newsletter Volume 7, Issue 2

Transcription

1 newsletter Volume 7, Issue 2 May 2016 News of Environmental and Resource Management Issues and Events from throughout New Jersey Green Infrastructure Guidance Manual Available for Download Christopher C. Obropta, Ph.D., PPE, Water Resources Specialist, Rutgers Rutgers Cooperative Extension Environmental and Resource Management Agents Inside this issue: Green Infrastructure Manual 1 Photo Corner 3 Collaborating to Create Active Learners EPA National Rivers and Streams Assessment Dress Barn LEED certified building has Earth Day celebration Cerbo s Nursery/Greenhouse has cisterns to irrigate plants News and Upcoming Events 14 The Rutgers Cooperative Extension (RCE) Water Resources Program has been promoting the use of green infrastructure practices to retrofit existing development and manage stormwater. Green infrastructure is an approach to stormwater management that is cost-effective, sustainable, and environmentally friendly. Green infrastructure practices capture, filter, absorb, and reuse stormwater to help restore the natural water cycle by reducing stormwater runoff, promoting infiltration, and enhancing evapotranspiration. To address this need, the RCE Water Resources Program developed the Green Infrastructure Guidance Manual for New Jersey based on our experience with planning, designing, and implementing green infrastructure throughout New Jersey, as well as our extensive research on green infrastructure practices across the nation. The manual provides diagrams, engineering details, lists of benefits, and examples of implemented green infrastructure. With our extensive knowledge in identifying opportunities, designing, implementing, and maintaining green infrastructure throughout urban and suburban areas in New Jersey, it is the RCE Water Resources Program s hope that this document will help communities become aware of opportunities for green infrastructure and encourage its adoption across the state. (Continued on page 2) For the latest news and events visit the Green knight Blog greenknightnewsletter.tumblr.com/ or subscribe to RSS salem.njaes.rutgers.edu/greenknight/ Page 1

2 Green Infrastructure Manual continued To view and/or download the Green Infrastructure Guidance Manual for New Jersey for free, please visit The manual was created for communities with combined sewer systems (CSS) and municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s). The guidance provided is beneficial to planning and design professionals, municipal engineers and officials, community groups, and inspired residents who are interested in installing green infrastructure practices to reduce the negative impacts from stormwater runoff. One of the goals of the manual is to provide direction for actively engaging the public in the long-term control planning (LTCP) process and associated permit regulations of combined sewer overflows (CSOs) and MS4s. The manual will act as a tool for planning and design professionals looking to retrofit green infrastructure practices into existing development. The following topics are included in this manual: Understanding the fundamental function and benefits of green infrastructure systems Learning to identify opportunities for green infrastructure Learning the process for designing green infrastructure retrofit projects Understanding how to integrate green infrastructure into community planning and permit regulations.. Page 2

3 The Green Knight Newsletter Introduces the Photo Corner Purpose: The Green Knight editors would like to introduce the Photography Corner. We are asking you to help us represent and celebrate the New Jersey environment through digital imagery. We are accepting submissions in three categories: Rules: Exceptional scenic/wildlife photographs: These images should represent the varied environmental areas of New Jersey and the flora and fauna which abounds in this great state. New Jersey photographs only. Environmental problem photographs: Education is key and awareness is crucial. Great photographs of Fred Sandbucks Corners Fred Sandbucks. Corners. what is wrong with explanatory captions are sought. After deliberation the editors have concluded that names/addresses of the offending party(ies) are not appropriate. Photographs of Solutions: New Jersey has been at the forefront of environmental solutions since before the Acts (Clean Water, Clean Air, Endangered Species,.Acts). We are eager for contributions of photographs of New Jersey as the state working on solutions to our environmental problems. All photographs must be the work of the person entering the submission. Images that have been significantly altered with filters or special effects using software such as Photoshop and Lightroom will not be accepted. Photographers retain original rights, but the editors shall be granted rights to use the photographs in promotional or educational publications, or scholarly submissions. Please submit photographs in JPEG, PNG, or TIFF format, minimum resolution of 300 dpi. For larger files send electronic transfer such as Dropbox. We will only accept electronic images. A separate word document MUST accompany the photograph with caption and photo credit. Page 3

4 Photo Corner continued The photograph must not have borders or watermarks. A single photograph may only be submitted for one category. Proper permission for photographs that include people must be obtained with photograph and the photographer retains all responsibilities. For recognizable persons a model release must be obtained, for subjects under 18 express permission of the parent/guardian must be obtained. Submissions will be judged on the following criteria: o o o o Technical mastery: the determination of the judges that the submission shows a superior level of mastery of the mechanical abilities and/or lighting manipulation skills to create the image including focus, background and depth of field. Artistry: Evidence of creativity, composition and visually appealing image that are not significantly altered. Alignment with category: How well does the image achieve the aim of the caption and the category? Impact: The effect, beyond the aforementioned criteria, that embodies an image with an ability to be moving, stirring or impressive. Decisions of the judges are final. There will be awards given as First Place, Second Place and Third Place for each category. There will be only one First Place, Second Place and Third Place winner in each category. In the event the Judges feel that no submission qualifies as exceptional, the First Place slot for that category will remain vacant for the year. Winners will be announced in the August Green Knight edition. First Place winners will receive a Green Knight Award Plaque, Second and Third Place winners will receive Green Knight Award Certificates. The first full cycle will be completed with the submissions in the May 2017 issue and winners will be announced in the August 2017 issue. All winning photographs will be displayed in the August issue. Be sure to include category, author, and caption with your entry Send to Pat Rector, rector@njaes.rutgers.edu Entries are due July 25, 2016 for inclusion in the judging for the August issue Page 4

5 Collaborating to Create Active Learners Steven E. Yergeau, Ph.D., Environmental & Resource Management Agent, Ocean & Atlantic Counties Tamara Pellien, 4-H Agent, Ocean County Educating students in the STEM disciplines (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) has become a focus of schools across the country. This is mainly due to the need for a well-prepared future workforce, as the growth of STEM-related jobs from rose at a rate three times faster than non-stem-related employment (U.S. Department of Commerce; Many educators conduct instruction targeted in the STEM areas to fulfill this need, but through the use of the same conventional model in education: lecture, memorize, and test. For years, educators have discussed and attempted to address STEM in the context of real-world, applied science. In trying to implement a hands-on approach to learning, educators continue to face challenges: a lack of learning opportunities and limited funds to allow for project-based learning. These factors hinder the ability of educators and youth to put their new understanding of STEM to effective use. Ocean County s 4-H and Environmental Resource Agents are collaborating to meet the challenges of teaching students the STEM disciplines in new and innovative ways. This partnership has resulted in the creation of two programs: the Water Engineers Program and Growing with Vertical Gardens Program. The Water Engineers Program is designed to develop teaching and learning tools for educators to teach youth about stormwater pollution and provide guidance on implementing service projects that reflect best practices in dealing with this pollution in Ocean County. The objective is to engage students in a hands-on learning experience that will help to reduce water use or water pollution from their schools. For the Growing with Vertical Gardens Program, a unique partnership across Rutgers Cooperative Extension Departments (Agricultural & Resource Management Agents, 4-H Youth Development, and NJ Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education) in Ocean County is being used to implement horticulture and nutrition education program to youth in schools. These schools face a decreasing amount of green spaces for growing produce that could supplement traditional education efforts, and the objective of the Growing with Vertical Gardens Program is to assist schools by bringing upright vegetable gardens into the classroom and providing hands-on educational opportunities on horticulture and healthy eating. The approach to both of these programs is two-fold: Provide instruction to educators First, educators learn how to lead project-based activities in water quality and watershed management for the Water Engineers Program, or horticulture and/or nutrition for the Growing with Vertical Gardens Program. These activities focus on the issues of that particular program s content through hands-on education activities and also what resources are available for dealing with those issues. Engage students through service learning Educators then lead these activities for youth in their respective classes. Armed with this knowledge, youth will then implement a service project selected from a series of provided learning opportunities that will directly impact water quality/conservation Page 5

6 Collaborating to Create Active Learners continued as part of the Water Engineers Program, or a classroom vertical garden for the Growing with Vertical Gardens Program. So far, a two-part teacher workshop was conducted for seven educators from six schools in March 2016 for the Water Engineers Program. These seven educators were provided with the materials and curricula for a watershed model activity and information on several options for the hands-on service learning. Part of the program includes a small amount of funding for implementing the service learning at the educators schools. Rutgers Cooperative Extension faculty in Ocean County are working closely and providing technical support with three of the schools to design native plant pollinator gardens and to build and install rain barrels to be used to water the gardens. The remaining schools are in the planning phase of their service projects, which include a possible rain garden and additional native plant gardens that will reduce the use of water for landscaping. With the Growing with Vertical Gardens Program, two schools in Lakewood have been identified, and planning is moving forward among staff for implementation in the fall of By involving educators and students in active STEM education on issues at hand in Ocean County, they become invested in the future sustainability of local resources. Helping the diverse population in Ocean County adapt to a changing landscape while improving their lives with an educational and action-oriented process that uses science-based knowledge to improve their health and well-being, as well as meeting the curriculum needs of educators, can only be met through collaboration and the sharing of expertise. When the expertise of faculty and staff is valuable to the communities they serve, partnering to leverage resources is proving both efficient and effective in the implementation of programs in Ocean County. For further information on this project, contact Steve Yergeau, Environmental and Resource Management Agent - Ocean & Atlantic Counties at yergeau@njaes.rutgers.edu or (732) Funding for both of these projects was provided by the Phillip Alampi Fund and the authors gratefully acknowledge their support. Page 6

7 Collaborating to Create Active Learners continued Figure 1: Tamara Pellien, 4-H Agent with Ocean County, demonstrates a watershed model activity for educators as part of the Water Engineers Program (Photo credit: Steve Yergeau). Page 7

8 Volume 7 Issue 2 May 2016 EPA: National Rivers and Streams Assessment By Pat Rector, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Morris/Somerset Counties The United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) released their National Rivers and Streams Assessment (NRSA) Report dated March The NRSA was conducted in 2008 and Visual information on stream health was recorded as chemical and biological sampling was conducted by more than 85 crews using standardized protocols. The EPA-led teams were collecting data on biological indicators (benthic macroinvertebrates, algae, and fish communities), chemical indicators (phosphorus, nitrogen, salinity, acidity), physical indicators (streambed sediments, instream fish habitat, riparian cover and disturbance), enterococci as a fecal indicator and mercury in fish tissue. Results were compared with reference sites from comparable geographic areas. The goal of the NRSA was to determine the extent to which rivers and streams support a healthy biological condition and the extent of major stressors that affect them. Sampling locations were selected across the country and differed from the previous effort (2004) by including the large U.S. rivers, such as the Mississippi and the Missouri Rivers. The previous national assessment included only wadeable waters. The assessment included small perennial streams, urban and non-urban streams, run-of-the-river ponds, tidally influenced streams and rivers up to the edge of dilute sea water. The 2004 sites were included, and a probabilistic sampling plan was developed with a weighting effort to assure all regions and size classes were represented. There were 1,924 sites and 1.2 million miles or rivers and streams assessed. The assessment found that 46% of our rivers and streams are rated as in poor biological condition, with 25% in fair condition and 28% in good condi- Page 8

9 NRSA continued tion. This assessment is based on macroinvertebrate sampling. Chemical sampling found that 40% of our nation s rivers and streams have nutrient levels that are considered too high, and 15% have excess streambed sediments. Human health criteria for mercury in fish tissue are exceeded in 13,144 river miles in the U.S. and in 23% of the samples the bacteria (enterococci) threshold was exceeded. Riparian vegetarian and disturbance as indicators have improved since the last assessment. Additionally, EPA analyzed taxa loss from streams in the U.S. through analysis of the difference between Observed and Expected based on macroinvertebrate samples. Expected values are determined from reference reaches. O/E provides a ratio with the result ranging from 0 to slightly greater than 1. At zero none of the expected taxa are present, and at slightly above 1 more than the expected taxa are present (Fig. 1). New Jersey is situated in a geographic area where 17% of the rivers and streams have lost 50% or more of the taxa. For more information please visit For detailed information please see Fig. 1. Macroinvertebrate O/E Figure from US EPA Fig. 9 NRSA Report p.26. Page 9

10 Volume 7 Issue 2 May 2016 Dress Barn, a LEED Certified Building celebrates Earth Day By Theresa Ruscillo, Dress Barn, Manager Human Resources and Pat Rector, Environmental Resource and Management Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension Dress Barn and Ascena were awarded Gold LEED certification for New Construction in February LEED certification is the abbreviation for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. Certification is through the U.S. Green Building Council and the guide to certification can be found here cert-guide. Certification as a LEED certified building shows a considerable respect for the environment and it is not an easy achievement. LEED certified buildings of- Lobby of the Dress Barn Corporate Offices, Mahwah N.J. ten seem to have a beauty and Photo Credit Pat Rector. flair, a creativity that seems in sync with the dedication to the environment. Studies have shown that fresh flowers increase productivity and focus. Dress Barn held its annual Earth Day celebration on April 22, The Eco Relief Team brought to the campus a broad representation of Eco topics ranging from the Pantry Recycling Program, Paperless Pay Statements, Clean Driving and other interesting programs. Some fun activities were Associate Garden Planting, Associate Eco Pledge and Paper Shredding. AdditionFresh flowers in the open plan reception area of Dress Barn. Natural lighting is part of the LEED planning. Photo credit Pat Rector. Page 10

11 Dress Barn continued al highlights included Farm to Table information as well as the Community Shared Agriculture (CSA) presentation and registration. The fair table featuring organic beauty and cleaning products were also a huge hit. Rutgers Cooperative Extension again brought the Rutgers rain barrel and information on water conservation. Associates gathering around the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) booth at the Earth Day Celebration at Dress Barn. Photo credit Theresa Ruscillo. Associates gathering around the lobby area for the organic beauty and cleaning supply information at the Earth Day Celebration at Dress Barn. Photo credit Theresa Ruscillo. Three Associates planting seeds for the Dress Barn vegetable garden. Photo credit Pat Rector. Page 11

12 Volume 7 Issue 2 May 2016 Cerbo s Nursery and Greenhouse Irrigates with Harvested Rain Water By Pat Rector, Environmental Resource and Management Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension A large rainwater harvesting system was recently installed at Cerbo s Nursery located at 440 Littleton Rd, in Parsippany, N.J. Cerbo s is a family owned and operated certified nursery, growing most of their own plants. Cerbo s was established in 1913, serving the community for over 100 years, and is now operated by the third and fourth generations of the family. Rainwater Harvesting is the active collection, storage and reuse of rainwater and is part of the continuing implementation of green infrastructure practices throughout New Jersey. Cerbo s Nursery is a functional nursery with greenhouse structures attached to the retail operation. This rainwater harvesting system incorporates collecting rainwater from the greenhouse roof and gutters. During a one -inch rain storm the system collects between 5,000-6,000 gallons that previously travelled directly through stormwater pipes into the Troy Brook, increasing the frequency of the small flooding events. This can help us think about the reality of runoff from impervious surfaces throughout the township, and how much water actually runs into our streams from a parking lot, driveway, or roof of a mall. said Pat Rector, Rutgers Cooperative Extension. Leaves are filtered out of the system and the initial flush of water is diverted from the rainwater collection tanks. This rainwater collection system is a wet system and is unique compared to conventional rainwater installations. The challenge with the system design was to supply the tanks with the roof water. Due to space constraints the cisterns were not placed next to the greenhouse. Due to height constraints with an above ground system a pipe from the Roof runoff from the green house previously let 5,000-6,000 gallons of water go directly into gutter was installed the Troy Brook during a one-inch storm event. All stormwater is now captured in cisterns underground across a during the season. Photo credit Pat Rector. driveway and up into the first flush diverter, said Bill Hoffman Page 12

13 Cerbo s continued of Elite National Water Management, LLC, the installation contractor. The wet system remains charged during the rainwater collection season and is winterized or drained during the colder months. The system uses gravity and water pressure to move water from the greenhouse roof to the six (6) 2,500 gallon rainwater collection tanks. The collected rainwater will be used to supplement the nursery s city supplied water supply and will be used to irrigate the nursery s plant stock. The system was installed with funding from a grant from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection that was received by Rutgers Cooperative Extension, Water Resources Program and Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Morris County to reduce water quality impairments in the Troy Brook. Cerbo s Nursery is a participant in the Rutgers River Friendly Business Program (njaes.rutgers.edu/pubs/publication.asp?pid=e346a and njaes.rutgers.edu/pubs/publication.asp? pid=e346b ) and are expected to be certified within the next few weeks. Three of six 2,500 gallon cisterns that were installed at Cerbo s nursery through an NJDEP 319 (h) grant by Bill Hoffman of National American Water Management. Three of six 2,500 gallon cisterns at Cerbo s nursery in Parsippany, N.J. Photo Pat Rector. Page 13

14 Ditches, Streams, and Ponds: How to have healthier waterways, June 7, 2016, Upper Deerfield, NJ Regular testing has confirmed that water in the Upper Cohansey River and its tributaries has unacceptable levels of nutrients and pollutants. So what can local homeowners do to help reduce the pollution and return our streams, ponds and lakes to their previously healthy condition? Presenters will include Dr. Sal Mangiafico, Rutgers Cooperative Extension Environmental and Resource Management Agent, and Shane Godshall, Conservation Coordinator for the American Littoral Society-Bayshore Region and member of the Woodstown-Pilesgrove Environmental Commission. They will provide an overview of how pollutants enter our waterways and will describe specific actions that private homeowners can take to help reduce the current pollutant load. 7:00 PM, TUESDAY, JUNE 7 DITCHES, STREAMS AND PONDS: HOW TO HAVE HEALTHIER WATERWAYS PROGRAMS SPONSORED BY THE UPPER DEERFIELD TOWNSHIP ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION All programs are free and open to the public and will be held at the Edgar Joyce Senior Center, 1325 Highway 77, near the Upper Deerfield Township Municipal Building. Page 14

15 Rain Barrel Workshop, May 14, 2016, Cherry Hill, NJ Camden County Green Garden Fair Page 15

16 New Factsheet: Ecology and Control of the Freshwater Aquatic Plant Spatterdock (Rutgers Cooperative Extension) njaes.rutgers.edu/pubs/fs1255/ Spatterdock, a member of the water lily family Nymphaeaceae, is a native perennial aquatic plant that commonly occurs in lakes, ponds, slow moving streams, canals, ditches, and tidal reaches of fresh water streams. Alternate names for spatterdock include: yellow pond lily, yellow cow lily, bullhead lily, brandy bottle, and variegated yellow pond lily. Page 16

17 New factsheet: Food Safety, Soil, and Water Testing Recommendations for School and Community Gardens (Rutgers Cooperative Extension) njaes.rutgers.edu/pubs/publication.asp?pid=e350 E350 Food Safety, Soil, and Water Testing Recommendations for School and Community Gardens. Bakacs, M. and Melendez, M. Page 17

18 Volume 7 Issue 2 May 2016 Page 18

19 Video: How to Compost in Your Backyard (Rutgers Cooperative Extension) Rutgers Cooperative Extension Agent Dan Kluchinski gets you started with the basics of composting. Page 19

20 Farmland Best Practices for Soil & Water Conservation, April, May, June, July, 2016, Pittsgrove, Upper Deerfield, Hammonton, and Bridgeton, NJ Visit and tour Overdevest Nurseries! The events are FREE and open to all farmers. Light refreshments provided Please RSVP to Christine Nolan at (856) or Farmers Gathering Davis Family Farm Wednesday Evening, April 20 7:00pm 712 Alvine Road, Pittsgrove, NJ Farmland Workshop Thursday Evening, May 19 7:00pm Upper Deerfield Senior Center 1325 Highway 77 Seabrook, New Jersey Farmland Workshop Monday Evening, June 6 7:00pm Hammonton Municipal Building 100 Central Avenue Hammonton, NJ Farmers Gathering & Tour Overdevest Nurseries Tuesday Evening, July 19 7:00pm 578 Bowentown Rd, Bridgeton, NJ Page 20

21 Volume 7 Issue 2 May 2016 Page 21

22 Annual Excellence in Water Resources Protection and Planning Award Nominations for the 7th Annual Excellence in Water Resources Protection and Planning Award are now being accepted! The New Jersey Section s Excellence in Water Resources Protection and Planning Award recognizes outstanding recent projects within the State that are applying innovation and creativity to improving New Jersey s water resources! Projects should exemplify the organizations commitment to exceptional water resources management, planning, and protection. The award will be granted at the NJ Section s annual Water New Years Eve, Nominations and supporting documentation are due by July 29, Full guidelines and application process can be found here: nsawra.onefireplace.org/excellence_award Page 22

23 Fix-a-leak and Rain Barrel Workshop, May 14, Cape May Court House, NJ There will be a fix-a-leak / rain barrel workshop in Cape May Court House on Saturday, May 14th from 12-4 pm. The Rio Grande Lowes will be teaching attendees how to find and fix leaks in the home and there will be an opportunity to build a rain barrel to take home. The cost of the workshop is $10. To register, visit the following link. Page 23

24 Video: Adults With Disabilities Help Grow Produce Hydroponically at Bridgeton Farm (SNJ Today) Page 24

25 Volume 7 Issue 2 May 2016 TREE PLANTINGS SCHEDULED IN PARSIPPANY-TROY HILLS TOWNSHIP IN MORRIS COUNTY TO COMMEMORATE ARBOR DAY TRENTON-On Friday, April 29, at 11 a.m., the Department of Environmental Protection's State Forestry Services will join Parsippany-Troy Hills Township and the New Jersey Community Forestry Council to plant trees in observance of Arbor Day, and to recognize communities and people around the state for their dedication to New Jersey's trees. The Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills was chosen to host New Jersey's Arbor Day event in honor of the community's 40th year as a Tree City USA. To commemorate Arbor Day, one eastern white pine tree and one American elm tree will be planted in Veterans Memorial Park to honor the community's Tree USA accomplishment and to celebrate forestry in New Jersey's rich forest heritage. The event will take place at Veterans Memorial Park at Route 46 East and Vail Road in Parsippany-Troy Hills Township, in Morris County. Directions: From Interstate 287 southbound, take Route 287 south to exit 42 for Route 202 toward Route 46/Dover/ Clifton. Go 2/10ths of a mile and turn left onto Route 202 south. Follow 202 for 3-10ths oof a mile and use the left two lanes to turn left onto Route 46 East. Go 7/10ths of a mile. The park will be on the right. Page 25

26 IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 27, 2016 Contact: Bob Considine (609) Lawrence Hajna (609) Caryn Shinske (609) ISLAND BEACH STATE PARK TO HOST FIRST MAY DAY CELEBRATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 1 FAMILY FUN DAY TO INCLUDE THREE SPORTING EVENTS FOR FRIENDS OF ISLAND BEACH STATE PARK FUNDRAISER (16/P27) TRENTON - Island Beach State Park will host the first May Day celebration, featuring a series of fun, athletic events, on Sunday, May 1, to benefit the non-profit volunteer group, Friends of Island Beach State Park, DEP Commissioner Bob Martin announced today. Starting at 9 a.m., featured events will include a 5K Run/Walk, a volleyball tournament and an ocean paddleboard contest. DEP's State Park Service is allowing Friends of Island Beach State Park to collect a donation at the gate in lieu of standard park admission. Registration for the events is currently open at Interested participants will meet at the Ocean Bathing Area 1 pavilion for all events. The May Day celebration will be held rain or shine. "We are delighted to host this fun event for the first time for our dedicated partners, who provide so much to our park year after year," said Mark Texel, Director of the State Park Service. "We encourage everyone to come out this Sunday with their game face on and to have some great fun." "Island Beach State Park is proud to have this unique event in a setting where everyone can watch the action," said park manager Jenifer Clayton. "It will be a fun day for the family to enjoy three different sporting events on our beautiful beach." The volunteer Friends of Island Beach State Park formed in 1996 to encourage protection of the barrier island ecosystem and to enhance both educational and recreational programs at the park. The group now has 460 members, publishes and distributes 30,000 copies of the park's Visitor Guide annually, has funded improvements to the park's Nature Center and Interpretive Center, picnic tables, radios for Nature Center staff, and installation of state-of-the-art camera system to monitor an osprey nest at the park, among other needs. "We really wanted to try to have an active ocean and beach day," said Angelo Sico, president of Friends of Island Beach State Park. "Our love of Island Beach State Park goes very deep. So we're happy that events like this will enable us to continue to help out the park." Page 26

27 May Day events will include: * May Day 5K - A unique 5K run/walk on the beach, with post-race wraps and subs in the pavilion. * May Day Ocean Paddleboard Contest - A 3.5-mile Ocean Paddle Race, which will run parallel to the beach. While all levels of paddlers are encouraged, ocean racing is more challenging than flat-water paddling. Island Beach State Park lifeguards will be monitoring the event. * May Day Volleyball Tournament - Throughout the course of the day, a volleyball tournament featuring teams of two will be held. The tournament will be organized by the Ocean County Volleyball Club, All registrants will receive T-shirts. Shaped by storms and tides, Island Beach State Park is a narrow barrier island stretching for 10 miles between the ocean and Barnegat Bay. It is one of New Jersey's last significant remnants of a barrier island ecosystem and is one of the few remaining undeveloped barrier beaches on the north Atlantic coast. For more information on Island Beach State Park, visit parks/island.html Page 27

28 Green Knight newsletter Editors: Pat Rector Sal Mangiafico (Rutgers Cooperative Extension Environmental and Resource Management Agents) P.O. Box 900, Morristown, NJ ext Cooperating Agencies: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and County Boards of Chosen Freeholders. Rutgers Cooperative Extension, a unit of the Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Rutgers Cooperative Extension educational programs are offered to all without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, atypical hereditary cellular or blood trait, marital status, civil union status, domestic partnership status, military service, veteran status, and any other category protected by law. Page 28