<![CDATA[Littoral Society

<![CDATA[Littoral Society - Blog]]>Fri, 12 Jun 2026 13:55:54 -0400Weebly<![CDATA[recent findings about the state of Heron Colonies in New York Harbor]]>Fri, 12 Jun 2026 15:38:30 GMThttps://www.littoralsociety.org/blog/recent-findings-about-the-state-of-heron-colonies-in-new-york-harborDecades of Littoral Society boat support to the NYC Bird Alliance Harbor Herons surveys advances important recent findings about the state of today’s Heron Colonies in New York Harbor

Great Egret Chick. Photo credit: Don Riepe

For decades, the return of herons, egrets, and ibises to New York Harbor stood as a symbol of environmental recovery. After disappearing from the region during the era of severe pollution and habitat loss prior to the 1970’s, these birds rebounded following the Clean Water Act and became one of the clearest signs that the harbor ecosystem was improving. However, a new 22-year study spearheaded by the science and conservation team at NYC Bird alliance has revealed a troubling reversal: the Northeast's largest breeding population of colonial wading birds has declined by 27%, with losses driven primarily by dramatic drops in black-crowned night herons and glossy ibises. Most concerning is the black-crowned night heron, a longtime icon of New York City's waterways, whose population has fallen by more than half and could disappear locally in the next few decades if current trends continue.

The critical long-term study known widely among the local ornithological community as the annual “Harbor Heron’s Survey” has been made possible over the years by a truly outstanding and enduring collaborative effort between the NYC Bird Alliance, their partners across academic institutions, City, State and Federal agencies, local experts, non-profit organizations, volunteers, the Hudson River Foundation, and of course the American Littoral Society!

Over the last 20 years, Don Riepe, the American Littoral Society’s Jamaica Bay Guardian and captain of the Society’s NY program boat has been providing critical boat support to ferry scientists and volunteers from the NYC Bird alliance to known isolated heron colony islands across New York Harbor, thus enabling researchers conduct long-term monitoring survey efforts detailed in the recent scientific paper linked at the end of this story.

Don Riepe with the Jamaica Bay Guardian

The findings from the recently published study by Dustin Partridge of the NYC Bird Alliance and his collaborators raise important questions about the health of the New York–New Jersey Harbor ecosystem. Colonial wading birds are considered indicator species, meaning their populations reflect broader environmental conditions as they play key ecological roles in nutrient cycling, food web dynamics, and connecting aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Researchers point to several possible causes for the recent declines, including lingering pollution, habitat degradation, climate-related impacts, rising sea levels, nest predation by raccoons, competition for nesting space, and human disturbance on protected island colonies. While some species, such as great egrets and snowy egrets, are increasing, their gains are being overwhelmed by the steep losses of black-crowned night herons.

Despite the alarming trends, researchers emphasize that there is still time to act. The study calls for stronger conservation measures, including improved habitat management, pollution monitoring, predator control, and enhanced legal protections for black-crowned night herons in New York State. Future research will be critical in identifying the root causes of the declines and determining whether similar losses are occurring across the broader Northeast region. Just as past environmental policy and advocacy helped bring wading birds like Egrets, Herons and Ibises back half a century ago. Scientists and conservationists hope that timely action now can once again alter the current projected trajectory of these birds, ensuring that these distinctive harbor residents remain part of New York’s natural heritage for generations to come.

Ibis and heron at BJ Pond. Photo credit: Don Riepe

You can read the recent scientific publication here

And you can read the follow-up recent New York Times article here

]]><![CDATA[Restoration Corps Members Lending a Helping Hand at Bay Point Beach]]>Thu, 11 Jun 2026 18:12:20 GMThttps://www.littoralsociety.org/blog/restoration-corps-members-lending-a-helping-hand-at-bay-point-beach

Restoration Corps members, Chuck and Derick, measuring sill structures along the marsh of Bay Point Beach

Since the kickoff of horseshoe crab spawning in the beginning of May, the Society’s Delaware Bay Restoration Corps members have been lending a helping hand at Bay Point Beach. This consisted of assisting Habitat Restoration Technician, Kerstin Axe, with imperative monitoring activities. Restoration activities at Bay Point Beach were completed by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, in conjunction with the Stockton University Coastal Research Center.

