Monmouth University: Urban Coast Institute

Ocean Policy Task Force

President Obama has established an Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force, led by the Council on Environmental Quality. The Task Force is charged with developing a recommendation for a national ocean policy and coastal and marine spatial planning.

Click here for more information or to submit comments on the Interim Report.

Mid-Atlantic Regional Council on the Ocean (MARCO)

The Governors of New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia have committed to a new comprehensive, regional approach, creating the Mid-Atlantic Regional Council on the Ocean to improve cooperation and maintain and improve the health and economic productivity of our ocean and coastal resources. The Governors have proposed a Preliminary Action Plan and are planning a stakeholder meeting for later this year.

Click here for information on MARCO.

NJDEP Proposed Regulations for Offshore Alternative Energy

On September 8, 2009, the DEP published in the NJ Register a proposal to amend the Coastal Permit Program rules, to add a new permit-by-rule and two new coastal general permits for the construction of wind turbines on land; add a new permit-by-rule for the construction of solar panels; and describe the situations in which construction of a wind turbine or solar panel does not require a coastal permit. Comment period ends November 7, 2009.

Click here for details.

AVAILABLE RESOURCES

Activities and Reports

Coastal Sustainability/
Resiliency Toolkit

Coastal Water Quality
Real-Time Monitoring Program

Environmental Links Directory

Green Team Training: Part 1

Green Team Training: Part 2

Ocean Forum Report

Peer Reviewed Educational Videos

Public Access Information

Regional and Ecosystem-Based Management

The Future of Coastal Lakes in Monmouth County

White Papers on Coastal Issues

MODEL ORDINANCE FOR SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES

Model Fertilizer Ordinance

Nitrogen Ordinance

Model Solar/Wind Energy Ordinance

Coastal Habitat Ordinance

Additional Ordinance

FACT SHEETS

Benthic�Mapping�and Habitat�Characterization�Initiative

Water�Quality�Monitoring in�New�Jersey�Estuaries�Using
Data�Loggers

Global Warming, Climate Change & Sea Level Rise: What does this mean for coastal communities?

Principles for Coastal Development

Coastal Zone Management

Nutrient Enrichment and Implications for New Jersey's Coastal Waterways

LEGISLATIVE UPDATES

Federal

State

PHOTO GALLERY

Exhibit by Andrew Willner

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Model Sustainable/Resilient Coastal Community Mini-Grant Program

ABOUT THE INSTITUTE

Urban Coast Institute Staff

Advisory Committee

Faculty Participants

Current Newsletter

Tony MacDonald

Director

732-263-5392

amacdona@monmouth.edu

Lorraine Jordan

Administrative Assistant

732-263-5662

ljordan@monmouth.edu

The Urban Coast Institute

Supporting Stewardship of Coastal Ecosystems

UCI focuses its efforts on the following areas:

Coastal Law Policy

Disseminate quarterly legal and policy briefs

Convene symposia and workshops

Host annual Coastal and Ocean Symposium and Champion of the Ocean Awards.

Coastal Watershed Management

Support development of model coastal harbor management plans

Innovative assessment of sources of pathogen indicators in impaired waterbodies

Coastal water quality monitoring in partnership with NJDEP and others.

Coastal Communities and Economies

Assess training needs and identify best practices for sustainable coastal communities;

Socio-economic �white papers� addressing priority needs

Regional survey of coastal awareness, attitudes and behaviors

Coastal Ecosytems and Reg Management

Conduct workshops and studies that support effective management of land use and coastal development

Convene Regional Ecosystem Management Symposia that focus on key issues including offshore energy, sea level rise and shoreline management, and living marine resources conservation.

Mission

To serve Monmouth University and the public interest as a forum for research, education, and collaboration in the development and implementation of science-based policies and programs that support stewardship of healthy, productive, and resilient coastal ecosystems and communities.

The Urban Coast Institute (UCI) was established in September 2005 as one of Monmouth University's "Centers of Distinction."

The UCI builds on the University's program in Marine and Environmental Biology and inter-departmental strengths in marine biology, environmental science, business, economics and real estate, public policy, and the arts and social sciences.

The UCI maintains a principal focus on the interactions between humans and the coastal and ocean environment, and sustainable coastal development along New Jersey's coasts and watersheds. Monmouth County and the New Jersey-New York region is an ideal "laboratory" for study of these issues.

The UCI has a unique focus on how good science can inform public policy and the "human dimensions" of coastal ecosystem-based management, including the impacts of human use and development on coasts.

The UCI seeks to foster collaboration among citizens, watershed and community organizations, governmental agencies, business, the scientific community, and other parties interested in coastal and watershed management, conservation, and restoration.