Monmouth County Environmental Newsletter: March 2019 Edition

Monmouth County, New Jersey sent this bulletin at 03/05/2019 10:42 AM EST
Lake Top Snow

Lake Topanemus Park after snow, Freehold. Source: Carla Mallm

Monmouth County Seal 2018

Monmouth County Environmental Newsletter:  March 2019

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Monmouth County Mosquito Control Study is Published

A study written by Monmouth County Mosquito Control Division scientists, Dr. Robert Jordan and Dr. Andrea Egizi, has been published in a national peer-reviewed scientific journal. Jordan and Egizi studied 11 years of data collected by the Division’s Tick-borne Disease Program, a free tick identification service offered to County residents since 2006. Through the program, a County resident submits a tick for identification and also completes a questionnaire to describe the tick encounter, including the resident’s age and gender, where and when the tick was found and what the resident was doing at the time of the encounter. Researchers sought to answer who is getting bitten, by what species of ticks and when and how these tick encounters may change over time. The research is published in PLoS One, a multidisciplinary Open Access journal that publishes high quality, peer-reviewed research and is available free to the public.

Read the Report

NJ Legislature Passes Clean Stormwater and Flood Reduction Act

Bill S1073, otherwise known as the Clean Stormwater and Flood Reduction Act, was passed by the State Senate and Assembly on Jan. 31, 2019. If signed by Govenor Murphy the act would authorize municipalities, counties and certain authorities to establish stormwater utilities. The bill states which entities may form a utility. Such utilities may charge and collect reasonable fees and other charges to recover the utility costs for stormwater management. Also under the bill, stormwater utilities may offer fee reductions in the form of a credit for certain activities like maintaining and operating onsite stormwater management systems or green infrastructure. Stormwater utilities are required to prepare a report each year according to guidance to be determined by the NJDEP and the Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs. Governor Murphy has until Mid-march to sign.

Read Bill S1073

Upcoming Environmental & Outdoor Events in Monmouth County:

Some activities require registration and/or fees:

 

MCEC to Host Round-Table this Spring

family hiking

The Monmouth County Environmental Council is holding an annual round-table event titled "Ticks and Mosquitoes in Monmouth County: Resources to help you protect your family and pets."  The event will take place May 29, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Monmouth County Ag. Building, 4000 Kozloski Rd, Freehold.

Learn from a variety of expert speakers about health threats from ticks and mosquitoes, local research and methods you can use to keep your family and pets safe. More information will be available soon.

FERC Issues the Northeast Supply Enhancement Project Final Environmental Impact Statement

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued the final environmental impact statement (FEIS) for the Northeast Supply Enhancement Project, otherwise known as the Transco Pipeline. The FEIS addresses the potential environmental effects of the construction and operation of the project facilities, including the Raritan Bay Loop Pipeline offshore in NJ waters. The FERC accepted comments following the draft EIS last spring and addressed these comments in the FEIS. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation worked with Transco to minimize construction conflicts with time of year restrictions for certain marine species to the extent practicable. As a result, impacts on aquatic resources would be temporary and minor to moderate.  Now FERC Commissioners will take into consideration their staff’s recommendations as they make a decision on the Project.  Read the notice and access the complete FEIS here.

Annual Seal Monitoring at Sandy Hook Bay 

Seals at Sandy Hook Bay

Left:  Harbor Seals at Sandy Hook Bay were observed at a safe distance through a spotting scope.  

On Feb. 16, the Bayshore Regional Watershed Council conducted its annual Harbor Seal Survey at Sandy Hook Bay. Volunteers observed and recorded the species, gender, behaviors. and quantity of the seals hauled out on a sand bar.  The process of "hauling out," or laying on land, is an important seal behavior.  Hauling out allows seals to rest, mate and digest their food.  If a seal is disturbed it may retreat to the water therefore disrupting its rest and expending valuable energy. Kayakers, photographers and individuals with dogs should stay at least 50 feet away from seals to avoid causing a disturbance.

The Bayshore Regional Watershed Council, in partnership with Save Coastal Wildlife counted over 100 seals hauled out at Sandy Hook Bay.  Seals routinely live in Sandy Hook Bay each winter and haul out on a few choice locations each year. It is expected that the seals will stay in the bay until April then they will migrate to New England for the summer. 

County Shade Tree Commission Arbor Day School Tree Program 

Schools are encouraged to submit an application for the Monmouth County Shade Tree Commission annual Arbor Day Program for the chance to plant one free tree at their school. The Commission will select three winning schools, will work with the schools to find the best location to plant the tree and will dig a hole prior to a special planting event.

On Apr. 12, students at the three winning schools will present a Arbor Day program then shovel soil on the tree. Each student will receive a tree seedling to take home. To be considered, schools must submit an application by Mar. 22 2019. 

NJ American Water Accepting Grant Applications

NJ American Water is accepting applications through its Environmental Grant Program. The program offers grants of $1,000 to $10,000 for  innovative, community-based environmental projects that improve, restore or protect watersheds, surface water and/or groundwater supplies throughout their service area. Learn more and access the application here. Applications are due Mar. 29, 2019.

ANJEC Open Space Grants

The Association of NJ Environmental Commissions (ANJEC) is now accepting applications from environmental commissions for grants of up to $1500 each for local open space stewardship projects. Suitable projects include but are not limited to: pollinator gardens, trail maintenance, interpretive signage, open space or trail assessments, multi-town plans that link open space or trails and various habitat enhancement projects on open space. Learn more and access the grant application here. Applications are due Apr. 15, 2019.

Assistant Director of Planning Serving on NJ Sea Grant Stakeholder Advisory Board

The Monmouth County Division of Planning Assistant Director, Joe Barris, was recently appointed as a member of the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium Stakeholder Advisory Board. The New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium is an affiliation of colleges, universities and other groups dedicated to advancing knowledge and stewardship of New Jersey’s marine and coastal environment. It meets this mission through innovative research, education and extension programs. For more than 40 years, the Consortium has served the State and the region by developing programs designed to resolve coastal issues, develop marine technology, formulate science-based policy and improve science literacy among its citizens.