Office of Public Relations

Pomona, NJ 08240

 

 

Stocktons Coastal Research Center Receives $858,470 Contract for Services to Ocean, Bayside Towns

 

Shifting sands monitored over 15 year period;

ongoing surveys taking place at 100 locations along NJ Coast

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, March 23, 2004

Contact: Tim Kelly

Stockton Public Relations

(609) 652-4950

 

GALLOWAY TWP, NJ The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey has been awarded a two-year contract from the New Jersey Department for Environmental Protections Bureau of Coastal Engineering totaling $858,470 for a variety of coastal research services and monitoring in the states shoreline municipalities.

 

Under the terms of the contract, Stocktons Coastal Research Center will perform annual or biannual surveys on 100 different ocean and bayside coastline locations. Stockton provided a 15-year study of New Jersey beach profiles, as well as individual surveys for the various municipalities. The surveys will provide useful data for making policies and designing plans for improvements in beach replenishment and sand retention for New Jerseys beaches, coastal construction set-backs and beach/dune designs.

 

This is a multi-task effort involving twice-annual surveys of each location with at least one survey site in each coastal municipality in the state, said Stewart Farrell, Professor of Marine Science at the college.

 

Stocktons New Jersey Beach Profiles Network Survey is based on the NJ Shore Protection Master Plan which calls for periodic and long-term mapping program. The data for the maps is gathered through regular aerial photography of the coastal sites and on-the-ground measurements and sampling.

 

Among other services provided under the terms of the contract:

 

         Surveys of beaches to monitor the effects of storms on individual locations

         An examination and critical look at existing New Jersey Department of

Environmental Protection coastal projects intended to preserve New Jerseys coastline. Stockton is essentially providing opinions on how well these DEP efforts are working based on the Coastal Research Center data.

 

         A study comparing the effectiveness of two different types of sand-retaining structures off Cape May Point. Both are submerged offshore concrete barriers which serve as artificial reefs. One type is specifically designed for this purpose and the other is a less expensive version, essentially mass-produced floor deck sections used in the construction of parking garages.

 

For a more detailed look at the 15-year Beach Profiles Network Survey and the individual municipal surveys as they are completed, log onto the Stockton College website at www.stockton.edu. The surveys can be found by clicking on the Academics section, then clicking on Natural and Mathematical Sciences and finally clicking on the link for NJ Beach Profile Network.