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QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER
April - June 2023
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Bi-monthly Business Meeting & Presentation
Wednesday, September 13th , 6:30 pm
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Join us at the next Bi-monthly Membership Meeting on Wednesday, September 13th at 6:30 p.m. There you will be queued into upcoming opportunities to get involved and out-of-doors. This gathering is public and will be held at The Authority on Lebanon Road in Deerfield. Afterward, stay on for a presentation by Cape May Bird Observatory's Migration Count Coordinator, Tom Reed. He will be presenting “Monitoring Monarchs, Charting Changes at Cape May.”
Tom Reed coordinates bird and butterfly monitoring programs for New Jersey Audubon’s Cape May Bird Observatory. Most of the year you can find him in the field, collecting data on hundreds of species that are concentrated in and along the Cape May peninsula during their annual movements. A lifetime resident of Cape May County, Tom took up birding at the age of 10 and has been captivated by the magic of migration ever since. Click the following link to read an article co-authored by Tom - 5 Things to Know about Migrating Monarchs.
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SECOND QUARTER FUN'RAISING
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WORLD SERIES OF BIRDING
On May 13th, CU Fish Hawks participated in the NJ Audubon's 40th Edition of the World Series of Birding. A huge thank you is owed to Team Captain Mary Watkins and her companion birders Tony Klock, Kathy Michel, and Laurie Pettigrew. They hit the roads along the Bayshore to visit birding hotspots during a 24-hour period. This year they spotted 135 bird species. Wow!
Leading up to the event, Jane Galetto volunteers a considerable number of hours engaging our members and the public with the positive impact this event has on bird communities and preserved spaces. Together the Fish Hawks, Jane, and the members raised a net total of $19,315. Go CU Fish Hawks!
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Despite unpredictable weather forecasts, the Third Annual Raise the River Event succeeded in getting people outdoors and on the river. Between June 23rd-25th, four paddles were led with nearly 80 participants. Some paddlers asked their contacts and family to support watershed protection by sponsoring their trips downstream. To close out the weekend's activities, a celebratory lunch/dinner was hosted at the Union Lake Sailing and Tennis Club. Nearly 60 guests were in attendance. Crabs, oysters, spaghetti, and more were served - and a good time was had by all.
A huge thank you to Raise the River Committee volunteers and everyone who helped organize the Crabs and Spaghetti Dinner for January 19th. The Raise the River Planning Committee was involved in every step of the planning journey. Donations totaled over $9,800. After costs, the net gain added up to almost $6,800K. We have debriefed with the RTR Committee and found that the group has many ideas on how to market the paddles within the broader community and how to improve upon the dinner. If you would like to help us plan 2024 events let us know by emailing CitizensUnited@CUMauriceRiver.org. Stay tuned for updates on the 2024 edition. "Raise the River!"
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May 2023. The Maurice River from the Galetto's dock. Picture by CU Member Sue Godfry. | |
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CU's BIG DAY -
May 20, CU’s Big Day: a day of celebrating not only Spring on the Bay, but also volunteer commitment to environmental stewardship. The day’s events were stymied by inclement weather; however, many of the proposed events were either revised or went on without any need for change.
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7:00 a.m. Dawn Song Warbler Walk – Revised as a driving tour of birding hotspots along the Bay and the Maurice River.
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9:30 a.m. Bayshore Paddle – Cancelled due to weather.
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4:00 p.m. Campfire & Ah Why Knot Awards – CUMR volunteers and the International Shorebird Scientist Team gathered along the shore of the Maurice to honor their outstanding contributors.
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AH WHY KNOT AWARD WINNERS 2023: | |
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Marika Masarek
Marika came to CU Maurice River as a youngster with her mother and father, Sharry and Paul. Her volunteerism at that time was the inspiration for the Sanderling Award, which she received in 2016. The award recognizes youths who go above and beyond to protect the natural treasures of our area. Over the last seven years, Marika has remained a dedicated steward.
She volunteers to install and maintain rain gardens, bake for the shorebird scientists, lend a hand at fundraisers, and represent CU at community festivals. At outdoor education events you will find Marika working with the younger generation to show them how to explore nature through art.
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Sue Harasink
Sue is a certified genetic counselor with over 30 years of extensive clinical experience in pediatric and prenatal/maternal-fetal genetics. Since she became active with CU Maurice River, she has volunteered to do anything that involves getting onto the water, or wet and dirty.
She has assisted in wetland revitalization projects, wetland vegetative mapping, dragonfly mercury sampling, reTURN the Favor, and Raise the River planning. She is an experienced paddler and is always helpful when others need a hand while on the water. And - when we get lucky – she will play hooky from work to help plan our next paddle excursion!
