COA Comments on NJ Post-Sandy Action Plan

The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development is issuing its second round of disaster relief funding to states hit hard by Superstorm Sandy, and New Jersey has been allocated $1.463 billion.  Prior to disbursement of these funds, the State is required to update its action plan that details remaining unmet needs and how this round of funding will be used.  Clean Ocean Action presented oral comments at two of the three public hearings held by the State to solicit input on the amended action plan, and yesterday sent a letter to the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs with the following additional comments:


Gabrielle Gallagher

NJ Department of Community Affairs

101 South Broad Street

Post Office Box 800

Trenton, NJ 08625-0800

March 5, 2014

SUBMITTED VIA E-MAIL

RE: New Jersey Action Plan Amendment Number 7, Substantial Amendment for the Second Allocation of CDBG-DR Funds

Dear Ms. Gallagher:

The Christie Administration announced a proposed Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Action Plan to use and distribute $1,463,000,000 in federal funding for Superstorm Sandy disaster recovery through the Department of Community Affairs (DCA).  This allocation represents the second phase of the initial $5,400,000,000 provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development under the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013 (Public Law 113-2, approved January 29, 2013).

Clean Ocean Action (COA) is a broad-based coalition of 135 conservation, environmental, fishing, boating, diving, student, surfing, women’s, business, service, and community groups, with a mission to improve the degraded water quality of the marine waters off the New Jersey/New York coast.

COA appreciates this opportunity to provide comments on the Action Plan Amendment Number 7, Substantial Amendment for the Second Allocation of CDBG-DR Funds (“Action Plan”).  With this round of Sandy recovery funding, now is the time to think beyond fixing the damage done and look forward toward increasing resiliency.  As a clean ocean is critical to New Jersey’s coastal economies, including tourism and commercial fishing, COA especially urges the State to implement projects that protect and improve water quality in the face of impacts from ongoing and predicted climate change and sea level rise.

COA presents the following comments to the Action Plan:

Sea Level Rise and Climate Change  
As we rebuild our coastal communities, we have an unprecedented opportunity to benefit from lessons learned and implement changes to address future challenges.  Importantly, as directed by HUD, the state must incorporate projections on sea level rise and climate change in its project planning process, to ensure that monies are invested in long-term community resiliency and conservation programs built to evolve with changing conditions and socioeconomic needs.  We applaud the State’s intent to use the NOAA Sea Level Rise predictive tool in developing the infrastructure Flood Hazard Risk Reduction Program.  However, all projects – infrastructure, housing, and business related – must be planned for the inevitability of sea level rise and increases in extreme weather events.  Furthermore, mention of climate change is noticeably absent from the Action Plan; nowhere in its 100 pages is the phrase even mentioned, despite the fact that HUD has directed grantees to employ a risk analysis for infrastructures that “must consider a broad range of information and best available data, including forward-looking analyses of risks to infrastructure sectors from climate change.”  COA urges the State to include information in the Action Plan on how future climate change risks will be incorporated into its infrastructure projects.

Blue Acres Buyout Program
COA applauds the State’s continued funding of the Blue Acres buyout program as a way of providing a natural storm buffer via restoration of coastal areas to their natural states.  Although the value of coastal property is often tied to its development, a State assessment of the value of New Jersey’s natural capital estimated that wetlands contribute $10.6 billion annually to our economy solely for their role in storm surge and flood protection, water filtering and supply, and waste treatment.  The report contains numerous other examples of the benefits healthy coastal ecosystems provide.  The ability of intact natural landscapes to absorb wind, waves, and water can prevent untold damages to land and livelihood, while enhancing nearby property values.  Because of these numerous benefits, COA urges the State to expand the Blue Acres buyout program and continue to appropriate funding to the program in the Action Plan amendment for the third round of Sandy recovery funding and beyond.  Although this program offers promising benefits to flood-prone communities and the environment, the Action Plan does not provide discrete information on how properties are prioritized and ultimately selected for buyouts.  For example, the Action Plan mentions that the State has approved the purchase of 272 properties in Sayreville and South River, but does not indicate why or how these areas were selected.  Transparency is critical to ensuring that residents of flood-prone areas are made aware of their options under the Blue Acres buyout program.

