Bathers and surfers can now check the Blue Water Task Force web app for water quality readings before heading to their favorite Monmouth County beaches. Samples are gathered at local beaches every Thursday by Surfrider Foundation volunteers and lab tested by researchers at Monmouth University, with results typically posted after 10 a.m. on Fridays.

Users can click the points on the map for pop-ups reporting whether enterococcus bacteria levels were low, moderate, or high according to New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) standards. Beachgoers may also visit NJBeaches.org for the results of NJDEP testing conducted on Mondays.

Monmouth recently became New Jersey’s first partner in Surfrider’s Blue Water Task Force, a nationwide network dedicated to monitoring water quality at public beaches year-round. Through the agreement, Monmouth has filled an important gap in the Task Force’s East Coast coverage and augmented the state’s ocean quality monitoring efforts, which are limited only to the summer season.

To learn how you can become involved, email the Surfrider Foundation Jersey Shore Chapter at bwtf@jerseyshore.surfrider.org.

Students shared key takeaways and lessons learned from two dozen projects at the Monmouth University School of Science’s 2026 Summer Research Program Symposium, held Aug. 6 at the University’s Erlanger Garden. The annual poster session caps off a 12-week research experience for School of Science students working with faculty mentors on collaborative research projects.

Scroll below to watch students present some of this year’s Urban Coast Institute-supported projects. Click here to view a list of all of this year’s Summer Research Program projects and their abstracts.

Nourished But Delayed: Evaluating Recruitment Pulses of the Atlantic Mole Crab and Sediment Gradients on an Engineered Beach

Student and Major: Jessica Kipnis, Marine and Environmental Biology and Policy

Faculty Mentor: Endowed Professor of Marine Science Jason Adolf, Department of Biology/Marine and Environmental Biology and Policy Program

Abstract: Beach nourishment is a widespread engineering strategy used to combat shoreline erosion, yet its ecological ramifications on sandy beach macrofauna remain poorly understood. This study evaluates the impacts of coastal engineering by comparing population dynamics of the Atlantic mole crab (Emerita talpoida) and environmental context between an engineered beach (Deal) and a natural baseline control (Sandy Hook). Sampling took place during a structured seasonal window of summer 2026, where we measured and quantified sediment samples and crab abundance. Using a multivariate statistical framework, we tracked abundance across three ontogenetic cohorts, alongside sediment moisture and grain size class sorting. Granulometric analysis revealed a stark physical contrast between sites, with Deal having a significantly higher relative proportion of fine sand (< 0.25 mm) and higher sediment moisture, while Sandy Hook had a much higher proportion of coarser sand (0.5–8 mm) correlating with less moisture retention. While mole crab abundance did not differ significantly between sites, generalized linear mixed modeling (GLMM) found littoral microhabitat and size class as primary structural drivers, alongside significant lunar phase synchronization. Temporal tracking revealed a diverging shift between the two sites rather than a permanent population suppression. The natural baseline experienced a localized recruitment pulse in mid-June, while the engineered system showed a delayed intermediate pulse in mid-July. These findings suggest that engineered beach modifications can disrupt macrofaunal settlement timelines by altering grain size sorting which in turn disrupts microhabitat hydrology, emphasizing the need for temporal coordination in coastal management frameworks.

Weekly Changes in Plankton Communities and Water Color in Deal Lake, New Jersey

Student and Major: Zoe Thompson, Marine and Environmental Biology and Policy

Faculty Mentor: Endowed Professor of Marine Science Jason Adolf, Department of Biology/Marine and Environmental Biology and Policy Program