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Jeff Johnson
Jeff Johnson has been active with CU Maurice River since at least 2016. He worked at the power plant but had formerly studied horticulture, so he enjoys participating with CU Maurice River because he gets to explore his early interests. Jeff has planted many a tree at wetlands restoration sites and along buffers. A year or so ago, Jeff moved to a complex where having a garden isn’t possible. So in order to satisfy his desire to plant, he has been dedicating many hours to the sites that we renaturalized or improved together over the years.
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Dr. Trudy Pomeratz
Trudy received her Bachelor's and Doctorate Degrees in Chemistry from The University of Queensland. Only a member since 2021, she has made a big impact over a short period of time.
In 2022, Trudy volunteered well over 60 hours raising plants for rain gardens, mapping wetland vegetative cover, cleaning up waterways, reTURNing the Favor, pollinator surveys, community science phenology projects, and much more. In 2023, Trudy took the next step in her stewardship when she became a monitor for a bluebird trail in her neighborhood and adjacent areas.
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Kevin Stupp
In his role as a volunteer coordinator for Ducks Unlimited South Jersey Chapter, Kevin manages wood duck boxes and leads waterway clean-ups throughout the Wild and Scenic Maurice River. He also engages youth with the outdoors by organizing hunting education activities.
Three years ago, DU’s biologist Jim Faege was providing CU Maurice River with his professional insight and guidance on the creation of a wetland restoration project. As part of these conversations, Jim connected CUMR with DU’s volunteer chapter. Since then Kevin has been organizing his crew to assist in the wetland vegetative mapping project, a community science initiative. The DU volunteers have been lending their time and boats to chauffeuring our volunteers as we take wayfinding points of wetlands dominated by Phragmites, Spartina, or wild rice. As we mosey downstream, the DU guys freely share generational river stories and knowledge - anecdotal information that helps the mapping project along. Thanks to our partnership, DU and CU volunteers have also partnered on waterway clean-ups and other initiatives. Any time we call up Kevin - like the time we took out environmental consultants to visit potential restoration sites – Kevin responds, “Ah-Why-Knot - I'm always down for a boat ride!”
If you follow Kevin on social media, you will notice his pride in his wife and children, his daughter’s first hunting experiences, the Bayshore fishing cabin he is reconstructing, and his general excitement about his family’s academic successes. And – you will catch glimpses of South Jersey’s best duck dog (no questions about it!) – Maverick.
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Skitch Manion
Skitch has been helping the CU community for many years; however, the first time we had the pleasure of working with him in the field was at the installation of the WheatonArts Urban Oasis, a large interconnected system of rain gardens and upland pollinator spaces that filter 890,000 gallons of water back into the aquifer per year. We learned something about Skitch during that project. As shown in his artwork, he subscribes to the theory, “Go big – or go home.” That said, this never comes at the cost of detail nor perfection.
Over the years Skitch has blown many pieces of glass for CU Maurice River fundraisers. We are forever grateful for his dedication to environmental stewardship, community, and traditional, local art forms.
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Presidential Award Winner - | |
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Dennis Palmer
Dennis Palmer has served on the CU board since 2017. He has been well known in the community and in his professional circles as Chief Engineer for the Landis Sewage Authority since 1993. A licensed Professional Engineer and Licensed Professional Planner in NJ, Dennis has over 40 years of experience in the water and environmental field at the state, county, and local levels. He has been very active in the Vineland Chamber of Commerce and Rotary, he was past Chairman of the multi-state Water Resources Association of the Delaware River Basin, and he is active in the Association of Environmental Authorities, a statewide organization of water. He serves on the Planning Board in Blackwood NJ.
His planning background and common-sense approach has enabled Vineland to place sewer service primarily in appropriate places, but most importantly to exclude areas that need protection. Dennis has been one of the people who has most influenced the health of the Maurice River. He has made improvements in the Vineland treatment plant for 30 years and it has become known as one of the best in NJ. This is no small task; it provides 1.8 billion gallons of highly treated effluent from the original source, the highest volume in NJ! He has been innovative – returning water to the aquifer, and utilizing farming, infiltration basins, and spray irrigation.
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 |  | LSA's staff members are stewards of the most botanically significant site in NJ. The Authority has created 300 acres of quail habitat project native grasses – working with NGOs including NJ Audubon, South Jersey Quail, Wild Turkey Federation, and NJ Fish and Wildlife. Meanwhile, they have installed innovative energy production measures with the goal of a zero carbon footprint! LSA uses treated biosolids to fertilize 550 acres of corn, hay, straw, and southern yellow pine trees and operates a windmill, solar array, and CHP system to generate electricity for the facility. At the LSA, even byproducts have a use. The authority collects wastewater biosolids, which are rich in nitrogen and phosphorus and uses them as organic fertilizer for the products grown on its 400-acre farm. Crop production has exceeded 1,100 tons per year, and gross sales of more than $100,000 per year help stabilize LSA’s user rates. Biosolids are also turned into fertilizer as part of LSA’s forest management plan: It used 150 of its 1,800 acres to plant 75,000 trees, including Eastern white cedar. The trees sequester carbon, removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.