Infrastructure
Infrastructure problems plagued a significant number of New Jerseyans during and after Sandy: 94 wastewater treatment facilities located in all 21 counties experienced failures or disruptions at some point during the storm and over a third of residents were without power for six or more days after the storm.  Not only has New Jersey’s water infrastructure been subject to extreme storms, it has also been subject to inadequate planning and financing to protect, maintain, and upgrade these systems for decades.  The recent storms have brought the attention to the vulnerabilities and the need to support and improve these drinking, stormwater and wastewater systems.  The plan’s prioritization of crucial services such as water and wastewater plants is to be commended; however, rebuilding also provides an opportunity to address chronic development-related problems such as inadequate stormwater management and substandard sewage infrastructure and treatment.  Improving the status and resiliency of our water infrastructure (drinking, wastewater and storm water) is critical for water conservation, protecting public health, reducing flooding, improving water quality, and preventing future system failures – which in turn improves our quality of life and vital tourism industry.  Funds applied to upgrading damaged and aging wastewater treatment and power distribution systems is money well spent, and will provide benefits for all residents for years to come.

Resiliency
Given the limited amount of money going to infrastructure in this round of recovery funding, it is extremely important that the State prioritizes spending of public funds in ways that maximize community and economic resiliency, reduce impervious surfaces to allow water to naturally infiltrate into the ground and reduce pollution, support and promote natural-resource dependent economies, and mandate green infrastructure and sustainable land use planning.  The Action Plan states that in “designing resilient coastal risk reduction projects, the State will assess the feasibility, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness of incorporating nature-based infrastructure, including living shorelines, use of wetlands, dunes, and beach nourishment to reduce surge and flood volume.”  As referenced above, New Jersey’s assessment of natural capital has clearly demonstrated that natural systems intrinsically provide great value.  It makes economic sense to use nature-based solutions in building long-term resiliency.  In addition, US Strong, an initiative focused on building support for extreme weather relief and protection, has cited studies that show every one dollar spent in disaster prevention can avert up to nine dollars in clean-up and recovery costs.  We should focus on funding innovative and forward looking measures to protect our coastal communities, including an increased use of natural storm buffers, such as dunes and wetlands, over solely hard structural barriers.

Transparency
The Action Plan mentions extensive research that is on-going within State agencies and at universities.  This research should be focused on assessing the environmental and socioeconomic benefits of investing in long-term community resiliency and conservation programs built to evolve with climate changes and socioeconomic needs.  Research should also be made available to the public, and the State’s decision-making process for prioritizing projects and areas should be transparent and based on the best available data.

Comparison to New York Action Plan
Both New Jersey and New York suffered enormous losses due to Superstorm Sandy.  New Jersey’s second round funding allocation of $1.463 billion represents about 7.6% of the total $19.283 billion in unmet need estimated by the state.  In comparison, New York received more funding this round than New Jersey ($1.595 billion), which represents approximately 10.2% of their total unmet need ($15.710 billion).  Importantly, the New York Action Plan breaks out its assessment of unmet needs into four categories: housing, business, and in three described in the New Jersey Action Plan, and a fourth category called resilience.  The New York Action Plan makes strong references to the importance of considering climate change impacts recovery projects and in planning for the future: “climate change” is mentioned 11 times in the document, whereas the New Jersey Action Plan does not even mention the phrase once.

With respect to increasing resiliency in the face of climate change, New York has taken proactive planning steps and created the New York City Special Initiative on Resiliency and Rebuilding (SIRR), which is “responsible for developing a plan to make New York City more resilient to the impacts of climate change, has also undertaken a massive effort to increase the resiliency of the hardest hit areas.”  The SIRR met with elected officials, organizations, and the public, conducted extensive research and predictive modeling on climate change impacts to the city, and released an over 400-page report in June 2013 that contains over 250 detailed infrastructure and coastal community resiliency building initiatives.  New Jersey should use this initiative as a model for a collaborative, forward thinking planning process and undertake similar assessments of climate related risks to our coastal communities.

