HackensackHackensack RiverRiver OysterOyster Project:Project: IntegratingIntegrating VolunteerVolunteer MonitoringMonitoring toto DevelopDevelop aa BenthicBenthic RestorationRestoration PlanPlan

BethBeth Ravit,Ravit, Ph.D.Ph.D. NickNick VosVos--WeinWein MeredithMeredith ComiComi JohnJohn PonticorvoPonticorvo

Funding provided by the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission CollaborativeCollaborative EffortEffort

•• RutgersRutgers UniversityUniversity •• HackensackHackensack RiverkeeperRiverkeeper •• NY/NJNY/NJ BaykeeperBaykeeper •• ExploreExplore 20002000 MiddleMiddle SchoolSchool (Hudson County Schools of Technology) •• NewNew JerseyJersey MeadowlandsMeadowlands CommissionCommission (NJMC)(NJMC) WHYWHY THISTHIS SEMINAR?SEMINAR? AudienceAudience SurveySurvey •• WhatWhat typetype ofof organizationorganization dodo youyou workwork for?for? –– Government/RegulatoryGovernment/Regulatory AgencyAgency –– WatershedWatershed OrganizationOrganization –– Water/WastewaterWater/Wastewater TreatmentTreatment –– University/HigherUniversity/Higher EducationEducation –– TeacherTeacher (K(K--12)12) –– Other?Other? WHYWHY THISTHIS SEMINAR?SEMINAR? AudienceAudience SurveySurvey •• DoesDoes youryour organizationorganization useuse volunteers?volunteers? •• How?How? –– CollectCollect WaterWater QualityQuality DataData –– DataData EntryEntry –– DataData AnalysisAnalysis –– OutreachOutreach –– Other?Other? WHYWHY THISTHIS SEMINAR?SEMINAR? AudienceAudience SurveySurvey •• DoesDoes youryour organizationorganization partnerpartner withwith locallocal groups?groups? –– SchoolsSchools (K(K--1212 && Universities)Universities) –– ScoutsScouts –– WatershedWatershed OrganizationsOrganizations –– BusinessesBusinesses –– CivicCivic GroupsGroups –– Other?Other? * HACKENSACKHACKENSACK RIVERRIVER HistoryHistory ReservoirMeadowlandsHackensackReservoirMeadowlandsHackensack RiverRiver WatershedWatershed DistrictDistrict 210 square miles (20,750 acres) 1133245 -milesquare-square long milesHackensack miles River proper 45141287 municipalities total river & stream miles

9 2 states Wood! 3 counties ! 64 municipalities Wood Little Ridge 9 1.5 millionRidge directFerry consumers of potable water Moonachie Rutherford Moonachie CC Ridgefield E aa .. rr R ll u ss u tt t a h a e dtdt Lyndhurst rfo rd The meadowlandsN. Bergenare “the largest and best exampleGuttenberg of brackish N. Arlington Secaucus wetlands in the harborW. New York ecosystem and one of the lastUnion open space Kearny City areas in the urban core.”

–US Fish and Wildlife Service, 1998 UnitedUnited StatesStates GeologicalGeological SurveysSurveys 19401940 21,000 wetland acres 19951995 7,000 wetland acres

Dark black shapes indicate development since the previous map PollutionPollution Pollution Land Use Neglect PollutionPollution Challenges Strategies Achievements

•• HistoricHistoric AbuseAbuse –– HeavyHeavy Industry,Industry, ChemicalChemical Mfg.,Mfg., GasGas Mfg.Mfg. –– ChromiumChromium –– PCBPCB –– DDTDDT –– DioxinDioxin –– HeavyHeavy MetalsMetals PollutionPollution Challenges Strategies Achievements

EncourageEncourage local,local, statestate && federalfederal govgov’’tt toto forceforce thethe responsibleresponsible partiesparties toto cleanclean upup thethe historichistoric contaminationcontamination

EducateEducate thethe publicpublic PollutionPollution Challenges Strategies Achievements