Abstract: Coastal lakes are valuable for both wildlife and recreation, but their water quality can change when plankton communities shift, especially if harmful cyanobacteria are present. In this study, we tracked weekly changes in plankton at three sites in Deal Lake, New Jersey: Norwood Avenue, State Street, and Sunset Avenue. We also examined whether the color of water could help predict which cyanobacteria were most common. Each week during summer 2026, we collected samples and measured water temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, cyanofluorescence, and water color. We preserved the samples with Lugol’s iodine and used a microscope to identify the plankton and estimate the abundance of each genus. To analyze water color, we used the CIELAB system, which measures lightness (L*), green-to-red (a*), and blue-to-yellow (b*) values of water collected in white buckets. Our results showed that plankton communities changed over time and between locations. Based on microscopic counts, zooplankton made up about 47% of the community during the first two weeks. Following a major rainstorm, phytoplankton increased to about 65% on July 7. We also found significant relationships between water color and dominant cyanobacteria. Dolichospermum was negatively related to bucket L* (r = −0.47) and bucket a* (r = −0.70). Chroococcus was negatively related to surface L* (r = −0.48) but positively related to surface a* (r = 0.54). Woronichinia was positively related to bucket a* (r = 0.46). The phytoplankton increase following the rainstorm may have resulted from nutrients carried into the lake by runoff. These findings show that Deal Lake’s plankton community can shift quickly after weather events. They also suggest that characterizing water color could provide a simple, low-cost method for detecting changes in cyanobacteria and monitoring possible blooms.

Comparing Post-Rainfall Enterococcus faecalis Concentrations Between Bayside and Ocean-Side Waters at Sandy Hook, New Jersey

Student and Major: Tyler Pylarinos, Marine and Environmental Biology and Policy

Faculty Mentors: Endowed Professor of Marine Science Jason Adolf and Elizabeth Clark, Department of Biology/Marine and Environmental Biology and Policy Program

Abstract: Enterococcus spp. are highly resilient enteric bacteria that are routinely used as environmental indicators of fecal contamination in coastal waters, rivers, and lakes. Fecal contamination is a concern for public safety, prompting the monitoring of Enterococcus to protect public health. Elevated concentrations may indicate the presence of waterborne pathogens. Rainfall can increase the concentration of fecal indicator bacteria in recreational waters by carrying stormwater runoff, animal waste, and other contaminants into coastal environments. This study will compare Enterococcus concentrations between bayside and oceanside sampling locations at Sandy Hook, New Jersey, approximately twelve hours after rainfall. This comparison is important because bayside and oceanside waters differ in circulation and mixing, which may influence how long fecal contamination remains concentrated after rainfall. Identifying these differences can help determine whether certain recreational areas may experience greater contamination and potential public-health risks. Water samples were collected from three bayside stations and three oceanside stations. The water samples will be tested using two different laboratory methods to detect and measure Enterococcus bacteria, the IDEXX Enterolert assay and a qPCR assay, allowing the results from each method to be compared. We hypothesize that bayside locations will contain higher Enterococcus concentrations than oceanside locations because the bay has less wave action and water circulation, potentially allowing bacteria introduced by runoff to remain concentrated for longer periods. The results will be compared between the two environments to determine whether sampling location is associated with Enterococcus concentration following rainfall. This research may help identify areas with a greater risk of fecal contamination and improve understanding of how rainfall affects recreational water quality at Sandy Hook.

Impact of a Heavy Rainfall Event on Phytoplankton and Zooplankton in Deal Lake, NJ

Student and Major: Nevo Ein-Dor Truong, Marine and Environmental Biology and Policy

Faculty Mentor: Endowed Professor of Marine Science Jason Adolf, Department of Biology/Marine and Environmental Biology and Policy Program

Abstract: Coastal lakes such as Deal Lake in New Jersey are important habitats for wildlife and support a range of recreational activities, including fishing, boating, and birdwatching. These shallow, often brackish or freshwater systems sit close to the ocean and are shaped by both marine and terrestrial influences, making them ecologically distinct and sensitive to change. In this study, we observed the water quality in these lakes to see a shift following heavy rainfall. Storms increase surface runoff from surrounding urban and suburban areas, carrying nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus directly into the lake, which also flushes into the ocean. This nutrient intake, combined with sediment, road salt, and other pollutants, can trigger changes in water chemistry, including drops in salinity, turbidity, fluorescence, and dissolved oxygen. These changes directly affect the microorganisms on how they interact with one another and changes in abundance on certain species from zooplankton like rotifers, and crustacean larvae, to phytoplankton like Dolichospermum and Desmodesmus. By collecting samples in Deal Lake from three different streets called Norwood Avenue, Sunset Avenue, and Main Street, we were able to observe changes in three distinct spots of the lake. Measurements such as water temperature, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, and cyanofluorescence were all recorded. Samples that were taken were preserved with Lugol’s iodine and was then studied under the microscope for identification of different species of cyanobacteria and zooplankton. By using the Shannon Indices Method, cells were counted within 1×1 mm squares (Sedgewick-Rafter Chamber) to determine prominent taxa. Throughout this study, a decrease in cyanofluorescence and a change in taxa was observed following the heavy rainfall event. Zooplankton decreased as other plankton like Desmodesmus, and Dolichospermum, and zygospores were more abundant. These results help us understand better how this microscopic ecosystem is ever changing so rapidly with the sudden occurrence of a single storm in Deal Lake.

