As the driest calendar month on record stretches into November, as new terms like “flash drought” and “red flag warnings” enter our lexicon, and as wildfires emerge in unusual places, the LRWP urges the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) to protect our most vulnerable communities by adopting the NJPACT REAL rules. The adoption and implementation of these rules, short for “Protecting Against Climate Threats: Resilient Environments and Landscapes,” is especially and crucially important for heavily populated regions and Environmental Justice communities — like many Lower Raritan Watershed municipalities — located in proximity to Superfund toxic waste sites.
A 2019 US Government Accountability Office Report 20-73 identifies a total of 945 Superfund sites in the United States at special risk of disaster associated with wildfire, storm surge, flooding, and sea level rise. An incredible 24 of these sites (4% of the nation’s total at-risk Superfund sites) are within our 352-square mile Lower Raritan Watershed. Lower Raritan residents cannot escape these pollutant hazards: they are proximate to where we live and work. Without additional state-implemented resilient measures, wildfires and floods have the potential to bring toxins from these sites directly into our homes. More info on the GAO report, and a list of these sites, is on the LRWP website.
More on the specifics of NJPACT REAL, its objectives, and the potential impacts on New Jersey’s communities, businesses, and natural environments, below:
Background of NJPACT REAL
New Jersey is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change due to its extensive coastline, urban density, and critical infrastructure in low-lying areas. In response, NJDEP launched the Protecting Against Climate Threats (NJPACT) program, with the REAL rules addressing land use, environmental resource management, and flood risk.
The NJPACT REAL rules aim to:
Integrate climate resilience into land use planning.
Update and enhance flood protection standards.
Encourage sustainable growth while protecting natural resources.
Build upon New Jersey’s Coastal Management Program to address sea-level rise and other coastal challenges.
By addressing both urban and natural landscapes, NJPACT REAL provides a comprehensive approach to creating climate-resilient communities. The rules were informed by extensive scientific research, including data from New Jersey’s Climate Change Resilience Strategy, which outlines statewide climate adaptation and resilience goals.
Key Components of NJPACT REAL Rules
1. Enhanced Flood Protection Standards
One of the primary focuses of NJPACT REAL is flood protection. Recognizing the increased frequency and intensity of rainfall, the REAL rules set stricter standards for floodplain development. These standards account for both current and projected flood risks, addressing scenarios in which intense storms could cause extensive flooding.
Key changes include:
Flood elevation standards: The NJPACT REAL rules require new development to account for higher base flood elevations, meaning that buildings must be constructed to withstand projected flood levels based on future climate models.
Flood-resistant building requirements: REAL mandates specific design criteria for new structures in flood-prone areas to mitigate damage.
Stormwater management upgrades: Enhanced stormwater regulations are aimed at reducing runoff, preventing erosion, and improving water quality, benefiting both the environment and the community.
2. Protecting Inland Wetlands
Wetlands provide crucial protection against storms, flooding, and erosion by acting as natural buffers. The NJPACT REAL rules emphasize the preservation and restoration of these landscapes, particularly in coastal regions that are susceptible to rising sea levels and erosion.
The rules encourage:
Wetland conservation: By limiting development in wetland areas, REAL seeks to preserve these ecosystems’ natural resilience.
Restoration of degraded wetlands: REAL promotes initiatives to restore wetland areas impacted by past development, providing a buffer against coastal flooding and erosion.
Adaptive planning for saltwater intrusion: As sea levels rise, saltwater intrudes into freshwater areas, disrupting ecosystems and agriculture. NJPACT REAL includes guidelines for adaptive land use in regions threatened by saltwater intrusion.
3. Sustainable Land Use Planning
NJPACT REAL encourages sustainable land use by promoting green infrastructure and preserving open spaces. These practices not only reduce flood risks but also support biodiversity, improve air quality, and provide recreational opportunities for communities.
Specific goals include:
Green infrastructure: NJPACT REAL supports green roofs, permeable pavements, and rain gardens that manage stormwater sustainably, reducing flood risks.
Preservation of open spaces: REAL sets guidelines to discourage development in critical areas like floodplains and wetlands.
Zoning updates: REAL includes recommendations for local governments to adopt stormwater management master plans and land-use policies that account for future climate conditions, such as flood risks.
4. Adapting to Sea-Level Rise
New Jersey’s 1,800 miles of tidal shoreline make it highly vulnerable to sea-level rise. NJPACT REAL focuses on ensuring that coastal communities can adapt to the rising tides.
Key measures include:
Coastal building standards: Enhanced design standards for coastal buildings help reduce the impact of tidal and storm surges.
Encouraging natural buffers: REAL promotes the use of sand dunes, marshes, and other natural barriers to absorb the impact of storm surges.
5. Climate-Informed Decision-Making
The REAL rules emphasize data-driven decision-making, using the latest climate science and models to guide regulations. NJPACT REAL requires public and private projects to use updated climate data and projections, ensuring that investments in infrastructure and development account for anticipated climate changes.
Implications for New Jersey’s Residents and Businesses
For residents, NJPACT REAL means a safer and more resilient New Jersey. Homes built under the new standards will be better protected against floods, while green spaces and restored wetlands provide natural beauty and recreational areas that enhance quality of life. However, there may be costs associated with retrofitting older buildings or adhering to the new construction standards, which NJDEP is addressing through financial and technical assistance.
For businesses, particularly those in construction, real estate, and land development, NJPACT REAL introduces new requirements to mitigate environmental impacts. These standards may require adjustments to building practices, but they also create opportunities for innovation in sustainable construction and green infrastructure. Furthermore, companies specializing in environmental restoration and engineering will find increased demand for services related to flood protection and wetland restoration.
Challenges and Future Directions
While NJPACT REAL is a significant step forward, implementing these standards will require collaboration among government agencies, municipalities, businesses, and residents. Some communities may face challenges adapting to the new rules, particularly in areas where older infrastructure is prevalent.
Conclusion
The NJPACT REAL rules demonstrate New Jersey’s commitment to climate resilience, offering a proactive framework to address current and future climate risks. By enhancing flood protections, conserving wetlands, promoting sustainable land use, and incorporating climate science into decision-making, NJDEP is equipping New Jersey for a more resilient future. The REAL rules represent an essential step in building communities that can withstand the impacts of climate change while preserving the natural landscapes that make New Jersey unique.
By LRWP Board Members Missy Holzer and Heather Fenyk
For K-12 students, there is only one New Jersey Student Learning Standard (NJSLS) on rivers: “Use maps to identify physical features (e.g., continents, oceans, rivers, lakes, mountains).” On Monday October 20, Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership Board Members Missy Holzer and Heather Fenyk joined K-12 educators attending the New Jersey Council for the Social Studies annual conference to lead what we hope was the first of many workshops to support educators and students in using maps and rivers to learn about, and connect to, their communities. We now invite K-12 educators from all disciplines to explore curricular materials we shared at our NJCSS2024 session, titled “Using Rivers as a Contextual Bridge to Connect K-8 Students to Their Communities: A First Nations Perspective.” A curriculum guide and all workshop materials, including the powerpoint, bibliography, and detailed teacher and student case study guides, are available at: https://tinyurl.com/LRWP24NJCSS.
This LRWP workshop for social studies teachers emerged from our own place-based, problem-based teaching orientation, and built specifically on our Spring 2024 volunteer eel monitoring program. We centered the lesson around a special case study: “The Mystery of the Missing American Glass Eels,” and also worked to support educator comfort with using maps, particularly topographic maps, as tools for student understanding of change to their local landscape over time. Our aim, as always, is to help educators use local waterways to connect students to their backyards, while developing our next generation of local stewards.
While it may seem unusual for an environmental non-profit to engage with K-12 social studies educators, the LRWP sees great potential to connect with multiple disciplines, including social studies, science, math and art. From the past to the present, and into the future, New Jersey’s waterways were and are vital to our existence. Besides being a continual source of water, our rivers, streams, and canals have implicitly and explicitly shaped our presence in the state. Drinking water, food, transportation (people and goods), industry, energy, and recreation are a few of the services our waterways have contributed to life in New Jersey.
Viewing our waterways from a watershed perspective that includes all the tributaries, rivers, and wetlands within a drainage area, connects communities to each other as much as they connect the flow of water from the headwaters of a river to the sea. Our Lower Raritan Watershed, its lands, streams, and the Raritan River, offer a host of case-based, problem-based, and place-based approaches to formal and informal investigation of these connections from the past, present, and future. The LRWP invites formal and informal educators to connect with us to discuss opportunities to partner for classroom or field based approaches to learning and inquiry.
In partnership with SEWA USA – Central New Jersey Chapter, the LRWP is pleased to co-host a special Boat Shop Open House on Saturday September 14, 2-5pm at our 101 Raritan Avenue Boat Shop in Highland Park.
We welcome you to join us for refreshments, boat build demos, rain barrel painting, a special presentation by Rutgers Professor Chris Obropta, a clean-up at Donaldson Park, and a change to get out on the Raritan River for a paddle!
Please note that parking will be tight: if you drive, you will want to find parking on the side streets.
The green mittens are going fast, we expect a shipment of red mittens to arrive shortly, well before cold weather sets in. Sassafras trees have three variations of leaf shape, one reminiscent of a mitten. When the red mittens are on display, Autumn has arrived.
August foliage provides the canvas upon which September begins to smudge and splash bright colors across the landscape. These scattered traces of color are the threads from which the blanket of full fall brilliance is woven.
As the earth squints at the sun, the decreasing daylength triggers a seasonal response, marked by visual changes in leaf color. The bold statement of color, expanding daily, by the hand of an unseen artist, fires the imagination of the human mind to dwell in a borderless realm of magic and possibility.
In the time before science, the wonders of the natural world were rationalized by myth, to satisfy the overpowering human curiosity, which demanded explanation. In a way, the periodic appearance of leaf color was a teaching aid to foster human survival by articulating the most critical elements of adaptation, creativity, and imagination.
The world that surrounds us is the catalyst for all we create, innovation is the product of imagination. Inspiration may be found in the least probable places, where the path of a fallen leaf on the driveway, leads directly to the starlit heavens and their impact on the earth and all living things.
I enjoy taking a paleo perspective to view nature and try to share the experience and emotion of my kindred paleo counterparts. Standing in their moccasins, I would come to realize a repetitive pattern exists which provides predictability, a key to survival and a reference point upon which to stack temporary facts. The appearance of color precedes the arrival of cold weather, a reminder to be prepared for snow and cold. See the colors of the sunset and rise, appear on the leaves. The overflowing colors are spattered across the landscape as the sun crashes into or escapes from the earth, to allow the colors of the sky to be held in your hand.
Summer has a home in September, so the transition to autumn is quite subtle, though hints of color stand out like small islands in the sea of green. While some specific trees and shrubs turn off the green, early in September, random species will always showcase a wink of color.
Black walnut trees are the first to turn yellow and shed leaves. They appear abandoned and leafless, while nearby trees are still veiled in green. The ground beneath the trees covered in a thick layer of yellow leaves, and laden with walnuts encased in thick green husks appear as if set on a yellow tablecloth for distribution and consumption by the local gray squirrels.
Staghorn sumac surrenders its green but retains its gold and red leaflets as adornments to compliment its dark brown hairy seed clusters. Many are already marked by white-tail deer bucks, scraping the velvet from their antlers.
Sassafras trees appear adorned in yellow or red, some leaves, in the shape of colorful mittens, as if displayed on a rack for sale.
American sycamore leaves are light green and edged with a golden brown as they begin to change in late summer. Their height and crown easily seen, especially when growing in groves along a watercourse is an obvious sign of changing seasons.
Native dogwood trees in late summer are adorned with faded reddish-purple leaves and bright red gleaming berries, which stand in contrast to each other and make this small understory tree, a fall treat to behold.
Black gum trees, found along the upper South Branch, are first in flight in their beech, birch, maple neighborhood association, as their obovate leaves, egg shaped with the broad end toward the tip, turn a rich salmon color and actually look like old fashioned Christmas lights.
Still, it is the random splash of color that catches the eye long before the great parade of fall color arrives. A single leaf of pumpkin orange appears among the dark green crown of an oak tree, as if signaling for rescue, afloat on an expanse of green ocean, five thousand feet below a search plane.
Unable to keep a secret, or simply out of step with the fall choreography, these colorful precursors are the sparks that light the autumn fire.
Author Joe Mish has been running wild in New Jersey since childhood when he found ways to escape his mother’s watchful eyes. He continues to trek the swamps, rivers and thickets seeking to share, with the residents and visitors, all of the state’s natural beauty hidden within full view. To read more of his writing and view more of his gorgeous photographs visit Winter Bear Rising, his wordpress blog. Joe’s series “Nature on the Raritan, Hidden in Plain View” runs monthly as part of the LRWP “Voices of the Watershed” series. Writing and photos used with permission from the author.
The LRWP is opposed to conversion of Thomas A. Edison Park from free public land to fee-based access, and has serious concerns regarding the environmental impact of the proposed project (see our comments below). We encourage watershed residents to review and comment on the Environmental Assessment submitted by Middlesex County to the National Park Service regarding the County’s plan to turn Thomas A. Edison Park into a Destination Athletic Complex with 14 artificial turf fields. You will find the Environmental Assessment and details to provide comment here. The comment period ends on September 3, 2024.
TO: Diane Keith, NER Program Manager / National Park Service / Federal Lands to Parks / c/o 54 Portsmouth St. / Concord, NH 03301
RE: Thomas A. Edison Park Environmental Assessment
On behalf of the Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership (LRWP), I am writing to express objection to Middlesex County’s proposed change of the purpose and use of acreage within Thomas A. Edison Park in Edison Township. The LRWP has reviewed the Environmental Assessment for this project, and remains concerned by the plans to: 1) convert significant contiguous woodland acreage to active park facilities, which will have the effect of further compromising habitat connectivity for wetlands species in a fringe ecosystem area; and 2) replace current woodland and natural grass acreage with artificial/synthetic turf, which will have the effect of eliminating important ecosystem services of filtering stormwater runoff and moderating temperatures provided by these landscapes. Clearly both woodland conversion and installation of synthetic turf will also have the result of exacerbating climate change and pollutant flows in the watershed.
Below we provide more detail on our concerns related to this project:
Failure to account for flood risk
Current flood models suggest that significant portions of the area of concern will be under water in the future. Development of these lands, especially using synthetic turf, will significantly compromise passive floodwater containment in an already flood-prone area of the Lower Raritan Watershed.
Synthetic Turf Sheds Microplastics, PFAS, and Other Chemicals
Like all plastic materials, synthetic turf doesn’t last forever—instead, it breaks up and sheds massive amounts of tiny plastic particles into the environment and our bodies. A 2018 report by the European Commission showed that athletic fields composed of synthetic turf shed an annual average of 18,000-70,000 tons of microplastics each year into surrounding air, soils, and waters. This includes huge quantities of crumb rubber, which leaches toxic lead, PFAS, phthalates, and other dangerous chemicals. People and other animals who walk and play on synthetic turf absorb plastic particles and their toxins through the skin, inhalation, and ingestion.
Synthetic Turf Wastes and Contaminates Water
Synthetic turf still requires regular watering, especially on hot days where it can heat up to 40-70 times hotter than the surrounding air—getting even hotter than asphalt. This is because unlike real organic, cooling, and oxygenating grass, synthetic turf is heat absorbent. The temperatures of plastic grass can get so hot it has been known to cause contact injuries called “turf burn.” Heated synthetic turf has also been found to release toxic gases, including carcinogenic benzene and formaldehyde. In addition, materials experts report major drainage issues linked to plastic grass. These issues worsen droughts by preventing groundwater—which many people depend on for drinking—from naturally recharging. When rain falls onto synthetic turf, research shows it absorbs chemicals and runs off—typically entering stormwater systems that drain to large water bodies, in this case the proximate Raritan River and the NY/NJ Harbor Estuary. Also of concern is the increased temperature of the stormwater runoff as it flows into the Raritan.
Increase in Impervious Cover
The conversion of forested habitat to plastic turf and parking lots will increase impervious cover, compromising any attempts to meet federal MS4 requirements let alone advance stormwater management best practices. As we face increasing risks and uncertainties of climate change we should, as a basic practice, never convert parkland to parking lots or synthetic surfaces.
Exacerbates Inequities of Access to Recreational Spaces
The Federal Government deeded Thomas Edison Park to Middlesex County to be used as a free park in perpetuity. Conversion of these free public lands to fee-based access violates the original intent of the deed, and the public interest. Furthermore, the County proposal is for expansion of park amenities in an already well-resourced portion of Middlesex County. The County clearly has not taken transportation equity or other equity concerns into consideration with respect to improving equitable recreational access to County system parks for low socio-economic status communities and for communities with limited access to transportation to park networks.
The LRWP respectfully requests that the National Park Service deny approval to Middlesex County for the proposed changes to Thomas Edison Park.
Almost two-thirds of New Jersey’s coastline, including all of the tidally influenced portion of the Raritan River, is at high or very high risk to coastal erosion. New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) has developed a set of amendments, part of NJ Protecting Against Climate Threats (NJPACT) Resilient Environments and Landscape (REAL), to address these risks.
The LRWP supports NJDEP’s efforts to modernize resource protections to better support New Jersey communities like ours in building resilience to sea-level rise, extreme weather, chronic flooding, and other impacts of our changing climate. We encourage our Lower Raritan communities to support NJPACT. The NJPACT rule proposal, along with additional details regarding the public hearings and public comment, are provided on the Department’s NJREAL website https://dep.nj.gov/njreal/.
The New Jersey Protecting Against Climate Threats (NJPACT) Resilient Environments And Landscape (REAL) is part Governor Phil Murphy’s Executive Order 100 (Jan. 2020) that includes amendments to existing land resource protection rules designed to bolster resilience to the unavoidable impacts of climate change.The proposed rules address sea-level rise, coastal storm surge, flooding, and stormwater management concerns while improving water quality, protecting natural resources, and streamlining permitting processes that will expedite resilient investments in New Jersey’s communities and economy.
There will be three public hearings concerning the proposal as follows:
IN PERSON: September 5, 2024, 6:00 P.M., at Ocean County College, Gateway Lecture Hall #104 (Bldg. #101), College Drive, Toms River, NJ 08754;
VIRTUAL: September 12, 2024, 2:00 P.M. September 19, 2024, 10:00 A.M.
On Sunday May 19th the LRWP hosted a ribbon cutting for a very special project within the Lower Raritan Watershed, a mechanical in-stream pollution reduction device installed at the Green Brook at the convergence of three towns (Dunellen, Middlesex and Plainfield) and three counties (Somerset, Middlesex and Union). The “Bandalong Bandit Litter Trap” in the Green Brook, designed and manufactured by the Georgia-based Stormwater Systems, Inc. and maintained by the Borough of Dunellen, is the first of its kind in New Jersey.
The Litter Trap project was selected for implementation as part of the Cornell-Dubilier Electronics Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration (NRDAR) Restoration Plan. The Cornell-Dubilier NRDAR Plan is an example of how the nation’s strong Superfund Laws truly hold polluters accountable for environmental damages in our communities. A project seven years in the making, the LRWP appreciates the hard work and dedication of our project partners: Central Jersey Stream Team, the Boroughs of Dunellen and Green Brook, and the Cornell-Dubilier Superfund Site Trustees including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Several members of these organizations were on hand to celebrate installation of this mechanical in-stream pollution reduction device.
The “Bandit Litter Trap” is a floating cage anchored by two booms which direct floating trash into the cage where it is captured to be removed at regular intervals by municipal staff. The device is designed to simplify removal of litter from the waterway, minimizing DPW and volunteer efforts to keep our streams clean, and helping to improve water quality, environmental habitat, and human drinking water supplies. In addition to aiding in management of floatable waste in the Green Brook, the device will help us better understand the types of waste that end up in our local streams, and will help amplify community stewardship efforts for healthier urban waterways throughout the state.
In addition to LRWP Board Members Anton Getz and Heather Fenyk, LRWP Project Coordinator Clare Levourne and Project Volunteer Gregg Bucino, attending the ribbon cutting were Cornell Dubilier Superfund Site Trustee Jillian Stark with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Dunellen Mayor Jason Cilento, Green Brook Mayor Jim Van Ardsdale, Assemblywoman Linda S. Carter, and Environmental Commissioners and Council members from surrounding towns.
Simultaneous to the ribbon cutting, over a hundred volunteers joined in the annual multi-site clean-up of the Green Brook, with clean-up activities at public parks in Dunellen, Green Brook, Plainfield and Middlesex and thousands of pounds trash were removed from the Green Brook floodplains and waterways. Trash is the most visible form of pollution in the Green Brook, and aquatic trash significantly reduces water quality, damages habitats, and causes aesthetic blight, ecological effects, economic impacts, and potential human health risks.
A key goal of the Litter Trap is to reduce the need for volunteer clean-ups, and to benefit aquatic and semi-aquatic wildlife. To better understand the impact of the Litter Trap on aquatic life going forward, from February-May 2024 the LRWP invited the Green Brook community to partner in a baseline study of American Glass Eel at an artificial eel habitat (an “eel mop”) installed approximately 100 feet upstream of the Litter Trap site. Read more about our eel study, and our findings, here. Apart from improving water quality and benefiting aquatic life, the implementation of the trap should also enhance the area’s aesthetics and improve public perception.
The Bandalong Bandit Litter Trap can operate year-round under various flow conditions without mechanical assistance, but the trash needs to be emptied at appropriate intervals, and the device must be checked after every rainfall exceeding 1 inch. It takes 2-3 months to figure out debris management and to establish a maintenance schedule. Litter surveys and collection of litter data are part of establishing this schedule, and can yield information about device impact. The LRWP will develop an outreach program for Bandalong installation in the Green Brook, including at least two public litter surveys and collection and reporting of litter data. This will involve a partial-volunteer trash removal program with training on how to measure and remove trash from the litter traps. This should also further strengthen community ties and current litter reduction efforts.