Furthermore, New York has recognized the importance of regional collaboration in recovery and planning efforts, as climate change impacts know no political boundaries.  New York City representatives have convened meetings with city representatives from both Connecticut and New Jersey.  The Joint Climate Resilience Committee, formed with partner cities in New Jersey including Jersey City and Hoboken, was formulated to share key information resources and best practices within the region and integrate climate resilience within the consortium’s activities, was not even mentioned in the New Jersey Action Plan.  These regional initiatives should be publicized and continued, to show New Jersey citizens that our state officials are thinking holistically about recovery and integrating programs with our neighboring states.

Conclusion
By making transparent, effective long-term planning decisions that will benefit all New Jerseyans, we can help ensure that this funding is used efficiently and we are prepared for the next storm.  We are interested in working with the State in implementing prospective programs that will improve resiliency and coastal water quality, and look forward to opportunities to meet with you to work toward these goals.

Sincerely,
 
Cindy Zipf
Executive Director

Help Turn the Tide on Sea Level Rise with COA

Next week Clean Ocean Action will host two “Pizza Parties with a Purpose”.

The purpose? – To discuss seal level rise and how it is impacting the Jersey Shore and your community.

Seal level rise is posing a greater threat to the Jersey Shore than ever before. Our homes, local businesses, and marine life are all more vulnerable than they were a hundred years ago. Super-storm Sandy devastated our communities and forever changed our landscape. Though the storm was extreme, scientists have made it clear that we need to prepare for ongoing sea level rise, storm surges, and more frequent and severe storms in the future. We need to take action now to address these impacts.

So where do you come in?

These pizza parties will allow you to learn about how sea level rise is impacting New Jersey and the world. Furthermore, you will learn what you can do to help educate and motivate people to reduce the impacts of sea level rise and climate change. Come enjoy a night of free pizza and meet COA staff and other volunteers. They will discuss how you can become more involved with Clean Ocean Action, and help turn the tide on sea level rise!

Come to one of the following events to find out more:

Wednesday, June 26, 2013 7:00 - 9:00 PM
Ocean County Vocational Technical School: Toms River Center
1299 Old Freehold Road
Toms River, NJ 08753

Thursday, June 27, 2013 7:00 - 9:00 PM
Monmouth Beach Cultural Center
128 Ocean Ave, Monmouth Beach, NJ 07750

To RSVP, please contact Macailagh McCue, COAST Coordinator at coast@cleanoceanaction.org

Water Monitoring and Barnegat Bay

NJ Water Monitoring Council Meeting Focuses on Barnegat Bay

Barnegat Bay, photo credit: NY Times Richard Perry

In early February, COA participated in a NJ Water Monitoring Council meeting that was hosted by the Barnegat Bay Partnership.  The goal of the NJ Water Monitoring Council was “to promote and facilitate the coordination, collaboration and communication of scientifically sound, ambient water quality and quantity information to support effective environmental management.”  About 100 people attended. 

DEP highlighted the Governor’s 10 point plan for the Bay which included developing nutrient loading targets to direct restoration efforts and to conduct more research to fill gaps in data.  DEP has been monitoring the Bay more intensively from the summer of 2011 and will continue to do so through the summer of 2013.

The northern part of the Bay has the highest loadings of nitrogen, phosphorus, and suspended sediments – which are linked to the intense development in this region.  The Toms River, which drains the largest basin of the watershed, is the largest source of nutrient loadings. 

Nitrogen pollution comes from land disturbance, increased erosion, fertilizer use, burning fossil fuels and its fallout from the air, and increased hardened surfaces such as pavement and roofs that prevent rain, and nitrogen from getting absorbed into the land and plants.   Coastal waters may become even more susceptible to nutrient pollution as coastal waters warm in response to climate change.

Too many nutrients in the Bay has resulted in the excessive growth of harmful algae blooms, such as brown tide, and macroalgae which can lower dissolved oxygen levels in localized areas and degrade seafloor habitats.     Both of these can contribute to the loss of sea grass that has been documented in Bay.  The composition of the microalgal community, and associated food quality for other sea life, may also be affected by nutrient levels.

Although some shellfish can thrive under high microalgae levels, shellfish are negatively impacted by brown tide blooms, decreased food quality, and excessive macro algae such as sea lettuce.  Young clams are also very sensitive to certain types of chemical pollution, such as oil and gas from cars and boats. 

