 Monmouth Battlefield, Manalapan. Source: Amber Mallm
 Monmouth County Environmental Newsletter: November 2018
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Osprey nesting at Sandy Hook. Source: Michael Davenport
Monmouth County Rare Wildlife Reporter
The definitive source for critical wildlife mapping within New Jersey is the NJ Department of Environmental Protection’s Landscape Project. This Geographic Information Systems (GIS) product is utilized by non-profits and government agencies to target lands for preservation. The Landscape Project mapping is based upon documented occurrences of rare wildlife. New Jersey is home to over 200 species of animals which the NJ Division of Fish & Wildlife has listed or proposed to list as either Endangered, Threatened or Special Concern. While many of the documented occurrences of rare wildlife are submitted by state biologists, environmental consultants, and non-profits, the Division of Fish and Wildlife also accepts data from the public.
In order to streamline the process, the Monmouth County Division of Planning’s GIS Department has created a web mapping application: The Monmouth County Rare Wildlife Reporter
This application allows users to submit their observations of rare wildlife species observed within Monmouth County from their smartphones, tablets or desktop computers. Observations that meet the data standards set by the State's Endangered & Nongame Species Program will be forwarded to state biologists for review and potential inclusion within the rare wildlife database.
The opening page of the application includes links to the entire list of NJ rare species as well as a link to an online field guide of those species, where photographs, life descriptions, and range maps are available. The application is still under development. Submit suggestions for improvement to Michael.Davenport@co.monmouth.nj.us
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Upcoming Environmental & Outdoor Events in Monmouth County:
Some activities require registration and/or fees:
- Nov. 17, 4 -5 p.m. Twilight Hike at Freneau Woods Park, Aberdeen
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Nov. 18, 10 a.m. -12 p.m. NJWAP & Bayshore Regional Watershed Council Clean-Up, 10 First Avenue, Atlantic Highlands
- Nov. 26, 6:30 p.m. Science Mondays Series: Protecting New Jersey's Fragile Environment, Brookdale Community College, Lincroft
- Nov. 29, 7 -8:30 p.m ANJEC Regional Plastics & Networking Meeting, New Brunswick
- Dec. 6, 5 -7 p.m, Monmouth County Environmental Council Meeting, Hall of Records Annex, 2nd Floor, Freehold
- Dec. 12, 8 -10 p.m. Monmouth Audubon: Sparrows and Sparrow People, Tower Hill Church, 255 Harding Road, Red Bank
- Dec. 15, 9 -11 a.m. Roving Naturalist, Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center, Howell
- Dec. 21, Deadline for Children's Recycling Essay Contest
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Navy Signs Agreement to Preserve Lands Around Naval Weapons Station Earle
The Navy has signed an agreement with the County and the Monmouth Conservation Foundation (MCF) to increase the buffer zone around Naval Weapons Station Earle (NWS Earle). The agreement will allow the County and MCF to pursue the preservation of lands in the vicinity of the base as part of the Department of Defense (DOD) Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) Program. The REPI program was created in response to the development of lands and loss of habitat around installations.
The County Park System and Farmland Preservation Preservation Program, MCF and NWS Earle will work together to identify properties that might be of interest to purchase or acquire an easement for development rights. Participation must have the voluntary consent of the landowners, with no use of eminent domain practices.
On Nov. 18 WMA 12 Watershed Ambassador, Cara Wiebalk, will lead a clean-up along the beach and wetlands in Atlantic Highlands.
New WMA 12 AmeriCorps Watershed Ambassador Cara Wiebalk Leads Clean-Up Event
On Sunday Nov. 18, the new WMA 12 Watershed Ambassador, Cara Wiebalk, is partnering with the Bayshore Regional Watershed Council, Monmouth County Clean Communities and the NY/NJ Baykeeper to hold a clean-up from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at 10 First Avenue, Atlantic Highlands. Come by for a rewarding afternoon as volunteers clean up this site. Please dress for the weather and be prepared to get messy! Garbage bags and gloves will be provided. Strong winds and rain will cancel the event.
Cara joined the AmeriCorps New Jersey Watershed Ambassador Program this fall as the WMA 12 Monmouth Coastal Watersheds Ambassador. During Cara’s term of service she will focus on education and outreach, researching the health of our streams and leading community projects. Cara recently graduated from Rutgers University with a B.S. in Ecology Evolution and Natural Resources and holds a Certificate of Environmental Geomatics. This year the New Jersey Watershed ambassadors will pay particular attention towards cleaning up the non-point source pollution in NJ's watersheds. Contact Cara at Cara.Wiebalk@co.monmouth.nj.us to schedule an educational program, or to partner in a clean-up.