Dennis has guided CU Maurice River in efforts like the piping of sewage under Route 55 – which ended up with 470 acres being protected on the west side of the highway. He advised us relative to a massive regional sewage proposal that would have diverted waters from the Maurice and Cohansey Watershed, and succeesed in bypassing these waterways while putting outflow into Delaware Bay.
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Julia Wiberg
Program Coordinator
Julia Wiberg joined CU Maurice River in June of 2023 as the Program Coordinator. She is charged with planning and organizing outdoor activities and volunteer opportunities that aim to increase awareness of the region's local natural and cultural resources. In this position, she most enjoys working alongside knowledgeable and enthusiastic life-long students of nature. One of Julia’s professional goals is to benefit from the collective knowledge of CU Maurice River’s team of Naturalists and staff to grow her working knowledge of Down Jersey’s remarkable values. As a native of Vineland and an aspiring outdoor educator, Julia is working diligently to connect the next generation of stewards to the wonders of the out-of-doors and to empower them to make a difference for a greener tomorrow. Working at CU Maurice River, Julia is taking advantage of the opportunity to combine her love of the environment, education, and event planning.
Through her personal and professional exploration of New Jersey’s ecosystems, Julia has grown a deep love and respect for her home state. She first gained working experience in the natural world during two seasons at Parvin State Park. Benefiting from the teachings of Parvin Naturalists, Julia was inspired to return to school in pursuit of an environmental degree. Currently, Julia is working towards completing her B.S. in Environmental Studies with a concentration in Wildlife Ecology at Unity Environmental University. She will graduate in May 2024. As Julia learns and grows in the position, she hopes to protect and preserve the environment that she loves and to educate others on its importance, uniqueness, and beauty.
Julia also has experience in the classroom working with special education students as a Teacher’s Assistant. If she isn’t reading or baking, she enjoys being outdoors, specifically hiking, kayaking, and camping during her free time. Julia spends much of her time volunteering at and organizing events for her local church in Vineland.
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Wendy Jo Brewer
Administrative Assistant
Wendy Jo Brewer has joined the CU Maurice River team as the Administrative Assistant, a new position on the team. This new venture into what staff calls - with the utmost respect - a bean-counting role is preceded by her experience growing sweet peas, limas, and runner beans in any patch of backyard she can find. All joking aside, through her studies Wendy Jo honed her time management and organizational skills. In her professional experience she has instructed others on how these techniques can make a positive impact on one's quality of life.
Wendy Jo earned a Master of Arts in Wellness and Lifestyle Management at Rowan University. Over the last decade she has been building a resume that reflects her experience working directly with a multitude of disadvantaged communities in southern New Jersey. Whether she is leading a family art workshop at WheatonArts and Cultural Center, mentoring youth in Bridgeton, instructing a yoga class, or coaching nontraditional students registered with disabilities, Wendy Jo likes to roll up her sleeves and get involved. After almost a decade away from her hometown, she is now back in Bridgeton and is excitedly growing a third generation of birdhouse gourds in her backyard garden.
Currently, Wendy Jo is working with Doreen Homan and Meghan Thompson to learn the ins and outs of managing the CU Maurice River office. Over the next few months, she will be joining programming staff on the nature trail in order to learn more about CU Maurice River - and to meet you!
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SECOND QUARTER EVENTS 2023
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Wild and Scenic Manumuskin River, April 2023 | |
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APRIL
Sat. 1, Wheaton Springs: CUMR staff set up an informational booth at this community event. There CUMR led nature-based art crafts to promote learning.
Sat. 1, 10:00 a.m. Phenology Crash Course:
CUMR invited volunteers to participate in a national community science project that aims to collect data on climate change-induced variations observed in plant life. CUMR EEOC led a presentation on this national project and gave the group of 13 an introduction to phenology. Afterward, they hit the Maurice River nature trail to explore phenophases firsthand. A second course was held for those who were unable to attend the first training due to inclement weather. An additional 5 volunteers were in attendance.
Tues. 4, 9:00 a.m. Tuesday on the Fly – Oldman’s Creek Preserve: CUMR visits South Jersey Land & Water Trust and enjoys a walk near headquarters at Oldman’s Creek Preserve. Spicebush and spring beauties were flowering; mayapples and skunk cabbage had leafed out and were dotting the hillsides and streams; many birds including belted kingfisher, cardinal, osprey, and bald eagle were spotted; at the end the group visited Oldman's Creek by the docks; and some attendees took the opportunity to enjoy the meditation labyrinth. 20 participants.
Sat. 8, 9:00 a.m. CU Saturday – Giant Trees of Down Jersey: Dr. Matt Olson, Assistant Professor of Environmental Sciences at Stockton University and dendrologist, led us on an old-growth tree walk through Bear Swamp. He was an excellent instructor and attendees learned much about tree anatomy including the fact that bigtooth aspen can be found at Bear Swamp. It was the first time there for many of the attendees. Matt also showed us how he measures the height of trees with a device called a hypsometer.
Fri. 14, 9:00 a.m. Volunteer Work Group: Spring Garden Clean-up: The redbuds and golden ragwort were flowering and buzzing with bees. A new layer of wood chips was placed on the paths and the group also cleared out the invasive shrubs, trees, and other weeds, removed dead heads of last year's plants, cleaned up leaves, and transplanted natives growing in pathways back into the garden beds. 15 volunteers
Sat. 15, Spring Extravaganza: CU Maurice River partnered with the Barn Studio of Art to host a community event celebrating the upcoming Earth Day and the opening of the Barn. CUMR highlighted the scenic values of the Maurice River by leading Paint-A-Landscape, an outdoor educational activity. 8 volunteers
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Sun. 16, reTURN the Favor Training: 24 CUMR volunteers attended the training and acquired the official permit to participate in the Bayshore-wide community-led wildlife management project, reTURN the Favor. After this training, CUMR coordinated with “returning” volunteers to get them their permits and other necessary materials. Due to this massive effort during the months of May and June, tens of thousands of crabs will be returned to the safety of bay at the East Point Lighthouse beaches alone.
Thurs. 20, 6:30 p.m. CU SPEAKING SERIES: 23 people attended this presentation given by CUMR Board President Jane Galetto. This year the speaking series highlights man’s interaction with the Maurice River’s natural resources. Jane presented "A History of Conservation in Down Jersey".
Sat. 22, 9:00 a.m. Fourth Saturday Nature Walk: Stroll through Waltman Park led by naturalists Tony Klock and Mary Watkins. 14 people were in attendance. They were able to witness a bald eagle in her nest tending to her young. Many frogs and birds were spotted, and there was a lot of discussion about local plants.
April 23, ACUA, Earth Day Festival: CUMR hosted an informational booth at this community event that attracts nearly 12,000 visitors. CUMR staff and volunteer educators also offered an activity that explored the workings of a watershed and the impact litter has on habitats and wildlife.
Fri. 28, 9:00 a.m. Volunteer Work Group: Gardening at Wheaton: A small group bore the inclement weather in order to work on this Neighborhood Garden that CUMR uses as a springboard to natural areas for downtown youths. Another workgroup was scheduled for 5/1/2023, where 13 volunteers were busy preparing the WheatonArts rain gardens for the season.
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Volunteers at a Neighborhood Wildlife Garden Clean up. April 2023
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reTURN the Favor Workgroup. May 2023 | |
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MAY
The Month of May – Sustenance for the Shorebird Scientists: Throughout the entire month of May, CUMR volunteers donate meals for the International Shorebird Team. CUMR’s Board and Staff coordinate this massive effort to prepare and deliver sustenance to the scientists. In this way, the team can focus their evenings on inputting and running data instead of cooking for 20-50 ornithologists. The International Shorebird Scientist Team is studying and documenting the red knot and other shorebird populations that the bay and the Maurice River host during spring migration.
Tues. 2, 9:00 a.m. Tuesday on the Fly: A group of 14 explored the East Point Lighthouse & Heislerville WMA. EPL’s Nancy Thompson gave us a tour and provided a presentation on the lighthouse’s historical background. Many were amazed to hear that most of the flooring is the original from 1849. Afterward, the group headed to Thompson's Beach where the group ran into Emmy Caspar, a wildlife biologist with Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey, who is surveying American oystercatcher nests on the Bayshore Wildlife highlights included a glossy ibis and the cormorant rookery at Matt's Landing.
Thurs. 4, 10:00 a.m. Community Planting Day at WheatonArts: During the winter volunteers seeded trays of native plants and grew them at their homes in preparation for Community Planting Day. In addition, teacher Dave Orlandini and his students from the Vineland High School Special Ed class grew multiple trays of plants for WheatonArts in their greenhouse, which they planted at the garden on this occasion. Other members and volunteers donated plants from their own backyard habitats. Some 2,000 plants were put in the ground these included butterfly weed, purple coneflower, little bluestem, and many more native species. 30 volunteers. See picture below.
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May 13, Downe Twp, Horseshoe Crab Festival: CUMR Naturalist and Board President led a nature walk. CUMR staff and volunteers hosted an information and outdoor education booth.
Sat. 13th, Impromtu Volunteer WorkGroup: Wood chips were laid down in the front part of the garden in the Governor’s Strip, the side garden near the driveway, and the back part of the garden pathway into the outdoor classroom plaza/square. Non-native grasses and Asiatic bittersweet.
Wed. 17, 8:00 a.m. Breeding Birds of Belleplain: CU Naturalist Bert Hixon led a birding walk to highlight the neotropical migrants on their way through the area. There were eye-popping sights of a male summer tanager as well as a female. Participants saw or heard a total of 55 species of birds; other notables include great views of a yellow-breasted chat, prairie warbler, and indigo bunting. 15 participants
Fri. 19, 6:00 p.m. Family-Friendly Friday: A family favorite, this year CUMR EEOC led the young explorers to vernal pools at Bennett's Mill in the Wild and Scenic Manumuskin Watershed. Many species of frogs were caught and heard, including the Pine Barrens tree frog! The weather was unstable and affected participation. 15 people joined us to slog for frogs.
May 23 (11:00 a.m.), 30 (12:00 p.m.)
June 3 (3:00 p.m.), 6 (5:00 p.m.) 13 (12:00 p.m.) CU’s RTF GUIDED WALKS: CU Staff lead reTURN the Favor outings to acquaint the broader public with this natural phenomenon and to save horseshoe crabs. Each walk was well attended with between 12 and 30 participants, and 1,000s of crabs were returned to the safety of the Bay.
Sat. May 23, Bio-Blitz at Parvin State Park: CUMR partnered with Parvin State Park and South Jersey Land and Water Trust to host a Bio-Blitz that explored the flora and fauna found at Parvin. Nearly 50 people attended.
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Community Planting Day at WheatonArts. May 2023 | |
Female snapping turtle at the Maurice River Bluffs Preserve. June 2023 | |
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JUNE
Sat. 3, Vineland, Green Fair: CUMR conducted outreach and educational activities at this community festival hosted by the Vineland Environmental Commission.
Sun. 4, Barn Studio, Outdoor Art Show: CUMR staff and volunteers offered The Barn Studio of Arts audience our Paint-A-Landscape activity in honor of the many artists who have inspired environmental stewardship and activism through their work in capturing the scenic beauty of the Maurice River.
Fri. 9, 9:00 a.m. Volunteer Workgroup:
We had a rain garden clean up as well as a stewardship education opportunity with this downtown church community. The First United Methodist Church rain garden collects stormwater that would otherwise be diverted into the Wild and Scenic Maurice River. It is also an education and demonstration garden that connects downtown youth with the wonders of nature.
Sat. 10, 10:00 a.m. Trash Cleanup: A large group of CU Litter Obliterators signed up to remove trash and debris from the shores of the Maurice River in Vineland. However, inclement weather led to the postponement of the initial event and the eventual cancellation of the rain date.
Fri. 16, 6:00 p.m. Family-Friendly Friday:
The Orchestra of the Night at Belleplain State Forest was canceled due to inclement weather.
Sat. 17, 9:00 a.m. CU Saturday – CUMR Avian Conservation Programs: CUMR Volunteer Wildlife Director Allen Jackson and CUMR Volunteer Peter Manzelmann led a group on a walk at Morie Park in Mauricetown designed to explore the successes of the bluebird and purple martin conservation programs. 23 attendees.
Tues. 20, 9:00 a.m. Corson’s Inlet
CUMR Volunteer and State Park employee Peter Manzelmann led us on a tour of Corson’s Inlet State Park. He educated us about the flora and fauna of the park. Highlights were observing several American Oystercatchers and endangered Piping Plovers. The group spoke to a NJ Wildlife Conservation Foundation employee who was monitoring the Piping Plover nests. 16 participants.
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Above- During June, volunteers and CU Maurice River continued to reTURN horseshoe crabs to the safety of the Bay. | |
Thurs. 22, 6:30 p.m. CU Speaking Series:
Bayshore Center at Bivalve Museum Curator Rachel Dolhanczyk presented on the AJ Meerwald and New Jersey’s Oyster Industry. 47 attendees.
Fri. – Sun. 23, 24, & 25, Raise the River: CUMR Staff coordinated and led four paddles over three days on the Maurice River. This program showcases the Wild and Scenic Designation as well as the headwaters. Paddlers enjoyed the interpretation of the system’s natural values and cultural resources. Nearly 90 paddlers registered. Unstable weather forecasts caused participation to drop to 70 participants.
| CU Volunteer & State Park employee Peter Manzelmann interprets at Corson's Inlet. | |
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Raise the River 2023. Greg Staman accompanies Vera Rossini on their way back
to the Union Lake Sailing and Tennis Club where crabs & spaghetti awaited them.
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THIRD QUARTER EVENTS 2023
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OUTSTANDING RESOURCE VALUE MANAGEMENT
(See “Programming” above for more ORV management activities)
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Diamond Back Terrapin
January 25th – In 2023, CU Maurice River will be assisting in outreach and awareness efforts through outfitting crabbers with bycatch reduction devices (BRDs). CU's Summer Intern will distribute the BRDs to the crabbing community. Following CUMR's meeting with the Wetlands Institute in January, CU Maurice River Intern Amy Hemple has been engaging with local crabbing outfitters and commercial crabbers to provide them with BRDs. Over the last months, she has made steady progress in reaching her goal of gifting all devices that the Wetlands Institute provided by the summer trapping season.