As part of the 10 Point Plan, nutrient water quality standards were adopted for marine waters.  DEP now needs to evaluate the Bay under these standards.  DEP will be taking a comprehensive approach to looking at the nutrient loading problems in Barnegat Bay, including the impacts of Superstorm Sandy.  For example, sand and debris associated with the storm surge and breeches have covered seagrass beds and wetlands areas.  Localized contamination may also have occurred from fuel tanks, cars, fertilizer and other household chemicals. The official determination of whether the Bay fails to meet the state nutrient water quality standard is important for requiring action to be taken to reduce nutrient loadings.

In light of Superstorm Sandy, the need for understanding the sources of the bay’s problems and action to reduce these impacts is more important than ever.  Implementation of the Barnegat Bay Partnership’s strategic plan is critical and can serve as a guide for recovery efforts.  The Special Area Management Plan that was part of the Governor’s 10 Point Plan should be made a priority and be part of the recovery process.  In addition, more enforcement of and stronger stormwater regulations are still needed.  Greater awareness and efforts by the public to decrease the use of fossil fuels and to reduce rain and fertilizer runoff as well as soil loss and erosion would be beneficial to the Bay.

What Debris is in Your Local Waterway?

Here is a very helpful update from DEP and DOT on Waterway Debris Removal:

Debris in marsh areas in Brick, NJ

• The State of New Jersey has awarded three contracts to companies who will remove Sandy-related, FEMA-eligible debris from waters of the State  in the 11 Debris Management Zones.  The duration of the contract is one year.  The goal of this cleanup effort is to be 75% complete by June 1st  but cleanup will likely continue throughout the boating season and into the Fall.

• The areas where debris has been identified was  determined by reconnaissance conducted by State personnel as well as reports from FEMA, municipalities, counties and residents.  Additional reconnaissance will be conducted by the contractors to further identify debris and sand deposits. 

• The areas where the contractors will be operating are within the waters of the State of New Jersey.  This includes (without limitation): bays, tidal rivers,  and those tidal waterways affected by the storm surge.  As part of the cleanup effort, debris monitors will be assigned to  each debris removal contractor.  In addition, a project manager will be identified for the entire project.  The project manager will be responsible for scheduling, invoicing, data management, oversight of the contractors, etc. 

• The materials that will be removed through this effort must be FEMA eligible.  The best source of information on FEMA eligibility is this FEMA guidance document.

• In addition to the contractors that have been hired, the State Department of Transportation is surveying State navigation channels.  This activity has already begun.  NJDOT will be using side scan sonar to identify debris areas including new shoals.

How You Can Help

Your help in this effort is needed.  If you know of areas where waterway debris is located, please send a photograph of the site along with latitude and longitude or your best location information (e.g., closest intersection) so we can direct our contractors to the site.  Please send these photos to communications@cleanoceanaction.org.  Also if you are aware of any debris washing into the OCEAN during the storm, including cars, boats, structural debris, trees, household contents, as well as items washing up onto beaches, please let us know. 

For additional information on Waterway Debris removal click here.

Volunteer from New Mexico Shares Her Experience in Post-Sandy Union Beach, NJ

By: Bay Stevens, Cedar Crest, NM

I’m muscling through the upper limbs of a sticker bush to reach my quarry, a shopping bag marooned between thorny branches that snagged it during the hurricane. Got it. The high point of my day. Retreating to my industrial strength lawn and leaf bag, I deposit this loot with the rest of my haul of light trash that festoons this marsh in Union Beach. This is the new viewscape of the New Jersey coast from former residential lots to the ocean.  It is my destination this year for my December vacation.

I call it a vacation because it suits my nature. I’m independent; I have an unusual imagination and therefore I like the challenge of creating my own version of a holiday gift to the unknown world. Yes I can and do participate in my hometown charity drives, but it’s the messy muddy trench work that spurs me to browse the Internet for a destination, map it, contact, question, decide, schedule, sign up travel 2,000 miles, rent a car, find a place to stay, work long past a reasonable stopping point, and drive back each evening dumb tired and perfectly complete.

This night the soles of my boots are clogged with what? Maybe sandy soil, maybe sewage, maybe sea bed mud, probably all three. I find rivulets of blood on the inside of my raincoat from thorns that must have poked through my heavy duty rubberized rain jacket. Aah the exclamation points that will outlast all the disaster pics, “my trip” stories, and words on a page.