This spring’s eel project has been driven by the incredible support and active participation of our community. With thanks to the NY/NJ Harbor & Estuary Program for Project Support, and thanks to all community members who lent a hand: your engagement and dedication have been crucial to our efforts in supporting and h-EEL-ing the American glass eel population.
The LRWP believes that by combining scientific research and community action we strengthen our Lower Raritan community’s connection to local waterways while also highlighting our links to the broader aquatic ecosystem, even across vast distances. Our Spring 2024 eel story suggests far-reaching implications beyond our watershed’s borders.
Why Now? The Ord-EELs Facing the Anguilla rostrata (American Glass Eel) and Their App-EEL As A Symbol of Cultural and Environmental Harmony
The eels are coming! The eels are coming! We here in the Lower Raritan Watershed get to play Paul Revere every time a new crop of juvenile anguilla rostrata, or as they are affectionately known “elvers”, navigate from the Sargasso Sea in the North Atlantic to our local rivers, streams, and estuaries in spring. As one can imagine, an over 1000 mile trek is dangerous for all animals big and small. However, the American glass eels face some unique challenges, or should I say ord-EELs, to get to their (almost) forever home. Unfortunately, the American glass eel is designated as a threatened species by the International Union of Conservation of Nature. This is due to a wide range of problematic issues, including habitat loss, overfishing, pollution, and barriers to migration such as dams and culverts. Although conservation efforts including habitat restoration, regulation of fishing practices, and monitoring of glass eel populations are increasing, there are still significant threats.
The American Glass Eel is particularly vital, serving as both an indicator species and a keystone species across diverse environments, with significant physical and cultural implications. A keystone species is one that boxes outside its weight class, contributing much more to the ecosystem than would be expected. Glass eels specifically regulate prey populations, contribute to nutrient cycling, and serve as indicators of ecosystem health. Though we are familiar with the terminology of a keystone species in an environmental context, we can also use it to refer to species that have integral roles in cultural contexts, specifically within indigenous knowledge systems.
American glass eels hold an essential place in the cultural heritage of Maine’s Passamaquoddy tribe. Elder Donald Socotomah says: “The eels have been part of our traditions forever. We have them in our legends. We have all kinds of stories, thousands of years old.” The interconnectedness of eels with the wider Passamaquoddy culture showcases a very important narrative of community and intergenerational conveyance.
Traditionally, the Passamaquoddy people have relied on the abundance of glass eels as a vital source of sustenance, harvesting them using techniques passed down through generations. Elders within the community play a central role in teaching younger members about the importance of glass eels and the traditional methods of harvesting and preparation. During the spring migration season, members of the Passamaquoddy Tribe gather along the rivers and estuaries of Maine, awaiting the arrival of glass eels. The harvesting of eels becomes a communal activity, bringing together families and clans to celebrate the bounty of nature and reaffirm their cultural identity. Once harvested, glass eels are prepared in accordance with traditional recipes and culinary practices unique to the Passamaquoddy culture. The threatened state of American eels has significantly impacted the cultural traditions of the Passamaquoddy people. To help secure the continuance of the eel population and their cultural traditions, the Passamaquoddy people have developed innovative eel aquaculture practices, and were recently awarded a $4.3 million dollar grant by the USDA Rural Development department as a contribution to their efforts.
However, the interplay of eels within the Passamaquoddy tribe transcends their role as food. Glass eels hold spiritual significance for the Passamaquoddy people, serving as messengers of balance and harmony within the natural world. The health of eel populations is seen as a reflection of the overall well-being of the ecosystem and the interconnectedness of all living beings. This message of harmony and interconnection is not only beautiful but also applicable to the habitat connectedness that our catadromous friends exemplify.