ACCESS TO THE RESOURCE
Waterway Access Map
Work continues - Princeton Hydro was contracted to develop an online ArcGIS Story Map of recreational resources on the river: a paddling trail for the Maurice River Watershed. Karla has been working with PH to create an outline for this future addition to CUMR’s website and gather the necessary data to generate the first draft map. For this project, CU Staff is creating an ArcGIS Story Map that will be online and interactive. It will not only highlight access points, provide tide information, and give descriptions of the paddle trail, but some sections will also have an audio narrative of natural and cultural points of interest. The work on this project has continued throughout the reporting period. CUMR’s E.D. gave a presentation on this mapping project’s progress to Mohawk Canoe Club’s Board in June.
South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization
CUMR was invited to participate in a focus group to inform a study being conducted to improve the eco-tourism experience in the Wild and Scenic Maurice River area. The South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization (SJTPO) is partnering with Cumberland County to develop a Corridor Study for the Maurice River. The goal of this effort is to identify opportunities for ecotourism, trails, and economic development while continuing to protect, enhance, and enjoy the river and to gather input from stakeholders about the needs and opportunities within the Maurice River Corridor. So far, CUMR has attended one meeting and helped the environmental consultant identify stakeholders.
Aquatic Connectivity and Barrier Removal
Work continues– CUMR continues to work with PH to realize a feasibility study for the potential removal of the Centerton Dam. The final product is due by the end of August.
Water Quality
Work continues– A Rutgers Environmental Stewardship Program Intern began working with CU Maurice River and will be devoting 60 hours toward reinvigorating CUMR’s water quality program with the objective of installing water quality meters at essential locations within the Wild and Scenic designation area. As sea level rise affects wetland health, the end goal of this project is to collect data on conductivity, temperature, and depth upstream. We hope to compare the current figures with the years of data collected by Anthony Ficcaglia on the Manumuskin. This information could be helpful in understanding the status of freshwater wetlands within the system as well as informing future restoration projects. In June, CUMR purchased its first water quality sensor to be installed on the Manumuskin. The intern has developed a brochure on this project in order to educate riverfront property owners (RPO) in the area. The meter is to be installed on an RPO’s shoreline by the end of summer 2023.
Winter Raptor and Waterfowl Study
Clay Sutton and Dr. Paul Kerlinger continue to work on drafting a report analyzing the vast archive of data that has been collected over the years. Retired ArcGIS specialist Tom McKee assists in this effort by producing supporting maps. Mr. McKee was able to connect with the NJDEP, who informed him that they are working on the digitization of the 1970s mapping and the Land Use Map. He was able to get access to the maps in early July. Over the summer of 2023, Mr. McKee will be able to use this material to develop the required maps to support the study.
Parrot Feather Management
June 29th, CUMR E.D. was contacted by a riverfront property owner along the Wild and Scenic Menantico about the resurgence of the invasive aquatic species, parrot feather. The E.D. reached out to its conservation partner, NJ Conservation Foundation, who recently acquired the parcel on the adjacent shoreline. On June 29th, both CUMR and NJCF visited this stream section. CUMR is reaching out to USFWS to once again engage services in order to protect this high-value stream from being clogged with parrot feather.
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OUTREACH, ENGAGEMENT, AND COVERAGE
(See “programming” above for more ORV management activities)
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Cumberland County Leadership Program
September ’22- June ‘23
CU Executive Director participates in this monthly program where various non-profits, businesses, and governmental facilities are visited and toured. The program aims to develop, promote, and inspire community leadership skills and encourage a deeper understanding and appreciation of Cumberland County. Karla "graduated" the program in May.
SNJToday
CU President continues to submit articles to the local newspaper, SNJToday which are published on a weekly basis. These are included in the Feature Section under The Great Outdoors which explores the region’s natural and cultural wonders.
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EcoFair
January 31st – Programming staff met with WheatonArts and Cultural Center along with other event partners to discuss the planning of the EcoFair. CU Maurice River offered educational activities at our booth, ran a nature walk, and hosted the keynote speaker, Dr. Larry Niles. His presentation involved the protection of the rich ecosystem of Delaware Bay, with a special focus placed on red knots and horseshoe crabs.
May 6th – CUMR hosted a table at the WheatonArts and Cultural Center’s Eco Fair, where CUMR hosted a variety of activities including a Nature Trail Scavenger Hunt, an information booth, educational activities on horseshoe crabs, and the keynote speaker Dr. Larry Niles. The event was well-attended with over 20 participants on the walks and 100 attendees at the presentation. The informational booth boasted nearly 20 volunteers who educated the public on the Wild and Scenic Maurice River, spring migration, and CUMR.
Preparation for the New Mauricetown River Festival
March-June – CUMR has attended various meetings with Cumberland County Development and Tourism Department and the Mauricetown Historical Society to coordinate the first Mauricetown River Festival. CUMR has engaged the Bayshore Center at Bivalve with the event. Due to our partnership and coordination with BCB, they will be able to offer free two cruises and free boat tours during the event. Children will receive free admission for the afternoon’s educational sail and all adult tickets will be half price. The price reduction will make this cultural experience more accessible to the local population.
Holly City Family Success Center
May 13, CU E.D. organized and prepared a presentation and walk for single mothers who benefit from the Holly City Family Success Center’s services. Sadly, the walk was canceled due to inclement weather. It is our hope to reschedule for the autumn.
Living Faith Alliance Church
May, CU E.D. met with the Pastor of Living Faith Alliance Church to discuss improving their land management of grassland and forest habitat within the headwaters of the Wild and Scenic Menantico River. CU E.D. agreed to connect the church with resources provided by the US Forest Stewardship Program and the USDA.
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National Park Service's Wild and Scenic Partnership Program –
CUMR has been contracting with the National Park Service on implementing aspects of the Maurice River Wild and Scenic Rivers Management Plan since c. 2004. Prior to this, CUMR was awarded NPS Partnership grants beginning in 1996. Proper administration of the Wild and Scenic River Management Plan remains a cornerstone of our work. In the fourth quarter of 2022, CUMR continued work with the River Manager, Paul Kenney, to meet new reporting expectations and modify formats successfully.
NJ Conservation BluePrint
February 23rd - The Conservation BluePrint Workshop was organized and held in partnership with our South Jersey Bayshore Coalition partners at Rowan College of South Jersey. Invitees included environmental commissioners and municipal leaders from throughout the Bayshore region. County planners from Cumberland and Cape May spoke on current development trends and conservation priorities in their areas. After the presentation, invitees provided input on online interactive mapping tools that function as planning instruments. We also discussed current barriers to land preservation and threats to sustainability in the Bayshore region. The South Jersey Bashore Coalition meetings have served as a forum in order to keep this conversation going. Partners hope to organize another event with the broader community.
Wetland Restoration within the Wild and Scenic Maurice River
CUMR continues to build awareness of the phragmites problem on the river, research ecological solutions, and engage partners in wetland conservation. Our work has prompted a variety of meetings with Wild and Scenic municipal leaders, state and federal government agencies, and many non-profits. The dedication of CU Trustee Emeritus Tom Mckee and environmental consultant Princeton Hydro has been of great assistance in moving this project forward. Karla continues to work with grantors, the conservation community, and homeowners to design and implement a fundable solution.
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FORUMS, COALITIONS, AND ADVOCACY
Pittsgrove - Mega-Warehouse Variance Application
CU Maurice River's Executive Director and Board President have communicated with the community leaders who have organized themselves to oppose the variance application. They provide guidance and input on how conservation principles can be incorporated in the community's objection to this application.
Maurice River Township - D1 Variance Application on the Wild and Scenic Menantico River
CU Maurice River's Executive Director prepared and issued a statement at Maurice River Township's Land Use Board meeting requesting they uphold the intent and purpose of the Master Plan by continuing to honor the tenets of the River Conservation Plan that are reflected in the Township's Conservation Zoning along the River's Wild and Scenic Designation.
Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed’s Forum
CU Maurice River Staff continues to participate in CDRW meetings, educational training, and other offerings.
South Jersey Bayshore Coalition
CUMR continues to coordinate the meetings of SJBC.
Wild and Scenic Coalition
CU Maurice River has been attending the Coalition’s meetings; these have been helpful in connecting our team with available resources as well as updating us on current activity within the program.
NJ DEP Division of Fish and Wildlife, Endangered and Nongame Species Advisory Committee Meetings - CU Maurice River continues to hold a seat on this committee.
Delaware Bayshore Council – CU Maurice River has been functioning as the interim SJBC representative on the Bayshore Council.
CU also continues to serve on the Aquaculture Stakeholder Committee for the State and Federal conservation measures that involve the oyster harvest and its impacts on shorebirds. This is specific to the federally endangered red knot and its migration on the Delaware Bayshore.
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EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING FOR YOUTH & FAMILIES
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Outdoor Classrooms: Climate Change through a Local Lens
June 5th -6th, CUMR partnered with the Millville School District to provide topical outings to its second-grade classes. CUMR staff and volunteers led 16 classes (120 students) on nature walks at the Maurice River Bluffs Preserve over two days. Together, the volunteers and classes explored the signs of nature and wildlife found along the trails, took in the majestic wetland viewscapes, and explored how climate change might impact local natural resources. We would like to extend a big THANK YOU to all the volunteers who made this event possible!
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Nature Journaling Summer Camp
CU Education Staff has been coordinating closely with WheatonArts and Cultural Center to improve upon and grow the recently-established summer nature journaling camp to be hosted in August 2023. This summer activity will take place two days a week, one day at WheatonArts and the other at a reserve along the Wild and Scenic Maurice River. CUMR staff will guide youths to more closely observe nature in the field while providing instruction on the science; meanwhile, WACC staff and volunteer artists will provide instruction on how to create nature journal entries that represent what the children observed in the field the day before.
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STAFF ACTIVITY REPORT
PERSONNEL
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During this reporting period, CU management and the board finalized staff evaluations and signed contracts for 2023.
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In addition, the Board and Executive Director composed and advertised a job description for a full-time administrative assistant to assume the responsibilities of the now retired Office Manager. This position was filled in April. In March, CUMR advertised a Program Coordinator position which was filled in June. CUMR’s Personnel Committee and the E.D. worked closely to identify, interview, and hire these new staff members.
- In March, two interns started with CUMR. The first came to us through the Rutgers Environmental Stewards program. He is working on establishing a water quality program for CUMR. The other is funded through a Cumberland County grant program that seeks to introduce local young professionals to a variety of work opportunities that exist in the area.
Internship Programs
Continued – CUMR ED was in contact with Tim Andrews of Cumberland County Workforce Development to discuss the possibility of employing a summer intern. Tim is managing two grant programs that aim to connect local young adults and professionals to the diversity of work opportunities that exist in our area. These are the Holly City Development Corporation’s Internship Program and the Cumberland County Workforce Department’s Summer Youth Employment Program. As a result of this partnership, CU Maurice River was able to welcome Amy Hemple to the CU Team.
CALENDAR – Programming staff concluded the planning of the 2023 calendar and uploaded all the information to CUMR’s online platforms, while also developing social media marketing campaigns. This work continued into January when many of the promotional materials for the rest of the year were drafted to reserve efforts during the busier months.
Training -
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Stop the Bleed - Stacey Staman, Clinical Educator at Cooper University Hospital, led CU Staff in training on how to stop bleeding in the event of a serious injury in the field. They learned how to properly apply pressure to a wound, stuff a wound, and use a tourniquet.
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Association of New Jersey Environmental Educators - CU's Environmental Education and Outreach Coordinator continues to take advantage of ANJEE's training and networking opportunities.
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Rutgers Cooperative Extension Water Resource Management Training for Professionals CU's Environmental Education and Outreach Coordinator is attending Rutger's Green Stormwater Infrastructure Champion Course. She will receive her training certificate in the Spring.
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National Phenology Network - CU's Environmental Education and Outreach Coordinator attended a Local Phenology Leader Training and Workshop.
ADMINISTRATIVE WORK
National Park Service
Administrative reporting to the National Park Service is an aspect of our functioning beyond the actual carrying-out of the contracted deliverables. CU continues to meet reporting requirements as it waits to be put on the semi-annual reporting schedule from which other partnership rivers benefit. Staff continues to work with the NPS River Manager to implement new reporting procedures. In the first quarter of 2023, staff compiled the documents needed to renew the five-year Cooperative Agreement with NPS's Wild and Scenic Partnership Program. CUMR is expecting final approval in July. The new contract will go into effect on August 20th, 2023.
Office
Administrative staff works to maintain an efficient, welcoming, and safe workspace for the whole CU team. They also manage organizational documentation, supply inventory, service contracting, and purchasing.
Volunteer, Participation, and Financial Tracking - The programming and administrative staff continue to track many aspects of CUMR activities, including but not limited to NPS billing, volunteer hours, participation/attendance, volunteer recruitment, bookkeeping, corporate support, birth, deaths, illnesses - all the details that make CU a community.
Social Media – CU Maurice River’s Facebook page is more active than ever. You can view videos, see pictures from outings, read volunteer stories, and much more. By following CUMR and liking our posts, you not only stay better connected but you also help us get more information out to more people in the community.
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MEMBERSHIP
A special thanks to all those who give the important gift of your time.
We couldn’t do this without you!
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Next Bi-monthly Membership Meeting
This is a public meeting and educational presentation open to all, no matter your membership status.
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Address Changes –
Please keep us posted about any changes in your email or mailing address. Our communications contain a helpful stream of reminders and updates you won’t want to miss.
Membership and Renewals –
Help us by ensuring that your membership is up-to-date and/or invite a friend to join! Membership is set at $20 for individuals and $30 for families, although our average annual donation is approximately $75. Mail your check to PO Box 474, Millville, NJ 08332, or join online at www.cumauriceriver.org.
If you are interested in learning more about the monthly giving program,
reach out to CitizensUnited@CUMauriceRiver.org, or (856) 300-5331.
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