Bay (center)with two new friends and volunteers helping
to sort clothes in Highlands, NJ

BACKGROUND

Several years ago I had read about post-Katrina volunteer work and discovered that most major sites discourage or prohibit out of state residents from assisting unless they are part of an organization sanctioned to be on location. This seemed like self-defeating logic to me so I read a bit more. Then just to test the theory, I called every agency I could find in the New Orleans area and sure enough, I reached dead ends. BP enforced this policy with a vengeance after the oil spill in the gulf. No volunteers, period. Word had it that only local residents could apply for desultory tidewater clean-up activities. Try to get-a-human by phone and you land in pick-a-number for a recorded message somewhere in the PR department or beyond. Now I was getting really interested.

I started moving east along the coast looking for smaller towns and ended up with three in the Gulfport area for a memorable holiday.

UNION BEACH, NEW JERSEY

This year I chose areas hit by hurricane Sandy and found Shelter Island void of agencies, New York City too complex and anonymous, Long Island was looking good but Monmouth County won out with several smaller agencies and even a collection of neighbors in Highlands who took all comers through an on-line event signup site. United Way is always a good place to start.  Clean Ocean Action is the place to start for beach clean ups, as they had just completed a special hurricane clean up day when I arrived.  I found a guy there named Zach who got me on the ground in Union Beach, one of the hardest hit communities along the New Jersey shore.  Sadly, this is not a community of second homes and resort destinations. Most families here depend on car commutes to jobs and schools, so getting evacuated was much more than a temporary set back. It may be months or even years until they get full service and reconstructed homes.

Here the sirens go off at 4:00 p.m. and cops start patrolling to clear the roads by dusk. FEMA assessments continue, and only qualified agencies are allowed in the damaged neighborhoods closest to the ocean. Burners Without Borders is one, an offshoot of Burning Man annual gatherings. Volunteers spend several weeks or months on projects sponsored by Burners Without Borders’ national or international initiatives.

Working with these young women, some who had traveled further than I had to the site, I began to understand the scope of work in progress and the challenge of setting priorities when the difference between total loss and salvage is not a clear choice.  Sidewalks heave up and trees fall down. A complete house from one side may be missing the back half. Paths between piles of demolition debris weave to the sites where heavy equipment fractures, scours and sorts material ready for removal.

I began taking pictures but was gently reminded to limit what I shot in order to avoid exposing damage that may not have been yet reported to families who lived here. There is also a growing number of Lookie Loos who cruise the coast for sensational disaster pics. In the end, rubble is rubble and there’s too much to do without taking time out to share on Facebook.

As I mentioned, I was exhausted but exhilarated by my time spent gleaning the marsh at Union Beach.

EXPERIENCE

If you choose to take this type of adventure, don’t expect recognition, accolades, or awards. Don’t expect to make a measurable difference. If you’re goal oriented, this probably isn’t the vacation for you. People aren’t prepared for lone volunteers, but once you show up, listen and pitch in, you’ll fall right in with whatever small arena of action is going on that day. Do expect the unexpected offer, gesture, or embrace to grab your soul. You will find extraordinary acts of courage in the subtlest details.

In the end, after all the physical work and ordinary transitions from morning to night, it is not just what you can do but what you can grasp about others who are strangers yet familiar to you; this is the heart of the matter.

Each year I start with a blank slate and create ways to be a better planner, the best participant, the most polite guest, the most focused worker, I can be. And each year I stretch my imagination to view whole people in context from a snap shot in time.

You don’t have to race to the most recent disaster area to find very satisfying work. As headlines diminish, emergency operations conclude, and relief agencies move on to other projects the human toll grows. People who have lost lifetimes of memories, family members, homes, and jobs suffer health and spiritual damage that takes time to heal. Helping humans can be a lifesaver.

Bay Stevens

Advocacy & Community Outreach

PO Box 2066

Tijeras, NM 87059

baysanywhere@gmail.com 

ACTION ALERT: Victims of Sandy-- Let your voices be heard!

