Our newsletters are written on an "as needed" basis. Don't be surprised if what you see below seems somewhat aged. The latest tidbits are always on our front page.

August 2000 Newsletter

SBB Conserves Islands in the Barnegat Bay

Save Barnegat Bay (SBB) has purchased Little Sedge Island off Lavallette and donated it to the State of New Jersey with an appropriate conservation easement. The capital expenses of this purchase were covered by Green Acres funding matched by a grant from the William Penn Foundation of Philadelphia.

Little Sedge Island, which is actually two islands because it has eroded through the middle, lies off Kathryn Street at its north end and the Lavallette Yacht Club at its south end. It provides valuable breeding and roosting habitat for such birds as the common tern, bittern, American egret, snowy egret, glossy ibis, tri-colored heron, little green heron, and many others. The island and its environs provide excellent habitat for winter waterfowl. Although the chance of Little Sedge Island ever being developed was low, ownership by the state should reduce the development threat to nearly zero. The conservation easement written by Save Barnegat Bay will allow non-motorized boats to use the beach, but will not allow disturbance of wildlife or building of any kind.

In a related development, the US Fish & Wildlife Service has purchased the four islands off Seaside Heights and Ortley Beach - Jones Island (also known as Harbor Island), Mike's Island, Bill's Island, and Wilde's Island. Save Barnegat Bay played an important role in the conservation of these islands by spearheading the movement to include them within the acquisition boundary for the expansion of the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge. Bill's Island is the site of the largest common tern nesting colony in the northern portion of Barnegat Bay.

Of the tidal marsh islands to the north - Northwest Point Island, Marsh Elder Island, and Middle Sedge Island off Chadwick - some are in private ownership and some are owned by the state of New Jersey. Save Barnegat Bay wishes to see all of these islands eventually come under public ownership on a willing seller basis.

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SBB and Brick Township add to Natural Area Along Metedeconk River

Save Barnegat and Brick Township have made a small but very important addition to the Riverside Woods natural area on the south shore of the Metedeconk River along Mantoloking Road. The tract adds to previous acreage contributed by Save Barnegat Bay to the Township five years ago.

Riverside Woods consists of oak-pine forest and tidal marsh, with an outstanding walking trail and a high bank, which offers a magnificent vista of the Metedeconk River. The land lies west of the Vanada Woods section and east Kingfisher Cove.

Save Barnegat Bay's share of the capital expenses of this purchase were met 50% by state Green Acres funding and 50% by the Township of Brick. The primary significance of the addition of this new waterfront piece of approximately one acre is that it controls vehicular access from Riverside Woods to Mantoloking Road. Acquisition will allow the township to close off the existing sand trail to vehicles - and thus to dumpers -while leaving the trail open for those who wish to take a walk in one of the last wooded areas along the Metedeconk.

We are extremely grateful to the Green Acres Program of the State of New Jersey; to Brick Mayor Joseph Scarpelli; to Council President Fred Underwood and the entire Township Council; and to the Township's Business Administrator Scott MacFadden for their strong support and contribution to this project.

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SBB and Ocean County Conserve 125 Acres near Good Luck Point

In a victorious conclusion to a battle that lasted over six years, Save Barnegat Bay has teamed with the County of Ocean to conserve 125 acres of woodlands and wetlands near Good Luck Point in Bayville. The land had been slated for 367 residential units whose runoff would have entered Barnegat Bay through marshes and lagoons south of Ocean Gate. The tract, which lies along the north side of Veder Land across from the H&M Potter School near Route 9 is habitat for numerous rare plant species and is excellent migratory habitat for songbirds and waterfowl. The land has many walking trails, one of which connects the Borough of Ocean Gate with Bayville.

Save Barnegat Bay contributed $300,000 obtained from the State of New Jersey Green Acres program. The County portion was $1,800,000 in funds drawn from the County Natural Lands Trust Fund. The land will be added to other County holdings that are immediately adjacent and will remain forever natural, with appropriate public access allowed.

This victory is especially significant for Save Barnegat Bay, which battled the State of New Jersey DEP over both CAFRA and Freshwater wetlands permits for the site. Although we were unsuccessful on the state level, we were able to team with active local citizens to defeat the proposed 367 units when they came before the Berkeley Township Planning Board.

We retained water quality experts, Princeton Hydro, and attorney, Michele R. Donato, who together demonstrated that the proposed stormwater plan did not meet the provisions of the Berkeley Township zoning ordinance. We are grateful to these professionals, as well as to the many citizens of Bayville and Ocean Gate who repeatedly came to meetings to say "no" to polluting runoff, loss of natural habitat, and additional traffic on their roads. Save Barnegat Bay also thanks Andy Strauss of Strauss and Associates, who managed the acquisition aspects of this project; the New Jersey Green Acres Program; Ocean County Director of Planning Alan Avery; and the Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders.