A Special Thanks to the Volunteers Who Planted Dune Grasses as Part of Shark River Living Shoreline Project

I wish to thank all the volunteers from the American Littoral Society , the Shark River Cleanup Coalition , Rutgers University , and the many others who helped plant 15,000 culms of dune grass on a wet and cold Saturday, March 25 along South Riverside Drive in Neptune Township . A culm is the aerial stem of a grass or sedge. The volunteers were provided work gloves and dibble sticks and became wet and dirty but accomplished the “mission impossible” by planting the dune grass along the 2,050-foot-long living shoreline. This nature-based solution provides land stabilization, protects the shoreline from erosion, and creates and enhances living spaces for other organisms. This project will help protect the surrounding area from storms and waves, reduce flooding impacts, and create a marsh and beach habitat for wildlife.

The Shark River Living Shoreline Project is critical for several reasons. First, it will help to protect local communities from the impacts of coastal storms and flooding. Second, it will help restore natural habitats lost due to development and other human activities. Finally, it will serve as a model for other communities interested in implementing living shoreline projects as a way to increase coastal resiliency and restore natural ecosystems. Indeed, it is an innovative and vital project demonstrating the potential for coastal restoration and resiliency efforts to benefit people and the environment. As a former NJ Assistant Commissioner of Health, former president and current executive board member of the New Jersey Public Health Association, and a current university professor, I give the Shark River Living Shoreline Project an A++ for all their work to create this nature-based solution to help protect the Shark River Hills Community. Again, a special thanks to all! Dr. Jim Brown