Sandy Hook, NJ - The New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium (NJSGC) hosted its 9th annual State of the Shore Media Event today on Sandy Hook. The event, which typically takes place prior to the Memorial Day holiday weekend, showcased the condition of New Jersey’s beaches at the unofficial start of the summer on the Jersey Shore. The well-attended media event featured remarks from various government officials including New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Deputy Commissioner Irene Kropp and Executive Director of New Jersey Travel and Tourism Grace Hanlon.
Anchoring the event was the State of the Shore Report, delivered by Dr. Jon Miller, the NJSGC’s Extension Program Coastal Processes Specialist. Dr. Miller told officials and attendees that New Jersey’s beaches are in good shape heading into the summer despite the long, harsh winter season. Although the coastal storms that dumped huge amounts of snow on the shore seemed to tell a different story, Dr. Miller noted that “This winter was relatively mild in terms of impacting the coast.”
Gathered attendees also heard comments from Drs. Stan Hales of the Barnegat Bay Partnership (BBP) and Michael Peek of William Paterson University. Dr. Hales’ comments focused on a BBP initiative to monitor New Jersey’s wetlands, while Dr. Peek focused on how his NJSGC-funded research is being used to support the dune systems on New Jersey beaches that help to protect coastal property.
Also announced at the event were the winners of the New Jersey’s Top Ten Beaches Survey, the annual survey that asks New Jersey residents and visitors to vote for their favorite Jersey Shore beach in each of three categories. The survey, now in its 4th year, named The Wildwoods (which combines Wildwood, North Wildwood and Wildwood Crest as one entry) as New Jersey’s top beach choice for the second year in a row. The top ten list was rounded out by Long Beach Island, Ocean City, Sea Isle City, Cape May, Asbury Park, Seaside Heights, Island Beach State Park, Cape May Point, and Sandy Hook. The announcement of the winners was made by Hanlon and Dr. Stewart Farrell, Director of the Richard Stockton College Coastal Research Center, whose research is a key component in the ranking of the beaches.
The New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium is an affiliation of colleges, universities and other groups dedicated to advancing knowledge and stewardship of New Jersey’s marine and coastal environment. NJSGC meets its mission through its innovative research, education and outreach programs. For more information about NJSGC visit
njseagrant.org