**ACTION ALERT**
Victims of Hurricane Sandy 

Attend New Jersey Senate Hearing

Tuesday, December 11th at 3pm

This is an important opportunity.  NJ elected officials rarely hold hearings outside of Trenton that call for citizen testimony.  It is essential that your voices and experiences are heard.  Please attend the meeting and tell the NJ Senators your stories.  We also encourage you to talk about how we need to ensure restoration efforts that protect people and the environment going forward.

The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee will be holding a hearing in Genevieve M. Hawley Cafetorium at the Henry Hudson Regional School (One Grand Tour Highlands, NJ 07732) tomorrow, Tuesday, December 11, at 3 PM.  The committee will take testimony from members of the public who have been impacted by Super-storm Sandy.  Members of the public wishing to testify can register by emailing OLSAideSBA@njleg.org, faxing (609) 943-5995, or calling the SBA Committee staff at (609) 847-3835.  Those persons presenting written testimony are asked to provide 20 copies on the day of the hearing.  

Volunteers needed for December 8th Projects!

While projects have been listed in numerous locations throughout New York and New Jersey, some locations are in need of more volunteers!  

If you haven't already done so, please sign up to volunteer at the following locations!

Lavallette House Clean Up - Ocean County, NJ

• Looking for a Team of up to 6 Volunteers to help cut sheet rock and gut kitchen on first floor home
• Meet-up: 101A Vance Ave Lavallette, NJ 08735
•  9 am – 1 pm 
• Notes: Volunteers should wear protective gear/masks/heavy boots/heavy gloves.
• Click HERE to sign up for this project

Stella Maris Retreat Center Clean Up - Long Branch, NJ

• 15 Volunteers Needed to clean the retreat center's waterfront property
• Affiliation: WATERSPIRIT
• Meet-up: Stella Maris Retreat Center – 981 Ocean Avenue Elberon NJ
• 10 am -1 pm
• Notes: Please bring Gloves, plastic bags, heavy boots
• This project is kid-friendly!!
• Click HERE to sign up for this Project

Long Beach Community Clean Up - Long Beach, NY

• 40 Volunteers Needed to help clean out homes and tear down sheet rock.  This is for people who cannot complete the necessary work themselves
• Meet-Up: Waldbaum’s Plaza 85 East Park Avenue, Long Beach, NY 11561
• 9 am – 4 pm
• Note: Boots, work gear, a few simple tools would be great!
• Click HERE to sign up for this Project

Beach Haven West Neighborhood Clean-Up - Ocean County, NJ

• Up to 25 Volunteers Needed to help homes in the Beach Haven West Community clean out first floors and debris from front and back yards
• 9:30 am – 2:00 pm
• Meet-up: 1199 Mill Creek Road, Beach Haven West – Parking lot of Community Center
• **This project is kid friendly!!
• Note: Heavy gloves, boots
• Click HERE to sign up for this Project

Bayshore Waterfront Park Beach Clean Up

• Up to 50 Volunteers Needed to clean waterfront beaches on the Bayshore
• Affiliation: Bayshore Waterfront Park Affiliation
• Meet-up: Port Monmouth Bayshore Waterfront Park 719 Port Monmouth Road  Port Monmouth, NJ 07758
• 9 am – 12 pm
• Notes: Bring gloves
• This project is kid-friendly!!
• Click here to register for this Project

Coney Island Beach Clean Up - New York

• Up to 100 Volunteers Needed for a beach clean up of the historic beaches in Coney Island
• Meet-up: West 8th Street and Boardwalk, Brooklyn, New York 11224
• 10 am – 1 pm
• Notes: Bring work gloves, work boots, lunch, water
• Click here to sign up for this Project

Trail Cleanup at Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center- Hampton Bays, NY

• 15 more Volunteers Needed to help clean trails!
• 10 am – 2 pm
• 228 West Montauk Highway Hampton Bays, NY 11946
• Note: Bring gloves!
• Click HERE to sign up for this Project

Gardner’s Basin Community Clean-up - Atlantic City 

• Up to 25 more Volunteers Needed for a beach clean up in a badly hit section of Atlantic City
• Meet-Up: Gardner’s Basin, 800 North New Hampshire Ave, Atlantic City, NJ 08401
• Affiliation: Surfrider Foundation, South Jersey Chapter
• 12 pm – 3 pm
• Note: Please dress for the weather and bring gloves to protect your hands!
• This project is kid-friendly!!
• Click HERE to sign up for this Project