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Wall Township Environmental Advisory Committee Receives ANJEC's Environmental Achievement Award
Each year, the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions (ANJEC) recognizes exceptional projects carried out by environmental commissions with Environmental Achievement Awards. On October 12, the Wall Township Environmental Advisory Committee (WTEAC) earned the Community Outreach Award for its Arbor Day/Earth Day for Seniors Programs.
In 2016 the WTEAC decided to lead environmental projects with elderly residents in assisted living facilities that are often overlooked or disregarded in environmental education and outreach. In 2016, the program was presented at Sunnyside Manor; in 2017 it was held at The Wexford; in 2018, it was hosted at Sunrise of Wall – all assisted living facilities in Wall Township.
According to ANJEC, “The highlights of the programs included a presentation on native plants and trees, along with sing-a-long music for residents, and a book signing. Each facility had a tree planting portion of the program so residents can watch the progress of the tree growth. This ongoing project was run on 100% volunteer power.”
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DEP Launches Coastal Resilience Plan Effort
The NJDEP Office of Coastal Land Use Planning recently announced they are embarking on a new effort to produce a Coastal Resilience Plan to evaluate their policies and programs with regard to local, regional and state response to sea level rise, coastal storms and climate change. The plan will focus on four primary goals:
- Reducing risk from coastal flooding
- Improving awareness and understanding of coastal hazards
- Creating consistent regulation guidance, and
- Making adaptation easier to implement.
The plan will discuss the value of the Coastal Zone and its challenges, resilience strategies, existing projects and a review of existing standards, guidance and funding mechanisms. It will also provide recommendations to move forward. Over the coming year, NJDEP is planning extensive outreach and seeking involvement from stakeholders and municipalities. NJDEP's Coastal Resilience Plan website provides periodic updates including outreach meeting announcements and an email address to accept comments.
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Recent Bills: A4523, S2252, and S2554
Bill A4523, introduced on Oct. 15, would amend the definition of the term endangered species used in the State's Endangered Plant Species List Act to include that an endangered species is not an invasive species. Identical Bill S3001 was introduced on Sept. 27. Under the Bill, an "invasive species" means, "any plant which has a potential to become noxious or which is more likely to spread to a degree that will likely cause damage to the environment, human economy or human health." The bill would require the Division of Parks and Forestry in the DEP to remove any plant from the endangered species plant list if the plant is an invasive species and is not on the federal endangered plant species list. Read the full bill.
On Oct. 15, the Senate Environment and Energy Committee offered a committee substitute for Bill S2252 which would establish goals, initiatives, and programs to encourage and support the use of plug-in electric vehicles in the State. The substitute was referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee. Read the full committee substitute
Bill S2554, referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee on Sept. 9, would give business tax credits to public utilities that develop qualified native pollinator habitat in their rights of way. For the purposes of this Bill, a qualified native pollinator habitat means an area of land developed as habitat for the feeding, nesting and reproduction of native pollinators, such as bees, as determined by the Department of Agriculture. Read the full Senate Environment and Energy Committee Statement
Roots for Rivers Reforestation Grant
 The Nature Conservancy is partnering with Sustainable Jersey and The Watershed Institute to offer another round of the Roots for Rivers Reforestation Grant and Technical Assistance Program. The program aims to support municipal, school district, non-profit and conservation organizations for floodplain reforestation projects. Awardees will receive technical assistance for the design of the project and may request funding amounts anywhere from $1,000 to $20,000 for trees/shrubs, tree protection tubes, and stakes.
Read more about this opportunity and access the online application. Applications are due Dec. 14, 11:59 p.m. Recipients will be announced Jan. 29, 2019.
Photo Source: Sustainable Jersey
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About This Newsletter
The purpose of the newsletter is to inform Monmouth County citizens on the health of their environment and list environmental outreach events in their community. The newsletter is produced by the Monmouth County Division of Planning Section of Environmental & Sustainability Planning in coordination with the Monmouth County Environmental Council. The County of Monmouth and the Board of Chosen Freeholders do not necessarily share the viewpoints of any environmental group mentioned in this newsletter.
If you have questions, comments, or wish to have an event listed in the newsletter, please contact: Amber.Mallm@co.monmouth.nj.us
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