•• ConductedConducted numerousnumerous workshopsworkshops regardingregarding municipalmunicipal stormwaterstormwater andand runoffrunoff •• PhasePhase 22 municipalmunicipal stormwaterstormwater regulationsregulations adoptedadopted •• HoneywellHoneywell LandLandPollutionPollution UseUse PPollutioollutionLandn Use Neglect LandLand UseUse Challenges Strategies Achievements •• ImproperImproper zoningzoning ofof riverriver frontfront propertyproperty •• FillingFilling wetlandswetlands •• DestructionDestruction ofof watershedwatershed forestsforests forfor developmentdevelopment •• TransportationTransportation infrastructureinfrastructure fragmentingfragmenting wetlandswetlands andand otherother importantimportant habitatshabitats •• ImperviousImpervious CoverCover •• CombinedCombined SewerSewer SystemsSystems inin olderolder citiescities LandLand UseUse Challenges Strategies Achievements EducateEducate citizenscitizens regardingregarding theirtheir rightsrights underunder thethe publicpublic trusttrust doctrinedoctrine WorkWork withwith local,local, countycounty andand statestate agenciesagencies toto correctcorrect planningplanning andand zoningzoning problemsproblems andand proactivelyproactively helphelp toto createcreate newnew mastermaster plansplans DemandDemand thatthat thethe statestate appliesapplies thethe highesthighest protectionprotection underunder thethe CleanClean WaterWater ActAct toto ourour drinkingdrinking waterwater supplysupply WorkWork withwith allall partiesparties toto developdevelop plansplans forfor eliminationelimination ofof allall CombinedCombined SewerSewer SystemsSystems LandLand UseUse Challenges Strategies Achievements

• Conducted workshops for municipal officials regarding the benefits of open space acquisition • Worked with a coalition to establish open space trust funds in both Bergen and Hudson Counties • Worked with the state legislature to create the Meadowlands Conservation Trust • Convinced state administration to reclassify entire water supply watershed as category 1 • Initialized the revocation of Combined Sewer permits replaced by Combined Sewer elimination permits • New Meadowlands Master Plan rezoning 8,400 acres of wetlands as open space LandLandNeglectNeglect UseUse PollutionLandLand UseUseNeglect NeglectNeglect Challenges Strategies Achievements •• LackLack ofof publicpublic accessaccess toto thethe riverriver

•• CulturalCultural disconnectdisconnect ofof watershedwatershed residentsresidents

•• ContaminationContamination ofof aquaticaquatic foodfood chainchain

•• OvercomingOvercoming preconceivedpreconceived notionsnotions ofof pollutionpollution levelslevels NeglectNeglect Challenges Strategies Achievements

•• EcoEco--ProgramsPrograms –– EcoEco--Cruises,Cruises, PaddlingPaddling Center,Center, EcoEco--Walks,Walks, RiverRiver CleanupsCleanups •• EncourageEncourage thethe establishmentestablishment ofof aa pedestrianpedestrian pathpath andand waterwater trailtrail •• AdvocateAdvocate forfor thethe creationcreation ofof riverfrontriverfront parks,parks, boatboat rampsramps andand marinasmarinas NeglectNeglect Challenges Strategies Achievements •• 1717 milesmiles ofof riverfrontriverfront pedestrianpedestrian walkwayswalkways inin place,place, underunder constructionconstruction oror inin thethe planningplanning stagestage •• HackensackHackensack RiverRiver WaterWater TrailTrail ActionAction PlanPlan •• SponsoredSponsored NYNJERCKSNYNJERCKS 33--dayday sourcesource toto baybay paddlingpaddling eventevent •• LaurelLaurel HillHill Park,Park, MillMill CreekCreek PointPoint ParkPark && RiverRiver BargeBarge ParkPark andand MarinaMarina NeglectNeglect Pollution Land UseNeglecNeglectt TheThe HudsonHudson--RaritanRaritan EstuaryEstuary

AnAn extraordinaryextraordinary collectioncollection ofof rivers,rivers, harbors,harbors, bays,bays, beaches,beaches, uplands,uplands, andand primalprimal mud.mud. WHYWHY RESTORERESTORE THISTHIS ECOLOGICALLYECOLOGICALLY IMPORTANTIMPORTANT SPECIES?SPECIES? •• Water filtration capacity to improve overall water quality •• Increase species diversity of fish population •• Enhance benthic habitat with complex reef structure

Oysters are “keystone” species. WEBWEB OFOF LIFELIFE

OysterOyster reefsreefs provideprovide refugerefuge forfor aa varietyvariety ofof marinemarine organismsorganisms includingincluding anemones,anemones, barnacles,barnacles, crabs,crabs, andand fish.fish. ForFor thisthis reason,reason, oystersoysters areare consideredconsidered aa ““keystonekeystone”” speciesspecies becausebecause theythey linklink benthicbenthic andand pelagicpelagic foodfood webswebs creatingcreating anan interconnectedinterconnected foodfood web.web. ResearchResearch hashas shownshown thatthat overover 3030 speciesspecies ofof fishfish areare associatedassociated withwith oysteroyster reefs,reefs, includingincluding juvenilejuvenile stripedstriped bass,bass, tautogtautog,, blackblack seasea bass,bass, andand adultadult blackblack drum.drum. THETHE AMERICANAMERICAN OYSTEROYSTER CrassostreaCrassostrea virginicavirginica OYSTERSOYSTERS AREARE NATURALNATURAL FILTERSFILTERS AnAn adultadult oysteroyster cancan filterfilter 1010 quartsquarts ofof waterwater perper hour.hour. DenseDense populationspopulations ofof filterfilter--feedingfeeding shellfishshellfish cancan havehave basinbasin--widewide waterwater qualityquality effects.effects. Oyster spat Flat worms Blue claw crab Oyster drills Tautog Barnacles Sea squirts Killies Grass Shrimp Mud crabs Mussels Anemones Striped sea bass Flounder Mud snails REASONSREASONS FORFOR DECLINEDECLINE OFOF OYSTEROYSTER POPULATIONPOPULATION