Eel migrations between freshwater and marine environments facilitate the transfer of energy and nutrients, connecting different habitats and supporting biodiversity. In this context, the concept of swimways becomes particularly relevant. Swimways, akin to avian flyways, are emerging as a crucial concept for the conservation of migratory fish, underscoring a significant aspect of cultural connectivity between humans and wildlife. This idea is exemplified by the innovative “fish doorbell” project in Utrecht, Netherlands, where citizens globally assist fish migration by pressing an online doorbell to open canal locks. This community-driven initiative reflects a broader effort by scientists to map and protect fish migration routes worldwide, similar to bird conservation strategies that have successfully preserved flyways across regions and nations. The first global map of swimways includes routes for 665 migratory fish species, highlighting the necessity of international collaboration in safeguarding these critical ecological pathways. Such efforts are pivotal for maintaining biodiversity and ensuring the survival of migratory species, which are increasingly threatened by obstacles like dams, overfishing, and climate change. You can find out more about the multitude of efforts undertaken to develop swimways around the world here: https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/article/72/2/116/6521755
The swimways initiative fosters a deeper understanding and global awareness of the interconnectedness of ecosystems and the cultural responsibility of humans to protect these vital aquatic routes. By supporting the natural migratory patterns of eels and other aquatic organisms, swimways help maintain the intricate web of life that sustains diverse ecosystems. Embracing these pathways not only honors the ecological significance of eels but also aligns with the Passamaquoddy’s and other indigenous tribes’s profound understanding of interconnectedness and balance within the natural world.
This past spring, our community dedicated itself to understanding the profound ecological and cultural significance of eels, striving to deepen our connection to the broader ecological tapestry they represent. To achieve this, we immersed ourselves in every aspect of their conservation, ensuring we became gracious human hosts for our anguillid friends. Our efforts included constructing eel habitats, installing them, regularly monitoring their condition, and re-installing them whenever nature posed challenges. Through this hands-on involvement, we not only contributed to the well-being of the eels but also fostered a greater appreciation for the delicate balance of our shared environment.
These Mops Are The ‘Eel Deal
On March 12, twelve people came and engaged to build artificial eel habitats (a.k.a eel mops). In true citizen science fashion, we assembled these mops entirely out of materials that you could find at your local hardware store! The materials used in our eel mop construction was:
Brown polypropylene rope (25 ft length, 5/8 in. diameter)
Plant Saucer (12 in.)
Cable ties (15 count, medium sized)
Eyebolt (5/16”)
Washer (5/16”)
Extra rope (cut to desired length)
Pie Plates
Cement
Reflecting on the process, the most difficult part was unwinding the polypropylene rope to simulate the grasses. It took a lot of effort but it was sure worth it to make a hospitable home for the eels! After we unfurled the rope, we folded and rubber banded each bundle of rope to create loops. We then marked the saucer with 15 pairs of evenly spaced holes and drilled them, along with a central hole for the eyebolt. After that we attached the rope bundles to the saucer with cable ties, then removed the rubber bands. To secure everything we mixed cement and poured it into a pie tin, placing a plastic-wrapped pencil in the center while it set. After the cement dried (which was a time consuming process too), we attached the cement weight to the saucer with the eyebolt, washer, and bolt. With 12 helping hands, and a process as streamlined as this we were able to construct the eel mop seamlessly and quite quickly. It is important to note however, that despite eel mops being easy to make, in order to deploy the mops you MUST obtain a scientific collection permit from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, which the LRWP did prior to the collection process.
Install of the Habitats, Aren’t They Surr-eel?
Many who saw the mops thought they consisted of real river grasses. Who knew it was just an optical eel-lusion! On March 26, seven of the LRWP’s volunteers came out to help us install the eel mop in the Green Brook. The hope was that this Eel BnB looked cozy enough to entice some of the migrating glass eels to make it their pit stop.
We were very hopeful about finding eels, as their presence is a strong indicator of a healthy stream ecosystem, but we wouldn’t know until we gave the eels time to settle in.
Having A Hard Time Falling Asleep? Count Eels Instead of Sheep!
March 30th and April 13th, were our eel counting days. Unfortunately, the anguilla rostrata remained eel-lusive. Over those two days 15 wonderful volunteers checked the eel mop for inhabitants. Though we didn’t find any eels on those days we still found some macroinvertibrate friends, including very exciting dragonfly larvae! Akin to the eels, dragonflies are also an indicator species, and their presence let us know we were doing everything we can to be inviting hosts, the eels were just late to the party. Unfortunately, on our April 13th monitoring day we found out that our eel mop had broken due to damage from a big storm, so we had to remove the eel mop for repairs.
Big Storms Sure Aren’t Id-eel…
The damage from the storm certainly put a dent into our springtime monitoring plans, but we did our best to get the eel mop patched up as quickly as possible. On May 18, two of the LRWP’s board members, Heather Fenyk and Anton Getz, reinstalled the mop to see if the renovated home would entice some eels during the tail end of the season. The reinstall went quite smoothly and we looked forward to the last monitoring day of the season.