Throughout May and early June, R-Corps members have tagged horseshoe crabs, keeping track of their sex and condition. They have also ensured minimal impingement on the breakwater and sill structures, which aim to maintain sand on the beach by slowing wave activity. In the coming weeks, as horseshoe crab spawning dies down, members will look to shift gears to marsh and oyster monitoring. These surveys will allow the Society to share insight about the growth of the marsh, as well as the recruitment of oysters on breakwater and sill structures, within the 2026 season.

These monitoring activities contribute to the overall experience of the Delaware Bay Restoration Corps. This season, they have also had the opportunity to join Wildlife Restoration Partnerships for bird banding and horseshoe crab egg density surveys. Through the banding of red knots, as well as the counting of horseshoe crab surface eggs, members are learning the ins and outs of the Society’s programmatic restoration program, which builds habitat for migratory shorebirds and horseshoe crabs.

Reminder - If you spot a horseshoe crab with a white tag, please report your resight to the USFWS!

A horseshoe crab that was tagged at Bay Point Beach

]]><![CDATA[From Classroom to Coastline: Students Grow Dune Grass and Climate Resilience]]>Thu, 11 Jun 2026 15:19:18 GMThttps://www.littoralsociety.org/blog/from-classroom-to-coastline-students-grow-dune-grass-and-climate-resilience

What does climate action look like in the hands of students? In the American Littoral Society’s Beach Grasses in Classes program, it looks like hundreds of young people rolling up their sleeves, nurturing dune grass in their classrooms, and then heading to the beach to help restore coastal habitats one plant at a time.

Beach Grasses in Classes combines hands-on learning with real-world environmental impact. It begins with an interactive classroom lesson introducing students to the vital role dunes play in protecting communities from storms, flooding, and the growing effects of climate change. Each student then plants a beachgrass plug in a pot and cares for it at school for several weeks. As the grass begins to grow, so does the students’ connection to the ecosystem around them.

That sense of ownership is what makes the project so powerful. By growing the plants themselves, students form a personal attachment to their beachgrass and, in turn, to the local shoreline they are helping to restore. Instead of feeling overwhelmed by conversations about environmental challenges, they experience what it means to be part of a solution.

During the 2026 Beach Grasses in Classes season, that impact was felt across New Jersey. The Littoral Society worked with 538 students from 8 schools and organized groups, helping them plant more than 10,000 American beachgrass plugs on local beaches.

The impact of this program is widespread, with plantings taking place at 7 Jersey Shore locations this year, including Ocean City, Long Branch, Asbury Park, Bradley Beach, Shark River, Monmouth Beach, Sea Bright, and Fortescue Beach on the Delaware Bay.

A portion of the program was funded by the New Jersey Department of Education’s Expanding Access to Climate Change Education and the New Jersey Student Learning Standards through Interdisciplinary Learning and Community Resilience Projects grant program. Through this support, 240 students from Egg Harbor Township High School participated over two years, planting 4,000 dune grass plugs annually on Ocean City beaches from 5th through 12th Streets.

Planting dune grass is a powerful example of a nature-based solution; one the American Littoral Society uses to protect coastal communities from the impacts of climate change while building healthier, more resilient shorelines.

Just as important as the environmental benefits was the excitement the students brought to the project. Many talked about coming back to visit the planting sites to see how the dunes developed over time. Their enthusiasm was a reminder that programs like Beach Grasses in Classes do more than restore habitat, they cultivate curiosity, responsibility, and a lasting sense of environmental stewardship. One plant, one classroom, and one beach at a time, these students are helping shape a stronger future for New Jersey’s coast.

To reserve your spot in our 2027 Beach Grasses in Classes program, reach out to michelle@littoralsociety.org or click here.

]]><![CDATA[Family day of service 2026]]>Tue, 09 Jun 2026 17:24:01 GMThttps://www.littoralsociety.org/blog/family-day-of-service-2026

Every year, the Littoral Society joins our partners at United Advocacy Group (UAG) and Southeast Gateway Community Action Partnership (Gateway CAP) for "Family Day of Service" in Bridgeton. For the past several years, volunteers have joined us to help maintain "Triangle Park" which is a joint project between us that we've been working to improve since 2019.

This site originally had a gas station and some old houses on it, which had long since been demolished. At the corner of MLK Jr. Way and South Avenue, across from the Alms Center and a playground, this site had great promise to become an environmentally friendly "pocket park" which could soak up stormwater runoff, beautify the area and provide habitat for pollinators with native plants, and be a nice place for local residents to enjoy some time outside.

