{"id":12542,"date":"2019-03-26T10:41:25","date_gmt":"2019-03-26T14:41:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/uci\/?page_id=12542"},"modified":"2023-09-25T10:15:22","modified_gmt":"2023-09-25T14:15:22","slug":"march2019","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/uci\/newsletters\/march2019\/","title":{"rendered":"March 2019 Newsletter"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Climate Change, Coasts & Communities Symposium April 17-18 at Monmouth<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n
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Leading experts from around the world in the areas of climate change adaptation law and science will assemble at Monmouth University on April 17-18 for the Climate Change, Coasts & Communities Symposium<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the \u201cnew normal\u201d of increased storm events, flooding, sea level rise and coastal erosion being caused by climate change, the event will focus on lessons from other states and abroad that can help New Jersey navigate the challenges. Discussion topics will include climate change impacts to voiceless communities, including future generations, wildlife and natural resources; the public health dimensions of coastal adaptation; and scientific strategies to combat climate change-induced factors that are harming marine and coastal ecosystems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keynote speakers include Global Ocean Forum President Biliana Cicin-Sain, University of Tasmania Faculty of Law Professor Jan McDonald and University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law Professor Robin Craig. The two-day symposium will kick off with a panel of Monmouth University students presenting their research on issues including the transfer of development rights and easements to improve coastal resilience and the threats extreme weather events pose to drinking water supplies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For registration and more information, visit monmouth.edu\/climate-coasts-communities<\/a> or contact Professor Randall Abate at rabate@monmouth.edu<\/a>. The event is free for Monmouth University students and employees (registration required), $35 for members of the public and $25 for Monmouth alumni and non-Monmouth students. The admission cost covers an opening night reception, Thursday continental breakfast and lunch, and refreshments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The event is being hosted by Monmouth University\u2019s Urban Coast Institute, Wayne D. McMurray School of Humanities and Social Sciences, School of Science, Office of the Provost, Global Education Office, Department of Political Science and Sociology, and Youth Activists Group.<\/p>\n\n\n

\u2018Our Ocean and Beaches: A Record of Success and New Challenges to Face\u2019 Panel April 5 at Monmouth University<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n
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Former state Sen. Joseph M. Kyrillos will moderate \u201cOur Ocean and Beaches: A Record of Success and New Challenges to Face,\u201d on Friday, April 5 at 10 a.m. in the University\u2019s Wilson Auditorium.  This is the fourth and final panel discussion he will lead as the 2018-2019 Monmouth University Public Servant-in-Residence. Previous panel discussions in the public servant-in-residence series focused on pension and benefit reform, bridging the partisan divide, and jobs and the economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The panel will feature environmental experts including: Cindy Zipf<\/strong>, executive director of the nonprofit Clean Ocean Action; Chris Daggett<\/strong>, former regional administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection; and Tony MacDonald<\/strong>, director of the Monmouth University Urban Coast Institute.<\/p>\n\n\n

<\/a>Coastal Lakes Summit Focuses on Improving Health of Monmouth Co. Waters<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n
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Monmouth University kicked off a citizen science partnership with community groups, residents and municipal officials on March 15 to probe the causes of environmental problems impacting six Monmouth County coastal lakes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over 100 representatives of the communities surrounding Deal Lake, Lake Como, Sunset Lake, Sylvan Lake, Takanessee Lake and Wesley Lake gathered at the Edison Science Building to lay the groundwork for a new Coastal Lakes Observing Network (CLONet). Through the partnership, Urban Coast Institute (UCI) and School of Science staff and students will train community members to collect water quality samples and post their results to an online database, helping build a better understanding of the conditions in each lake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The UCI is managing the two-year effort with the support of a grant from the Jules L. Plangere, Jr. Family Foundation. The funding supported the purchase of water quality sampling kits that will be supplied to participants from each of the communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Endowed Associate Professor of Marine Science Jason Adolf will work with a team of students to analyze and ground truth the data. CLONet will establish a system for what types of data will be collected (for example, temperature, salinity, pH), where and how frequently sampling will take place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am a scientist and I love science, but this is not all about science,\u201d Adolf told participants at the Coastal Lakes Summit. \u201cIt\u2019s about local knowledge and bringing it all together to build solutions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to School of Science Assistant Dean John Tiedemann, CLONet\u2019s roots trace back to another coastal lakes meeting that was convened at Monmouth a decade ago. At the time, there was a consensus that the county\u2019s coastal lakes suffered from a common set of problems, but there was a vacuum in terms of any central agencies responsible for addressing them. Tiedemann noted there were discussions about launching an initiative like CLONet in 2010, but Superstorm Sandy knocked the momentum off track and prompted the communities to re-evaluate their lakes\u2019 needs. The latest Coastal Lakes Summit was the third event of its kind held at Monmouth since 2008.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Longtime Issues<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Monmouth County\u2019s coastal lakes have historically been important resources for their communities, first as drinking water sources for early settlers, and later as focal points for tourism and recreation, Princeton Hydro President Stephen Souza said. Those that connect to the ocean are also critical spawning grounds for anadromous fish. However, these ecosystems have been degraded due to pollution, algae blooms and invasive species.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many of the lakes are plagued by a process called eutrophication. According to Souza, the problem occurs when there are blooms of cyanobacteria (also known as blue-green algae), a biologically adept organism that thrives on nitrogen from the atmosphere and organic phosphorous compounds carried into the water by runoff. Cyanobacteria can block sunlight needed by other plant life but don\u2019t mind low-light conditions themselves. They are rejected as food by filter feeders and zooplankton, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Heavy rain events can flood the waters with nutrients for these cyanobacteria, causing a sudden explosion in their populations. The organisms have been known to quickly sap out all of the oxygen in the water, causing fish and other organisms to die off. Common nutrient sources include lawn fertilizers, septic leaks and waterfowl feces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOne pound of phosphorous can stimulate and sustain 1,000 pounds of algae,\u201d said Souza, a member of the UCI\u2019s Advisory Committee. \u201cThat\u2019s a lot of primary production.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The good news is, a eutrophic lake is not a dead lake, Souza said. Measures such as bolstering vegetation along waterlines and reducing and pre-treating runoff can \u201cput lakes on a diet\u201d and nurse them back to better health, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Participants held a series of breakout discussions focused on the specific needs and issues facing their respective lakes, as well as next steps. Community workshops will be held in the lake areas under the guidance of Monmouth faculty, staff and students to mentor each community group on sampling techniques, and further discuss restoration plan development and implementation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additional Resources<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For more information, email UCI Associate Director Tom Herrington, CLONet project manager, at clonet@monmouth.edu<\/a>. Presentations and materials from the Coastal Lakes Summit are available below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n