•• OverharvestingOverharvesting •• PollutionPollution •• DredgingDredging •• SiltationSiltation •• DiseaseDisease REEFREEF RESTORATIONRESTORATION BAYKEEPERBAYKEEPER’’SS RESTORATIONRESTORATION EFFORTEFFORT CONSTRUCTIONCONSTRUCTION OFOF KEYPORTKEYPORT REEFREEF (2001)(2001) CONSTRUCTIONCONSTRUCTION OFOF NAVESINKNAVESINK REEFREEF (2003(2003--PRESENT)PRESENT) HOWHOW DOESDOES BAYKEEPERBAYKEEPER BUILDBUILD OYSTEROYSTER REEFS?REEFS?

CreateCreate aa layerlayer ofof surfsurf clamclam shellsshells soso thethe oystersoysters dodo notnot getget buriedburied inin thethe sedimentsediment PlantPlant aa layerlayer ofof oystersoysters fromfrom thethe OysterOyster GardeningGardening ProgramProgram andand AquacultureAquaculture ProgramProgram

OysterOyster LayerLayer SurfSurf ClamClam ShellsShells AQUACULTUREAQUACULTURE CENTERCENTER REMOTEREMOTE SETTINGSETTING AQUACULTUREAQUACULTURE PROGRAMPROGRAM

•• ReceiveReceive oysteroyster larvaelarvae whenwhen theythey areare aboutabout toto settlesettle •• ProvideProvide thethe larvaelarvae withwith bagsbags ofof shellsshells toto settlesettle onon •• AfterAfter oystersoysters areare thethe sizesize ofof aa quarterquarter theythey areare plantedplanted onon thethe reefreef •• 2007:2007: 266,000266,000 spatspat onon shellshell plantedplanted

OYSTEROYSTER GARDENINGGARDENING

•• VolunteersVolunteers growgrow 500500 -- 20002000 clutchlessclutchless oystersoysters inin floatsfloats aroundaround thethe Estuary.Estuary. •• SchoolSchool classes,classes, scoutscout troops,troops, families,families, civiccivic groupsgroups andand boatboat clubsclubs participate.participate. •• MaintainMaintain oystersoysters onon aa monthlymonthly basisbasis forfor oneone year,year, measuringmeasuring growthgrowth andand recordingrecording observationsobservations ofof organisms.organisms. PRESENTLY:PRESENTLY:

4040 ACTIVEACTIVE SITESSITES ININ NJNJ 1717 ACTIVEACTIVE SITESSITES ININ NYNY VOLUNTEERSVOLUNTEERS AREARE INVOLVEDINVOLVED ININ EVERYEVERY ASPECTASPECT OFOF THETHE OYSTEROYSTER PROGRAM:PROGRAM: ReefReef BuildingBuilding GardeningGardening OystersOysters BaggingBagging ShellShell AquacultureAquaculture FacilityFacility Monitoring/FieldMonitoring/Field WorkWork WorkshopsWorkshops THETHE BEGINNINGBEGINNING OFOF AA REEFREEF…….. PROJECTPROJECT OBJECTIVESOBJECTIVES •• IdentifyIdentify HackensackHackensack RiverRiver locationslocations wherewhere oysteroyster reefreef habitathabitat wouldwould bebe desirabledesirable •• DetermineDetermine thethe viabilityviability ofof EasternEastern OystersOysters atat thesethese locationslocations inin thethe HackensackHackensack RiverRiver •• IfIf oystersoysters proveprove toto bebe viableviable prepareprepare aa BenthicBenthic HabitatHabitat RestorationRestoration PlanPlan forfor thethe HackensackHackensack RiverRiver

This plan would be implemented in years 2-5 following the preliminary study and would include the following elements: Identification of suitable oyster habitat locations. Proposed ecological community assemblages. A program of public participation, education, and outreach. Identification of potential project partners and funding sources. PRIORPRIOR AQUATICAQUATIC STUDIESSTUDIES OysterOyster PresencePresence

