Top Ten Beach Problems: News Release from NJ Sierra Club

For Immediate Release

Contact: Jeff Tittel, Chapter Director (609) 558-9100

May 20, 2009 

New Jersey’s Top Ten Beach Problems

State of the Shore Report a Sham

Every year, the Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner is present while the annual “State of the Shore Report” is given. This report is a sham that is more about a photo opportunity than informing the public. This report does a disservice to the people of New Jersey.

While those at DEP are out there spinning, the coastal waters of our state keep getting worse. This administration has been a complete failure when it comes to protecting our coasts. They have not implemented one new policy or program to help improve water quality along our shore.

“The New Jersey shore is a treasure for all our residents and each year we’re seeing more problems along our coast,” NJ Sierra Club Director Jeff Tittel said. “If something isn’t done, we may actually loose what we love the most about New Jersey, our wonderful shore.”

Recently, there have been increases in beach closings, a decline in water quality, over pumping of our aquifers, more overdevelopment and storm water threatening our coasts. New Jersey has done nothing to mitigate the impacts of climate change along our coasts.

In two years, Governor Jon Corzine has not even appointed anyone to the Ocean Commission. “When we look at the coast, we need to look at the problems and the failure of New Jersey to do something about it,” Tittel said.

In response to this report, The New Jersey Sierra Club has compiled a list of the state’s “Top Ten Beach Problems.”

1. Beaches in Old bridge and Lawrence Harbor have been declared Superfund Sites.

2. Numerous fish kills have taken place in the Raritan Bay within the last year.

3. Beaches in Brick Township have been closed due to jellyfish overpopulation.

4. Overdevelopment is turning the Barnegat Bay into New Jersey’s largest storm water detention basin.

5. Brown tide outbreaks are occurring along the northern coast.

6. Beaches in Brielle, Spring Lake and Lake Como are closed when it rains.

7. Medical waste is washing up on Avalon’s shores.

8. When looking for sea shells along Long Beach Island, you’re more likely to find artillery shells.

9. Dissolved oxygen levels are dropping due to high levels of nutrients from storm water, resulting in algae blooms.

10. New Jersey’s failure to deal with the affects of global warming on our shores will have a negative impact, including a loss of high wetlands.

Cuts to the DEP’s budget will further impact water quality in our parks and the widening of the Parkway will lead to more sprawl and pollution in our oceans. New Jersey must act now to protect our coasts. We must move forward in limiting nitrogen fertilizer and other nutrients. New Jersey’s failure to develop limits on these nutrients is affecting our water quality. The state must implement policies to deal with overpopulation along our coasts and utilize ecosystem based management.

The state must deal with the over pumping of our aquifers that cause the ground water to be filled with salt water. We should have a fix to failed CAFRA permitting system and develop policies that look at the overall health of the coasts.

Water testing systems should be improved. Currently, testing is done on Mondays and not after it rains. This means people are swimming on weekends without knowing if it’s safe. The state must develop not only comprehensive policies but put in place programs that will protect our coasts and deal with storm water, overdevelopment and fisheries. This is necessary if we want to ensure the Jersey Shore will be around for future generations.

“Every year they put out this report right before Memorial Day weekend,” Tittel said. “If the state doesn’t act, it will truly be a Memorial Day for our coasts as we remember a time when we had beaches we could walk on and oceans we could swim in.”