow bridges, wave-damping artificial beach and much more. 

OHMSETT is the only controlled marine environment where government agencies, academia and private companies conduct full scale oil spill response equipment testing, research, and training. OHMSETT systems control and measure: wave height, length and period, tow speed, meteorological data, water temperature and salinity, volume of oil recovered, oil to water ratios, physical characteristics of experimental oil, and behavior of treated oil. Learn more about the OHMSETT Facility here

Upcoming Environmental & Outdoor Events in Monmouth County:

Some activities require registration and/or fees:

    Callan Farm Preserved

    Below, Callan Farm, Holmdel. Source: Tina Colella

    callan farm

    The historically significant Callan Farm, at the corner of Everett Road and Amercian Way in Holmdel has been preserved.  Property owner, George Callan, will continue to own the farm and grow hay.

    The 12-acre parcel has been home to generations of the Antonides and Callan families, dating back to the 1800s. Margie (née Antonides) Callan was born in the property’s farmhouse where she resided until her passing in 2016. Her father Leroy and grandfather William also lived and worked on the land, which is also known by the name “Tare Away Farm”.  The farm’s rich history extends to Native American times.  Everett Road was a former Lenape Indian trail, and family members have found many related artifacts on the property.   

    Monmouth County purchased an agricultural easement on the Callan Farm on August permanently restricting the land to agricultural use and eliminating future development.  Holmdel Township, the Friends of Holmdel Open Space, and the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC) were financial partners with Monmouth County on the project. In addition, Monmouth Conservation Foundation provided technical assistance.

    There are now 340 acres of preserved agricultural lands in Holmdel under New Jersey’s Farmland Preservation Program. Other preserved farms include the former F&F Nurseries property and the former Chase Tract lands.  Municipal parkland such as the Cross Estate and Bayonet Farm further maintain the township’s links to its rural roots. Monmouth County has preserved 15,328 acres of farmland to date. That is equivalent to 24 square miles.  For reference, 43 towns in the County are each under 24 square miles!  

    Green Teams Invited to Sustainable Jersey Monmouth Hub Meeting

    sustainable jersey

    Sustainable Jersey (SJ) is hosting a meeting, Sept. 25, 7-8:30 p.m. at Red Bank Borough Hall, 90 Monmouth Street, Red Bank, to revitalize the Monmouth Regional Hub. The Hub is an effort to keep towns connected, receive technical assistance, learn from speakers and participate in peer to peer mentoring. 

    All Monmouth County municipal Green Teams are invited to send a representative we seek to reinvigorate sustainability in the County! For questions, contact Lauren Skowronski, Sustainable Jersey, Program Director for Community Engagement, or Amber Mallm, Monmouth County Division of Planning, Environmental Specialist.

    asbury students osprey

    Students observe osprey nest at William Butch Bruno Football Stadium. Source: Chanta L Jackson, Asbury Park School District Communications Director 

    Asbury Park Students Study Coastal Wildlife

    Asbury Park School District’s hands-on Science, Technology, Engineering, Art And Math (STEAAM) programming partnered with Conserve Wildlife Foundation's (CWF) Summer Learning Experience Program, giving students a coastal experience this summer.  

    In July, CWF staff met with third-grade students at the local William Butch Bruno Football Stadium to see osprey nesting on stadium lights. Students looked for piping plovers at the Asbury Park beach, sampled for critters in Sunset Park pond, built osprey nests and simulated the oil spill effects on a coastal waterway.

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    Stage Agriculture Development Committee Proposes Amendments to Grant Program

    The SADC aims to revamp one of the main grant programs used to preserve farmland in New Jersey.   Proposed amendments to the Municipal Planning Incentive Grant Program would streamline annual submissions that participating municipalities submit to the state; require these municipalities to conduct a periodic re-examination of this comprehensive farmland preservation plan, an element of the Master Plan; encourage greater municipal Agricultural Advisory Committee (AAC) involvement; and alter the grant funding structure by creating a municipal competitive grant fund, similar to the model used in the County Planning Incentive Grant Program. 

    The SADC requested feedback from municipal and county partners by September 5, prior to the initiation of the formal rule proposal process.  After discussion at their August meeting, the Monmouth County Agriculture Development Board (MCADB) offered recommendations to SADC. After comments from county and municipal partners are reviewed, a formal public proposal is anticipated.  Public comments will be sought at that time. 

    Municipalities Struggling with Flooding may Find Relief with Green Infrastructure

    SJ is offering a Green Infrastructure (GI) Actions review course. Learn about the 35 points available for GI planning, and 45 points available for GI implementation. Rutgers Cooperative Extension Water Resources Program has GI plans for over 140 Sustainable Jersey municipalities. Find out if your municipality has a plan and how you can adopt a plan for points. If your municipality does not have a plan, learn how to prepare one. 

    The course is offered on two dates:

    Sept. 19, 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Duke Farms - Farm Barn/Orientation Center, 1112 Dukes Parkway West, Hillsborough, NJ 08844 REGISTER

    Sept. 26, 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Wheaten Art Center - Event Center 1501 Glasstown Road, Millville, NJ 08332 REGISTER

    FEMA: Using Flood Risk Products in Hazard Mitigation Plans

    The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides policy, guidance, products, tools, training, and technical assistance to state, local, and tribal jurisdictions to help them develop and update hazard mitigation plans. Hazard mitigation is the effort to reduce the impact of disasters, thereby reducing the loss of life and property. Hazard mitigation plans also allow communities to remain eligible to receive certain types of state, tribal, and federal assistance. FEMA’s Risk Mapping, Assessment, and Planning (Risk MAP) program developed Flood Risk Products (FRPs); tools created to assist in mitigating food risk. Learn more flood risk products used to help meet mitigation planning requirements found at 44 CFR Section 201.6.

    Available Grants for Sustainable Jersey Energy Projects

    The Gardinier Environmental Fund and SJ are offering grants to municipalities and school districts carrying out energy projects.  Applicable projects include those dealing with energy conservation, efficiency, and renewables.  Click to learn municipal eligibility requirements, and school district eligibility requirements.

    Two (2) $30,000 grants and nine (9) $10,000 grants will be awarded.  To learn more about the application process, online submission procedures, eligible projects, and tips for successful grant application register for the Informational Webinar on Sept. 10, 3 p.m.-4 p.m. Applications are due Oct. 31, 11:59 p.m.

    2018 Governor’s Environmental Excellence Awards

    Applications are available for the 2018 Governor’s Environmental Excellence Awards. Submit an application to nominate an individual, business, educator, institution, community, organization, youth or others who have made significant contributions to environmental protection in New Jersey.  Nominations are accepted in multiple categories: Clean Air, Water Resources, Healthy Ecosystems and Habitats, Innovative Technology, Land Conservation, Healthy and Sustainable Communities, Healthy and Sustainable Businesses, and two categories in Environmental Education: Educator-Led and Student-Led Projects.

    There have been 170 award winners to date; including the Wall Twp. Environmental Advisory Committee (2015 Environmentalist of the Year Award). The 2018 award winners will be honored at a luncheon in December. Nomination applications are due Oct. 5, 2018 at 5 p.m.