A study by Rechnitz Family/Urban Coast Institute (UCI) Endowed Chair in Marine and Environmental Law and Policy Peter Jacques and Monmouth University student Audrey Copeland concludes that the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) gives far greater attention to economic growth than environmental sustainability in its official communications, despite its stated commitment to balancing economic, social and environmental priorities. In a paper published in the journal Sustainable Development, Jacques and Copeland argue that if the priorities conveyed in the documents were to reflect CARICOM member nations’ actual policies, the imbalance could undermine the long-term resilience of economies that are heavily dependent on healthy marine ecosystems and natural resources.

The Caribbean is highly vulnerable to climate change, with rising sea temperatures, coral reef decline, stronger hurricanes, sea-level rise and fisheries disruptions all threatening both the environment and key economic sectors such as tourism and fishing. CARICOM, which currently includes 15 member nations and eight associate members, has pledged to “mainstream” sustainable development across all of its policies, recognizing that the region’s future depends on protecting both its people and its natural resources.

To evaluate whether the organization’s public priorities match its stated mission, Jacques and Copeland analyzed CARICOM annual reports and records of decisions from 2013-2025. Using quantitative content analysis, they examined thousands of words and phrases within official documents, categorizing them into themes including economics, governance, environmental protection, sustainability, social equity, science, ethics and aesthetics. The researchers then compared how frequently each theme appeared to determine where the organization places its greatest emphasis.

The analysis found that economic and governance language overwhelmingly dominated CARICOM’s official discourse. Environmental sustainability received comparatively little attention, while ethical responsibilities and the intrinsic value of nature were discussed only rarely.

“CARICOM is protecting and centering governance on economics and to some extent labor, but not nature,” the authors wrote. “When we specifically look for discourse on coral reefs, which are endangered but essential to the ecology and the economy of the Caribbean, there is none across the decade of data. Explicit discourse on ocean/marine conservation is absent until 2017.”

Copeland, a junior political science student, began researching the topic with Professor Jacques in 2025 with the support of a UCI Heidi Lynn Sculthorpe Scholars summer research grant. 

The article, “Regional Sustainable Economic Development in the Caribbean? A Discursive Inquiry,” was published in July. Sustainable Development was recently ranked by Web of Science/Clarivate as the top journal for development studies.

Beach tourists weren’t the only ones crowding the Jersey Shore in June. An analysis of environmental DNA (eDNA) in water samples from beaches and estuaries in Monmouth and Middlesex counties found that the number of fish species roaming the waters scaled up to 79 from the 68 detected during a similar effort in the fall. 

Last month, volunteer community scientists collected samples of ocean waters, bays, and brackish areas of rivers at 24 sites from the Manasquan Inlet to the Raritan Bayshore. The samples were then analyzed by the Monmouth University Urban Coast Institute (UCI) in a lab for eDNA, trace genetic materials floating in the water that can indicate the recent presence of marine organisms. The data is building upon a collection effort that began in September, and is being used to develop a baseline understanding of the species living in our waters throughout the year.

The results of the research were revealed at a July 14 workshop on campus. A recording of the presentation is available above.

A particular increase in richness was seen in the county’s estuaries, which recorded numbers that were nearly equal to those in the ocean sites. In the fall, the ocean samples carried a far higher species richness than the rivers and bays.

The estuarine sites with the highest numbers of fish detections were near the mouth of Cheesequake Creek on the Raritan Bay (42) and Maclearie Park on the Shark River Bay in Belmar (39). The counts on beaches were highest in Long Branch (39) and Sandy Hook (34). 

“We believe what’s happening is that there are seasonal migrants coming into the estuarine environment, which is a well-documented phenomenon in our area,” UCI Resilience and Outreach Project Lead Richard Kane said. “One paper estimates that 82.5 percent of ecologically important marine fish in the Mid-Atlantic Bight use estuaries at some point in their life.”

In the ocean, menhaden and river herring species, which are difficult to distinguish through eDNA, accounted for roughly a quarter of the fish detected, followed by butterfish (14 percent), and mummichog (11 percent). In the estuaries, mummichog (28 percent) and Atlantic silverside (25 percent) accounted for over half of the detections. 

Kane pointed to the detections of sand lance (5 percent in the ocean, 2 percent in the ocean) as an example of eDNA’s potential as a tool for researching fish community composition. He said that because sand lances are so elusive – they swim at full speed into the sand and hide there when they sense predators – the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration tends to avoid studying them.

“In order to detect all these things the traditional way, you’d need an armada of boats, traps, trawls, and nets, but we can find it all in the bottles of water you’re sampling,” Monmouth University Endowed Professor of Marine Science Jason Adolf told the audience. “That’s the efficiency of this method for the purpose of studying biodiversity.”

The research is being supported with funding secured by Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. Volunteers are being sought for the next phase of sampling, which will likely take place around October. To learn more, contact Kane at rkane@monmouth.edu.

Ava Taylor ’23 and Anjali Narang ‘25, software developers and recent graduates of Monmouth University’s Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering, provided a tutorial on a new version of the Mid-Atlantic Ocean Data Portal’s mobile app that they designed. The July 7 presentation was part of a special edition of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Council on the Ocean’s (MARCO) “How Tuesday” webinar series covering two apps every beachgoer and boater should have on their phones this summer: the Portal mobile app and MyCoast.

Version 2 of the Portal’s mobile app was recently released in the Apple App Store and Google Play. Among the upgrades in the latest version are a redesigned viewer with a more spacious screen, the ability to tap your screen for pop-ups with more information about maps, access to data types that weren’t previously supported, and improved search capabilities that make it easier to find what you need.

The webinar also provided a tour of the MyCoast mobile and desktop app, which allows users to upload photos and information to document issues such as tides, changing shorelines, flooding, and other categories prioritized in individual state versions of the app. MARCO recently introduced new data collection categories for users in the Mid-Atlantic on what, where, when, and how people are enjoying coastal areas, and what wildlife they’re encountering. The BoatUS Foundation is also developing a national database to track ADVs using MyCoast as a platform for the public and organizations to report them, helping identify problem areas and their scope, track prevention and removal efforts, and more. Devon Haines of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Bureau of Climate Resilience Planning provided a demonstration of MyCoast’s capabilities.

Under the direction of Specialist Professor Raman Lakshmanan, Taylor and Narang worked over the spring to gather input from users that would help guide their work refining the app. They set up stations where visitors could test unreleased versions of the app on phones at Capitol Hill Ocean Week in Washington D.C., the Mid-Atlantic Ocean Forum in Virginia Beach, and Ocean Fun Days in Sandy Hook. Current Monmouth students Anna Pitera and Christopher Kenny are also members of the team developing the app.

The webinar was moderated by Monmouth University Urban Coast Institute Communications Director and Ocean Data Manager Karl Vilacoba.

In a recently published article in the Journal of Policy Practice and Research, Urban Coast Institute Community (UCI) Engagement and Outreach Specialist Rachel Forbes and Monmouth University doctor of social work student Falon Alo call for a transformation in the way social work is integrated in emergency management planning and disaster response.

