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Posts Tagged 'american littoral society'
Tags: american littoral society, wma 13 (barnegat bay)
Posted in biological diversity, ecological restoration project, franklin parker small grants program, projects funded by conservation resources, water protection, filtration, & control
In 2011, CRI awarded this project $5000 through its Franklin Parker Small Grant program.
Oysters were once prolific in the lower-salinity waters of the BarnegatBay–Little Egg Harbor estuary, which contained approximately 12,800 acres of oyster beds. Their loss is primarily attributed to overharvesting, due to a lack of resource management and regulation. Historic oyster reefs served to filter and buffer freshwater nutrient inputs to the estuary. The bay has been degraded by eutrophication and the loss of aquatic habitat, such as tidal wetlands lost to development and shallow water areas lost to hardening of shorelines. Thus re-establishment of oyster reefs is an important adjunct to other efforts aimed at improving the bay, such as hard clam restoration, reduction in nutrient inputs, and softening shorelines.
This project will build upon oyster restoration efforts of the Barnegat Bay Shellfish Restoration Program (BBSRP) by expanding the reef restoration site created in 2008. As part of the BBSRP, approximately 8,000 bushels of clamshell and 110,000 oyster seed were planted in December 2008 on a one-acre parcel within historic oyster habitat off Good Luck Point, at the mouth of Toms River, a major source of nutrient input to the bay. The area was selected by NJDEP as the best site among all other candidate areas surveyed in the bay for their oyster restoration potential following a site-selection process that included State-designated open waters.
A diver survey contributed by Rutgers Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences confirmed bottom type and the suitability of the site for oyster restoration. The American Littoral Society contributed funds from the NOAA-Restore America’s Estuaries Partnership to the planting of the clamshell and ReClam the Bay volunteers reared the oyster seed in land-based nursery systems (upwellers). Oyster seed (a disease-resistant strain) was purchased by the Division of Fish and Wildlife from Rutgers’ Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory hatchery at the Delaware Bay cape shore. This was the first activity of its kind in the bay and serves as a model of how citizen organizations can work with state and federal agencies to improve the environment. Since 2008, an additional 360,000 oysters (cultchless and spat-on-shell) were planted on the reef.
Project goals:
Enhance benthic habitat in historic reef area with shell to support live oysters;
Engage the bay community in oyster restoration; and
Restore functional oyster reef to Barnegat Bay and build community support for and identity with the oyster as a critical component of a healthy bay.
Ecosystem Services Provided:
Water Protection, Filtration, and Control: Water quality- filtration
Biological Diversity: Ecosystem restoration; Habitat- restore healthy reef habitat
Total Project Cost: $296,386
Status: The American Littoral Society has secured $130,560 in cash from the NOAA-RAE Partnership, and $128,759 in in-kind services, equipment, and facilities usage from several sources including scientists, trained volunteers, bayside landowners, and Rutgers Institute of Marine and Coastal Science.
If you would like further information about this project, please contact Conservation Resources.
Tags: american littoral society
Posted in biological diversity, recreation & aethestics, water protection, filtration, & control
Part of the New York – New Jersey Harbor Estuary, Jamaica Bay is truly New York’s last great wilderness. Jamaica Bay is the most intact remnant of what was once a thriving estuarine ecosystem throughout New York City. Collectively, its salt marshes, mud flats, and shallow water areas are the largest expanse of estuarine habitat in this highly urbanized landscape. It lies at the confluence of two of the world’s most urban, heavily trafficked, and stressed waterways–the New York Bight and New York Bay. Add to this the Bay’s position in the geographic “corner” formed by the east-west position of Long Island and the North-South orientation of the Mid-Atlantic Coast, Jamaica Bay is a unique ecological phenomenon, supporting an exceptionally high concentration and biodiversity of life.
As part of a larger plan to restore the bay’s coastal habitats, in 2011-12 the American Littoral Society will be restoring 40 acres of coastal marine habitat including saltmarsh, mudflats, and intertidal beach in Jamaica Bay, New York City, by removing derelict boats and other large and small marine debris. This will enhance critical fish habitat for Atlantic silverside, killifish, alewife, striped mullet, winter flounder, Atlantic menhaden, bluefish, and striped bass. They will clean up habitat essential to the endangered Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle and federally threatened loggerhead turtle, as well as the diamondback terrapin, a New York State Species of Concern. Avian species that depend on these habitats include the federally endangered roseate tern and the state threatened least bittern, American oystercatcher, black-crowned night heron, osprey, pied-billed grebe, and common barn owl.
The American Littoral Society would also like to produce brochures that will increase public engagement in and knowledge of marine debris issues, and train volunteers to aid them in their efforts.
Ecosystem Services Provided:
Water Protection, Filtration, and Control: Water quality- improving the health of a tidal ecosystem
Biological Diversity: Habitat- enhance aquatic habitat for threatened and endangered turtles, shorebirds, and fish species
Outreach, Recreation and Aesthetics: Environmental education- train volunteers, educate public
Total Project Cost: $250,000
Status: The American Littoral Society has been awarded a grant of $120,000 from the NOAA Marine Debris Program. The NYC Department of Sanitation, Brooklyn College, and the Rockaway Waterfront Alliance are some of the partners that have agreed to donate time and services to Jamaica Bay Clean Sweep. The American Littoral Society needs to raise $25,000 to complete the first phase of this project.
If you would like further information about this project, please contact Conservation Resources.
Tags: american littoral society, coastal america foundation
Posted in biological diversity, climate stabilization and/or air pollution mitigation project, ecological restoration project, franklin parker small grants program, projects funded by conservation resources, recreation & aethestics, water protection, filtration, & control
In 2011, CRI awarded this project $4,000 through its Franklin Parker Small Grant program.
The proposed project is to design, construct, and plant a scrub/shrub coastal maritime forest with indigenous coastal species on a barren dirt lot located between the Bradley Beach Boardwalk and Ocean Avenue. The lot is composed of hard-packed dirt and is used for summer staff parking, winter storage of beach equipment, gravel pile placement, and access to the beach for heavy equipment and emergency vehicles. The project would provide valuable forage and staging habitat for coastal residents and migratory avian and insect species and other coastal detritivores. As part of the project, an ancillary boardwalk consisting of eco-friendly materials will be incorporated into the design to provide public and handicap access from the existing boardwalk, through the coastal maritime forest, to the adjacent Fletcher Lake Park. In addition, stabilization and re-vegetation of the shorelines directly adjacent to the proposed maritime forest (approximately 100’ feet on each side of an existing flume bordering Lake Fletcher) will be completed.
The maritime forest will provide 0.4 acres of valuable coastal and beach/back dune habitat for resident and migratory birds and insects (monarch butterflies, dragonflies), forage base (fruits and berries) for important coastal species, refuge from predators during migration, and staging areas for herons and egrets. The project will also provide enhanced storm and flood protection to local residents, and improved lake water quality and coastal/marine habitat through the elimination of runoff associated with the existing lot and increasing infiltration, as well as the natural treatment of approximately 430,125 gallons of runoff annually. Improvements to water quality and the stabilization/ re-vegetation of the shoreline directly adjacent to the forest will also assist in improving critical resident and migratory fish habitat and will improve the aquatic environment of finfish and shellfish utilization.
Ecosystem Services Provided:
Climate Stabilization and Air Pollution Mitigation: Carbon sequestration- afforestation using scrub/shrub coastal maritime species
Water Protection, Filtration & Control: Water quality and flood control-reduction of runoff, improved infiltration
Biological Diversity: Habitat-improved habitat for migratory birds, insects, migratory fish, finfish, and shellfish
Recreation and Aesthetics: Public access- eco-friendly boardwalk provides public and handicap access from existing boardwalk through forest to adjacent park
Total Project Cost: $50,000-75,000
Status: The project is supported by project partners: Coastal America Foundation, NJ Corporate Wetlands Restoration Partnership, the Borough of Bradley Beach, the Bradley Beach Environmental Commission and Shade Tree Commission, NOAA, EPA, US Fish and Wildlife, National Park Service, NJDEP, Monmouth County, Pinelands Nursery and Supply, the American Littoral Society, and the US Army Corps of Engineers. In-kind services and labor will be provided by the Borough of Bradley Beach. The town will do permitting, construction, plantings, etc. Funding is needed for design and materials. Some materials will be donated.
If you would like further information about this project, please contact Conservation Resources.
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