Manahassett Creek Clean Up - Long Branch, NJ

• 15 Volunteers Needed to remove debris from Manhassett Creek
• Meet-up: Manahassett Creek at 108 Atlantic Ave., North Long Branch, NJ 07740
• 8 am – 4 pm
• Notes: Please bring work gloves, work boots, plywood, garbage bags, lunch
• Click HERE to sign up for this Project

Union Beach Marsh and Beach Clean Up

• 9 am – 12 pm
• 20 Volunteers Needed
• Affiliation: Burners Without Borders
• Meet-up: Union Beach Borough Hall
• Project Description:  Clean up the beach and marsh land areas in Union Beach from storm debris
• Notes: Bring gloves, contractor bags, warm clothing, snacks and water. Parking is limited, please car pool!
• This project is kid-friendly!!
• Click HERE to sign up for this Project

Atlantic City Boardwalk & Beach Clean-Up

• Up to 100 Volunteers Needed for a beach clean up 
• Meet-Up: Public Access Point near the Rainforest Cafe - Missouri Avenue & Colombia Place
• 10 am – 2 pm
• Note: Volunteers will need to bring work gloves, wear work boots, and bring a lunch, if desired!
• This project is kid-friendly!!
• Click HERE to sign up for this Project

NY/NJ Wastewater Treatment and Water Quality Post-Sandy

Wastewater Treatment

Superstorm Sandy’s 14 foot storm surge was devastating to many wastewater treatment facilities and wastewater pump stations.  Raw sewage was released in New York City, Long Island, and northern New Jersey waterways (and  communities, in some cases).  

Passaic treatment plant along Newark Bay

The discharge of millions of gallons of raw sewage contaminated some of the coastal waters of the Hudson and Raritan River Estuaries and Long Island back bays. These waters all flow to the ocean. Over time, much of this sewage has been diluted and/or sunk to the river beds and seafloor. 

Fortunately, most of the treatment plants are back online and functioning again.  However, wastewater infrastructure problems will take years and billions of dollars to fix, according to a recent New York Times article.  Many parts of the metropolitan area along the Hudson in both NJ and NY have old infrastructure and combined sewer overflows (CSOs) that routinely discharge raw sewage when it rains.  Moreover, a lot of plants and pump stations are located in low-lying coastal areas, which are vulnerable to flooding.  Precautions need to be taken to avoid damage and public health risks in future storms.  NY/NJ residents also need to take precaution to avoid waters that may pose health risks.

Water Quality

Recent water quality testing indicates that NJ ocean waters and several bay waters are now relatively clean again, with the exception of certain areas described in more detail below. The EPA found low levels on November 6 in NJ northern ocean waters, and the Monmouth County beach testing from Nov. 19 showed fairly low fecal bacteria levels at ocean beaches. DEP has shellfishing data that indicated problems in the northern NJ Bayshore and northern part of Barnegat Bay following the storm, and improved water quality conditions since then.  

However, shellfishing is still closed in the northern Bayshore (Raritan Bay and Sandy Hook Bays) due to water quality concerns. Shellfishing is also still closed in some other areas, such as Barnegat Bay, because shellfish were contaminated by sewage during the storm and have not been able to depurate (or filter out) the potential pathogens yet due to low water temperatures which slowed the shellfish’s metabolism and filtration activity. Shellfishing closures are also still in place in New York.   

Also, based on the most recent sampling on November 29 (which is not yet posted online), EPA strongly advises “that people avoid activities that could bring them into direct contact with the waters in Newark Bay and New York Harbor.”  EPA is advising people to avoid waters “in and around the tidal Raritan River/Washington Canal and Raritan Bay area.” EPA is also still warning that the public should avoid waters near and around the Bay Park wastewater treatment plant in Nassau County.  

Be Cautious 

Although many waters have improved, please take precaution, avoid areas near where raw sewage was released, and avoid swimming or surfing after heavy rainfall as there still may be health risks present. (Sewage may also be health hazard in homes that were flooded.)  Be sure to wash with soap and water if you think you did come in contact with contaminated water.  Surfrider has also set up an Ocean Illness Reporting forms.  If you swim or surf in NJ, click here. If you are outside of the Jersey Shore Chapter’s Region, click here.