The escalating risks of climate change, including more intense coastal storms, flooding, droughts, and wildfires, have exacerbated the vulnerability of both physical infrastructure and people living in harm’s way. These risks have been found to disproportionately impact lower-income communities that are least-equipped to respond, making the climate crisis a social work crisis. The authors contend that social work must be positioned in a more proactive stance during disaster preparation and that training and educational programs for social workers need to better prepare them for emergency management situations.

The paper notes that while social workers play essential roles in the delivery of services, crisis intervention, and resource coordination during disasters, they are often left out of the early planning stages by emergency response teams. This places them in a reactive mode, deployed to disaster scenes and forced to learn about critical vulnerabilities and issues specific to impacted communities in real-time.  

“Social workers have to claim their place at the decision-making table, engage in transdisciplinary teams, and ask awkward questions about power relations, structural inequalities and inequitable resource allocations that hinder the development of innovations that will unite people in coproducing a more inclusive, equitable and solidaristic world that is better able to stave off disasters,” the authors wrote. “This call to action for the profession must work to ensure social work curriculum, continuing education, and the countless successful contributions of the profession in addressing the polycrisis of our time is not only recognized, but accessible to future generations of professional social workers.”

The full article, titled “Ecosocial Work and Climate Justice as Guiding Frameworks for Transformative Emergency Management Social Work,” was published in a special issue of the journal dedicated to supporting the growth and professionalization of social workers in the disaster and emergency management disciplines during an era of climate change. (A subscription is required to access the full article.)

Forbes and Alo also recently contributed to a Specialized Practice Curricular Guide for Disaster Relief Social Work, published by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). The guide was created to support educators in aligning disaster relief practice competencies with Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS) adopted by the CSWE in 2022.

Members of the public are invited to a July 14 workshop at Monmouth University to learn about the results of recent environmental DNA (eDNA) research on the makeup of marine life in local waters. Food and refreshments will be served beginning at 6 p.m., with presentations starting at 6:45 p.m.

Over the first two weeks of June, volunteer community scientists collected samples of ocean waters, bays, and brackish areas of rivers from the Manasquan Inlet to the Raritan Bayshore in Monmouth County. The samples were then analyzed by the Monmouth University Urban Coast Institute (UCI) in a lab for eDNA, trace genetic materials floating in the water that can indicate the recent presence of marine life ranging from sharks to microscopic bacteria.

The data is building upon a collection effort that began in the fall, which found detections for at least 68 fish species in the county’s ocean and estuarine waters. The new data will help develop a baseline understanding of the species living in our waters in the warmer summer months that can be compared to future results. The project is being supported with grant funding secured by Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr.

The workshop will be held in room 201 of the Edison Science Building. Visitors may park in the main campus lot, accessible from Larchwood Avenue. Click here to view an interactive campus map.

At the conclusion of the workshop, attendees will have the opportunity to volunteer for for the next phase of sampling. To learn more, contact UCI Resilience and Outreach Project Lead Richard Kane at rkane@monmouth.edu.

Grace Schleiden joined the Monmouth University Urban Coast Institute (UCI) in June as a coastal restoration technician. In this role, Schleiden will assist with the UCI’s portfolio of coastal resilience restoration research projects both in the field and laboratory.

Schleiden graduated from Monmouth University in May of 2026 with a B.S. in marine and environmental biology and policy. She has experience working on various research projects including oyster reef restoration, environmental DNA analysis, and coastal monitoring. In addition, she is Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) Open Water Diver certified.

Schleiden will assist with operations at the UCI’s offsite aquaculture facility at Naval Weapons Station Earle (NWSE), including setting tank maintenance, setting of oysters, and daily monitoring of tanks. She will also conduct field research using a variety of methodologies and techniques to monitor species richness, oyster growth and survival, water quality and shoreline protection efforts.

Monmouth University will serve as the newest partner in the Surfrider Foundation’s Blue Water Task Force (BWTF), a nationwide network dedicated to monitoring water quality at public beaches. Through the agreement, signed on June 5 in advance of today’s World Oceans Day celebration, Monmouth will fill an important gap in the BWTF’s East Coast coverage and augment New Jersey’s state ocean quality monitoring efforts, which are limited only to the summer season. This collaboration will help protect public health all year and provide vital data for state and local officials, scientists, policy advocates, and surfers and swimmers and will ensure timely access to information when water conditions pose health risks.