Fun Fact: Eels Are Fashionably Late to Gatherings, But We Love to Have Them Anyway!
On our last day of monitoring May 25, a week after the reinstall of the eel mop, we found a singular juvenile American glass eel. Eleven volunteers squealed in unison at the sight.
We measured our new friend and found that they were about 3.5 inches long and had started developing pigment. Based on research guidelines these characteristics would place this glass eel into the early elver stage of development, and approximately just over a year old. Happy 1st Birthday! Of course after a lot of oohing and ahhing, picture-taking, and measurements, we put the eel back into the Green Brook for it to continue to grow to adulthood in our streams. We can’t convey how exciting it is to have the American glass eel confirmed as present in the Lower Raritan Watershed. Their arrival truly signals a thriving stream, and we’re so grateful that the health of the Green Brook is being reflected in the biodiversity.
What’s Next? Our Eel Spi-eel.
Though the Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership engages in a variety of habitat assessment, macroinvertebrate, and pathogens monitoring projects, this was the first year that we were able to participate in eel monitoring. We embarked on this specific project in 2024 as a joint effort with installation of the Stormwater Systems Bandalong Bandit Litter Trap just downstream of the eel mop. The Litter Trap was installed in the aquatic nexus of Green Brook Borough, Dunellen Borough, and Plainfield – with the goal of relieving litter flows from this problem area. We are so proud of the work that we have done to both heal and observe the Green Brook, and the community involvement that has made both the projects a reality.
Our goals for the 2024 Glass Eel monitoring cycle were multifold:
To establish a baseline for eel data for the portion of the Green Brook.
Provide insight into the litter reduction project impact on aquatic life in the portion of the Green Brook.
Give a voice to the link between litter reduction and environmental health within the context of a high profile and multi-municipality project.
Engage community members in hands-on civic science environmental education activities, providing data regarding migratory behavior of spring eels in a neglected waterway.
Enhance public perception and usability of recreational areas along the Raritan River.
Despite some setbacks, we successfully accomplished all of these goals this monitoring cycle. We were able to establish the baseline through successful eel capture, with the timing of our discovery providing valuable insights into seasonal eel observations in our waterway. Additionally, our efforts shed light on a simultaneous litter reduction project, highlighted by the installation of New Jersey’s first litter trap. This milestone speaks volumes about our community’s dedication to the health of the lower Raritan watershed. Continued commitment from the community is propelling biodiversity and environmental health on an upward trajectory. As of 2024, we celebrate the fourth year of multi-site, multi-municipality clean-ups along the Green Brook, building on years of targeted efforts. Since our concentrated community initiatives began, several tons of litter have been removed from the Green Brook, marking significant progress in our shared environmental stewardship. This also speaks volumes towards our goal of highlighting the link between litter reduction and environmental health. Furthermore, throughout the project, the LRWP engaged 40 volunteers in the different stages of the eel mop build, installation, and monitoring. This gave 40 community members hands-on experience in environmental education and civic science. Through this community engagement initiative, we also successfully improved the public perception and usability of recreational areas along the Raritan River.
Our journey through eel monitoring has not only deepened our understanding of ecological interconnectedness but also strengthened community bonds and environmental stewardship. Despite challenges, including storm damage and the eels’ tardy arrival, our perseverance and community spirit prevailed. The successful establishment of an eel baseline and insights into our litter reduction project underscore our commitment to the health of the lower Raritan watershed. As we look ahead, we remain dedicated to fostering biodiversity and enhancing public enjoyment of our precious waterways. This collaborative effort has empowered dozens of volunteers with hands-on environmental education, building a community focused on restoration for the Raritan River and larger watershed. We eagerly anticipate future eel monitoring endeavors, pending securing the necessary funding. This project has exemplified the strength of community collaboration, and we aspire to build upon these achievements with future initiatives.
The New Jersey Protecting Against Climate Threats (NJPACT) Resilient Environments And Landscape (REAL) is part Governor Phil Murphy’s Executive Order 100 (Jan. 2020) that includes amendments to existing land resource protection rules designed to bolster resilience to the unavoidable impacts of climate change.The proposed rules address sea-level rise, coastal storm surge, flooding, and stormwater management concerns while improving water quality, protecting natural resources, and streamlining permitting processes that will expedite resilient investments in New Jersey’s communities and economy.