• T1 • T2 Trawl • T6 • GN1 Gill Net • S1 Seine TESTTEST SITESITE SELECTIONSELECTION MeadowlandsMeadowlands DistrictDistrict TestTest SiteSite Criteria:Criteria: •• LocationsLocations wherewhere itit isis desirabledesirable toto slowslow waterwater velocitiesvelocities and/orand/or reducereduce turbidityturbidity •• IndicationsIndications thatthat smallsmall patchespatches ofof oystersoysters maymay bebe presentpresent •• AnAn intermediateintermediate salinitysalinity rangerange >10>10 pptppt •• TidalTidal patternspatterns thatthat contributecontribute toto larvaelarvae retentionretention withinwithin aa potentialpotential ““reefreef areaarea”” •• AdequateAdequate levelslevels ofof oxygenoxygen andand nutrientsnutrients •• AvoidanceAvoidance ofof areasareas wherewhere thethe oystersoysters couldcould bebe easilyeasily harvestedharvested toto preventprevent creatingcreating anan ““attractiveattractive nuisancenuisance”” TESTTEST SITESSITES

SawSaw MillMill CreekCreek

RiverbendRiverbend

PenhornPenhorn CreekCreek EXPERIMENTALEXPERIMENTAL DESIGNDESIGN •• 55 LocationsLocations –– 1818 floatsfloats totaltotal –– OysterOyster densitydensity 1000/m1000/m2 •• Survival •• Growth •• Predation •• New larvae setting –– TestTest variousvarious substratessubstrates forfor oysteroyster settingsetting •• Concrete •• Terra Cotta •• Wood •• Limestone EXPERIMENTALEXPERIMENTAL DESIGNDESIGN

•• 55 LocationsLocations –– UpperUpper SawSaw MillMill CreekCreek •• 3 Enclosures –– MiddleMiddle SawSaw MillMill CreekCreek •• 3 Enclosures –– MouthMouth ofof SawSaw MillMill CreekCreek •• 3 Enclosures –– RiverbendRiverbend MarshMarsh •• 3 Enclosures –– MalankaMalanka LandfillLandfill •• Transect of 5 enclosures MODIFIEDMODIFIED FLOATFLOAT CONSTRUCTIONCONSTRUCTION FloatFloat LidLid 40” 40”

40” 40”

60”

10” 0.75” dia.

3” dia. 2” dia. OYSTEROYSTER ENCLOSURESENCLOSURES Thanks for making my new home!!! SUBSTRATESUBSTRATE TESTTEST FIELDFIELD SAMPLINGSAMPLING

•• Water Quality Measurements - DO, pH, Salinity, Temperature. •• Oyster Growth Measurements •• Invertebrates and vertebrates logged •• Oyster Mortality VOLUNTEERVOLUNTEER COLLECTEDCOLLECTED DATADATA MeasuringMeasuring OystersOysters RECRUITINGRECRUITING VOLUNTEERSVOLUNTEERS •• OutreachOutreach –– NewsletterNewsletter –– WebsiteWebsite –– MediaMedia (Press Releases) –– PresentationsPresentations (School, Community Groups) –– LocalLocal EventsEvents TRAININGTRAINING VOLUNTEERSVOLUNTEERS •• SeminarsSeminars •• History,History, Biology,Biology, ImportanceImportance ofof Oysters/ReefsOysters/Reefs •• LawsLaws andand RegulationsRegulations ofof ShellfishShellfish •• HowHow toto measuremeasure oysters/dataoysters/data collectioncollection •• MaterialsMaterials givengiven out:out: allall materialsmaterials providedprovided atat nono costcost MAINTAININGMAINTAINING VOLUNTEERSVOLUNTEERS •• FeedFeed Them!Them! •• CertificatesCertificates •• VolunteerVolunteer AwardsAwards •• VolunteerVolunteer AppreciationAppreciation PartyParty GETTINGGETTING STUDENTSSTUDENTS INVOLVEDINVOLVED STUDENTSTUDENT VIDEOVIDEO INITIALINITIAL RESULTSRESULTS PARAMETER SMC – E SMC – I SMC RIVER MALANKA

Water Temp 25.4 + 2.67a 26.4 + 2.98 b 26.2 + 4.18 b 25.2 + 2.75 a 25.8 + 2.91 a

Salinity 13.2 + 2.59 c 13.3 + 2.44 c 12.4 + 1.21 d 13.4 + 1.40 c 13.8 + 1.69 e

f g h j j Dissolved O2 5.74 + 0.31 7.8 + 1.52 8.9 + 0.94 4.3 + 1.00 4.5 + 1.02

pH 7.9 + 0.08 k 8.1 + 0.19 m 7.9 + 0.59 k 7.9 + 0.03 k 7.9 + 0.02 k

Questions?Questions? HackensackHackensack RiverRiver OysterOyster Project:Project: IntegratingIntegrating VolunteerVolunteer MonitoringMonitoring toto DevelopDevelop aa BenthicBenthic RestorationRestoration PlanPlan

Beth Ravit, Ph.D. [email protected] Nick Vos-Wein [email protected] Meredith Comi [email protected] John Ponticorvo [email protected]

Funding provided by the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission