Monmouth County Environmental Newsletter December and January Edition

Bullock Farm Christmas Trees

Bullock Farms, a Grown in Monmouth farm, grows fresh Christmas trees. Source: Sean Pizzio

Monmouth County Seal 2018

Monmouth County Environmental Newsletter:  December 2020- January 2021

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Monmouth Beach Completes Rain Garden

Monmouth Beach Rain Garden

Monmouth Beach Department of Public Works staff and Sara Mellor, Rutgers, installing a rain garden this fall.

Monmouth Beach recently finished installing a new rain garden at 12 Meadow Ave. The effort was lead by Mayor Dave Stickle and the Monmouth Beach Environmental Commission, with assistance from the Rutgers Experiment Station Water Resources Program. Unlike typical gardens planted on a mound or level with the ground, rain gardens are planted in a depression. This design allows the gardens to capture storm water runoff which is absorbed by plants and slowly filtered through into the soil, instead of running into storm drains. According to Rutgers, when compared to a patch of lawn, a rain garden allows about 30% more water to soak into the ground. This helps reduce nonpoint source pollution such as road sediment/salt, fertilizers, pesticides, bacteria from pet waste, eroded soil, grass clippings and litter from entering waterways. 

Rutgers provides resources for homeowners, landscapers, and public officials looking to install rain gardens in their communities. Learn more here. 


Middletown Receives Recycling Award

Middletown Township received a New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) Recycling Award for its various recycling programs and achievement in improving its recycling rate from 65% to 75%.  The township practices single stream curbside collection, operates a drop off center at 52 Kanes Lane and a satellite center at the Middletown Train Station on Church Street, and educates the public on recycling. In 2019 Middletown became the first municipality in the state to purchase a Foam Cycle polystyrene recycling machine. Polystyrene, otherwise known as "styrofoam," is typically not accepted by recycling collection programs but this machine creates a product that can be sold and reused. Middletown allows all county residents to drop off polystyrene to be recycled. Learn more about Middletown's recycling program and the DEP 2020 recycling award winners.

Upcoming Environmental & Outdoor Events in Monmouth County:

Some activities may require registration and/or fees:

Shop Local This Holiday Season Using the Made in Monmouth Directory

Made in Monmouth Logo

On behalf of Freeholder Director Thomas Arnone, liaison to the Division of Economic Development, and the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders, the Made in Monmouth team is excited to announce that www.madeinmonmouth.com has been redesigned in time for the 2020 holiday season to feature an interactive vendor directory. Vendors are now able to create an account to represent their business, and shoppers are now able to search through the hundreds of Made in Monmouth businesses to find just what they are looking for this holiday season while supporting a local business!

If you need assistance please call the Division of Economic Development at 732-431-7470 or email econdev@co.monmouth.nj.us.


Upcoming Grant Opportunities 

Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration Grant Program

The Five Star and Urban Water Restoration Grant Program is a nationwide funding opportunity led by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) to support ecological improvement projects such as wetland, riparian, forest and coastal habitat restoration, wildlife conservation, community tree canopy enhancement, water quality monitoring and green infrastructure best management practices for managing run-off.  Projects should increase access to the benefits of nature, reduce the impact of environmental hazards and engage local communities in project planning, outreach and implementation with a  particular focus on underserved communities.  Proposals are due Jan. 28, 2021 and 40-50 awards ranging from $20,000 to $50,000 are expected to be announced in late summer 2021. 

Leadership in Community Resilience Grant Program

The National League of Cities (NLC) is accepting applications for its Leadership in Community Resilience grant program. NLC will administer $10,000 grants and ongoing technical assistance to eight new cities. Proposals should focus on issues such as disaster preparedness and hazard mitigation, embedding equity in city resilience plans and programs, water infrastructure/green infrastructure, climate migration, resilient renewable energy and storage projects, nature based solutions, and emission reduction strategies. Cities may apply on behalf of or in partnership with a regional climate collaborative, non-profits, or community organizations. Proposals are due Dec. 23, 2020, finalists will be contacted for interviews in January 2021.

Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI)

The US Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for its Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI). The OREI intends to improve the ability of producers practicing organic standards to grow and market high quality organic agricultural products. The OREI is particularly interested in projects that emphasize research, education and outreach that assist farmers and ranchers with whole farm planning by delivering practical research-based information. Awards will range from $50,000 to $3,000,000 and applications are due Jan. 14, 2021.


Global Warming Response Act 80x50 Report

NJDEP 80x50 Report

This October, NJDEP released the NJ Global Warming Response Act 80x50 Report. The Global Warming Response Act, passed in 2007 and updated in 2019, required NJDEP to assess New Jersey’s green house gas (GHG) emissions and present recommendations to reduce emissions to 80% below 2006 levels by 2050. The report breaks down emissions by sector and identifies a variety of goals. The 2018 GHG Inventory Report shows that transportation is the largest single contributor to GHG emissions, generating 42% of total emissions. Other sectors include residential and commercial, electric generation, industrial, waste and agriculture and short-lived climate pollutants such as methane and halogenated gases. 

Some of the pathways to reduce emissions include increasing electric vehicle adoption, reducing personal vehicle use by improving public transportation and examining the feasibility of creating permanent remote jobs, electrifying space and water heating in buildings to reduce the use of fossil fuels like natural gas, oil and propane, generating electricity with renewable resources, increasing efficiency in the industrial sector and promoting food waste reduction and climate friendly agriculture processes. The report also identifies carbon sequestration and land conservation as important factors to offset emissions. To learn more, read the full report.


FEMA Mitigation Policy Feedback Now Available for Review

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Mitigation Planning Program has been working to update their state and local mitigation planning policies for review and approval of hazard mitigation plans. Also known as the Mitigation Plan Review Guides, these policies are FEMA’s official interpretation of the hazard mitigation planning requirements in the Code of Federal Regulations (44 CFR Part 201).

During this past summer interested stakeholders were invited to participate in listening sessions and to submit comments by email. Over 550 federal, state, local, academic, and non-governmental partners shared nearly 440 comments. Topics ranged from general comments on mitigation planning and training to specific feedback on plan requirements. The National Mitigation Planning Program summarized these comments in a report available online.

For more information about the National Mitigation Planning Program, please visit: https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/risk-management/hazard-mitigation-planning.


Manasquan Inlet Artificial Reef Expanded

Photo below: Concrete is placed at the reef near Manasquan Inlet, source: NJDEP

NJDEP Reef Deployment

Artificial reefs, typically made up of concrete, steel, and decommissioned vessels, provide habitat for a variety of marine life. New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) studies have shown that these materials are quickly colonized with algae, barnacles, mussels, sea stars, crabs, sponges and corals. The structure and the feeding opportunities attract a wide variety of sea life, offering excellent opportunities for recreational anglers and divers.  This fall, 6,000 tons of concrete were deployed on the 0.84 square mile reef site located approximately 2 miles east of the Manasquan Inlet. 

Concrete forms slated to be recycled, were donated by Maher Terminals in Elizabeth. The forms are 40’x8’x1.5’ in size and were once used by U.S. Customs to scan shipping containers.  On Oct.  28, 74 forms were put in place, followed by another 77 installed on Nov. 10, adding nearly 1.25 acres of artificial reef habitat on what was formerly a featureless sand bottom.  Maher Terminals has also committed to revisiting the reef site annually for several years to document the reef’s progression from bare concrete to a thriving ecosystem. 

Check out a short video of the recent concrete form deployment at the Manasquan Inlet reef or view NJDEP web pages to learn more about the artificial reef program and reef locations.


Bring Home a Grown in Monmouth Christmas Tree 

Photo below: The Fir Farm, Colts Neck, and many other Grown in Monmouth farms throughout the County offer Christmas trees and other festive holiday decorations and activities.

The Fir Farm

Still looking for a place to find the perfect tree for the holidays?  Check the Grown In Monmouth Christmas Tree Farm Directory.  The interactive map will show you the locations of 14 Monmouth County operations.  Select one to get more information, such as the address, phone number, days/hours of operation, amenities available, and social media.

The Grown in Monmouth Holiday Contest is back! Post a photo of you and your family or friends with a Grown in Monmouth Sign at a Grown in Monmouth Tree farm and post it to the Grown in Monmouth Facebook or Instagram pages by Dec. 24. All entries will receive a  funny little pen shaped like an ear of corn for each individual in the photo, and your group will be entered to win a swag bag full of Grown in Monmouth tumblers, car magnets t-shirts and more. Check out the official rules.