Formed over 30 years ago, Surfrider’s BWTF has over 60 chapter-run labs in its network and measures bacteria levels at more than 600 ocean, bay, estuary and freshwater sampling sites across the country. Volunteer members from Surfrider chapters use the water testing program to raise awareness of local pollution problems and to bring together communities to implement solutions.

In New Jersey, Surfrider volunteers will collect samples from local beaches and supply them to Monmouth’s Phytoplankton and Harmful Algal Bloom Lab (PHAB Lab), led by Endowed Professor of Marine Science Jason Adolf. PHAB Lab staff and student researchers will analyze the enterococcus bacteria levels in the waters and post the results on Surfrider’s interactive BWTF web app. The sampling will initially take place at a half-dozen beaches in Monmouth County and be scaled up to cover additional areas throughout New Jersey.

In 2023, a Monmouth study on the influence of weather and ocean conditions on microbial pollution found that within 6-24 hours of moderate rainfall, enterococcus levels exceeded state health safety standards about half the time at the many local  beaches where stormwater outfall pipes and coastal lakes drain into the ocean. The study noted that since the state’s beach sampling was typically conducted on Mondays, it would not always detect spikes that took place a few days later or on weekends.

“Understanding that more coverage is better, we plan to create a sampling design that complements the state’s by testing the waters later in the week,” Adolf said. “In effect, the Monmouth-Blue Water Task Force partnership will double the frequency of monitoring in some areas of the Jersey Shore.”

“Our coastline is one of New Jersey’s greatest public treasures. It supports marine ecosystems, drives our tourism economy, protects coastal communities, and provides millions of people with recreation, inspiration, and a connection to nature. But our waters face increasing challenges — from stormwater runoff and pollution to harmful bacteria and the growing impacts of climate change,” said Jeffrey Ross Williams, Surfrider’s Legislative and Policy Director, who is also a local surfer. “Protecting these waters requires more than concern, hope, and apathy. It requires action, science, transparency, and strong committed partnership. That is exactly what our collaboration with Monmouth University and its Urban Coast Institute represents,” Williams explained. 

Surfrider will provide Monmouth with $25,000 in grant funding over two years to assist with lab equipment costs and student research positions. Adolf said the arrangement would provide students with valuable opportunities to gain experience conducting lab analysis and helping to co-manage a community science operation which can have critically needed public health benefits.

Those interested in volunteering as a member of the BWTF may contact the Surfrider Foundation Jersey Shore using the online form at jerseyshore.surfrider.org/volunteer.

The Monmouth University Urban Coast Institute (UCI) is seeking volunteers for a community science project that aims to learn more about the marine organisms living along our coast through environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling. Participation is easy, requires no training, and only takes a few minutes.

Participants and others interested are also encouraged come to Monmouth on July 14 for a workshop where the results of the findings will be presented. Food and refreshments will be served.

Participating community scientists will collect samples of ocean waters, bays, and brackish areas of rivers from the Manasquan Inlet to the Raritan Bayshore in Monmouth County. Sampling involves filling a bottle with the water, placing it on ice, and freezing it until it can be collected by Monmouth researchers. Bottles and coolers will be provided by the UCI. Volunteers can choose any site they’d like to sample and only need to collect one sample for the study.

The samples will then be analyzed in a lab for eDNA, trace genetic materials floating in the water that can indicate the recent presence of marine life ranging from sharks to microscopic bacteria. The data will build upon a collection effort that began in the fall, which found detections for at least 68 fish species in the county’s ocean and estuarine waters. The new data will help develop a baseline understanding of the species living in our waters in the warmer summer months that can be compared to future results.

To volunteer or learn more, contact UCI Resilience and Outreach Project Lead Richard Kane at rkane@monmouth.edu. Sampling will take place between June 1 and June 12. Those interested in participating are asked to inquire before May 27. Since the project seeks to cover a geographic balance of areas across the Monmouth County coast, the project team may decline proposals to sample sites that are already covered.