The project began with a rain garden. This garden helps to redirect stormwater that flows down M.L.K. Jr. Way and allow it to percolate into the Kirkwood-Cohansey Aquifer instead of running off directly into Indian Field Branch, which is a tributary of the Cohansey River. Native trees were also planted along the back end of the park. Students at the local ExCEL School helped us to put together and paint some planter boxes, which provide an outer edge to the park and contain native perennial plants. In later years, we added benches for residents to enjoy the shade under the trees we had planted. Then in 2023, the sidewalk was redone in a way that would both allow easier access for residents and facilitate additional stormwater flow into the rain garden, additional trees were planted, a fence was installed, and the planter boxes were professionally painted.

Family Day of Service is a long-running event hosted by UAG that we have joined as partners. For the past several years, one of the projects that volunteers focus on during the event is maintaining "Triangle Park." Other projects have involved things like painting a mural on a new fence in the neighborhood, picking up litter, and this year included painting a new bus stop that was recently constructed.

A total of about 50 kids and adults volunteered their time this year to help their community. The Littoral Society took charge of a group focusing on Triangle Park. We had a couple of tasks for them: add soil & mulch to a new planter box, pull weeds out of the rain garden, and plant some new plants. The kids went at their jobs with more enthusiasm than you would think possible for pulling weeds!

As a result of their hard work, this little park looks much better and now has even more native perennials providing food & habitat for local pollinators. And the rain garden will continue to capture and filter stormwater runoff so that it doesn't flow straight into the local stream, to the Cohansey River, and from there down to the Delaware Bay.

Extra special thanks to all the volunteers that came out, as well as our partners at UAG & Gateway CAP, and to the Littoral Society's Restoration Corps for making this great event possible!

]]><![CDATA[Combined Sewer Overflow Systems: What They Are and Why You Should Care]]>Thu, 14 May 2026 18:23:21 GMThttps://www.littoralsociety.org/blog/combined-sewer-overflow-systems-what-they-are-and-why-you-should-care

photo credit: Delaware River Keeper Network

Last year, the Philadelphia Water Department released more than 12 billion gallons of raw sewage into the Delaware River through its Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) system. To visualize how much pollution that is, imagine you started filling up Olympic sized swimming pools with all the sewage overflowing from Philadelphia’s pipes. You would need 18,000 of them to store all of that raw, untreated sewage. It points to a serious problem hiding in plain sight. CSO pollution threatens public health, harms wildlife, and affects the long-term health of the Delaware River and Bay.

Combined sewer overflows are systems that carry both sewage and stormwater in the same pipes. They were once considered a major improvement in city sanitation, especially in older cities like Philadelphia. But when heavy rain overwhelms these systems, the mix of stormwater and untreated sewage can overflow directly into nearby rivers and streams.

photo credit: USEPA

Philadelphia still relies on this older sewer design. In the late 1800s, combined systems replaced open drainage ditches and helped improve sanitation in growing cities. Over time, though, population growth and development created more pavement, rooftops, and other hard surfaces that send rainwater rushing into the sewer system. When too much water enters the pipes at once, the system cannot handle it, and untreated sewage is discharged into the river.

These overflows are legal under current permits, but that does not make them harmless. Combined sewer overflow pollution sends harmful bacteria, viruses, and parasites into the water, making the river less safe for fishing, boating, and other recreation. It can also lead to sewage backups in homes and streets during major rain events, creating another layer of risk for nearby communities.

The damage does not stop with people. Sewage pollution can fuel harmful algal blooms and reduce oxygen levels in the water, making it harder for aquatic life to survive. Species in the Delaware River, including Atlantic sturgeon, have already faced major pressure from pollution and habitat loss. When water quality declines, the effects ripple through the food web.

Those impacts continue downstream into the Delaware Bay, where clean water supports oysters, aquaculture, and wildlife. Horseshoe crabs depend on healthy coastal ecosystems, and their eggs are a critical food source for the threatened red knot during migration. In short, what happens upstream in Philadelphia affects the entire Delaware watershed.

This is why the American Littoral Society is pushing for stronger action. Other cities, including Chicago, Portland, and Milwaukee, have made major improvements that reduced combined sewer overflow pollution and helped restore local waterways. We believe Philadelphia can do more as well. Our work focuses on raising community voices, researching funding solutions, and exploring pilot projects that could reduce sewage pollution entering the Delaware River.

For people who live, work, and spend time along the river, this issue is not abstract. Cleaner water means healthier neighborhoods, safer recreation, and stronger habitats for fish and wildlife. It also means protecting the Delaware Bay, which supports both local livelihoods and species that depend on this ecosystem to survive.

You can help by learning more, sharing this issue with friends and family, and speaking up for a cleaner Delaware River. If you have seen the effects of combined sewer overflow pollution firsthand, consider sharing your story. Continued support for the American Littoral Society helps make this work possible and strengthens the push for solutions that protect both people and wildlife.

]]><![CDATA[Restoration in the Delaware Bay: An Example to Flood Plain Managers From Across the State]]>Thu, 14 May 2026 17:35:23 GMThttps://www.littoralsociety.org/blog/restoration-in-the-delaware-bay-an-example-to-flood-plain-managers-from-across-the-state

Along New Jersey’s Delaware Bay, restoring marshes and beaches isn’t just good for wildlife—it’s also a practical way to help protect nearby towns from flooding. The American Littoral Society’s Delaware Bayshore work is showing how investing in healthy coastal habitats can strengthen the shoreline, reduce risk, and support the communities that depend on a thriving bay.

On April 24, 2026, the New Jersey Association of Floodplain Managers visited the Delaware Bayshore to see these nature-based solutions firsthand. The group toured our breakwaters in the Northwest Reach from land and viewed our beach restoration work at Thompsons Beach from the A.J. Meerwald, a historic sailboat and New Jersey’s official tall ship. The Cumberland County Planning Department organized the trip to highlight the innovative approaches being used on the Bayshore—and to share examples that other coastal communities across the state can learn from.

This work comes at a critical time. Decades of elevation loss due to historic land use around the bay, combined with stronger storms and sea-level rise, have contributed to the loss of marshland and beach habitat. These natural areas are essential: they provide spawning beaches for horseshoe crabs, feeding habitat for shorebirds, and a protective buffer that helps absorb storm surge before floodwaters reach homes, roads, and businesses.

Our restoration approach focuses on both rebuilding habitat and making it last. It’s not only about putting sand back on the beach--it’s also about helping keep that sand in place. Offshore structures can reduce wave energy that would otherwise continue to erode the shoreline. At the same time, healthy marshes act like a sponge, soaking up floodwaters and storm surge.

In the Northwest Reach, our hybrid breakwaters are designed to do two things at once: protect what remains and help rebuild what has been lost. By reducing wave energy, the breakwaters help slow ongoing erosion of the marsh edge. They also trap sediment on the inland side, encouraging natural deposition that can gradually raise elevations and support marsh recovery.

Projects like this matter for every coastal community looking for cost-effective, long-term ways to manage flood risk. Nature-based solutions can complement traditional infrastructure while also delivering benefits that seawalls and bulkheads can’t—like habitat for wildlife and improved water quality. Here in Cumberland County, continued restoration helps protect marinas and bay-dependent industries in places like Fortescue, Commercial Township, and Maurice River Township—historic communities whose livelihoods are closely tied to the health of the Delaware Bay.

Looking ahead, we’re building on this progress. The American Littoral Society has been awarded an additional $5 million through the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Natural Climate Solutions grant program to add more breakwaters and expand the project across the Northwest Reach. This next phase will help scale up the protective and habitat-building benefits that the Floodplain Managers saw during their visit.

What can you do? There are many ways to care for the coast. You can support the American Littoral Society’s work by becoming a member, making a donation, volunteering when opportunities are available, and sharing these projects with friends and family. Staying informed and talking about nature-based flood protection helps build the public support needed to bring solutions like this to more communities.

Restoring the Delaware Bay shoreline is about protecting places—both the wildlife habitats that make this bay globally important and the communities that call the Bayshore home. As this work continues, we hope it serves as a practical example of how restoration can reduce flooding risk while bringing the bay back to life.

]]><![CDATA[Spring Greening at Arverne East: Volunteers Install Native Plants in Far Rockaway preserve]]>Thu, 14 May 2026 14:01:41 GMThttps://www.littoralsociety.org/blog/spring-greening-at-arverne-east-volunteers-install-native-plants-in-far-rockaway-preserve

In late April, the American Littoral Society has been busy getting dirt on our hands with a Spring native tree, shrub, and wildflower planting at the nature preserve in East Arverne, Far Rockaway. On hand to do the planting were 30 volunteers, the Littoral Society, and NYC Park Rangers. Thank you to the volunteers that came out and helped us beautify and enhance habitat at the preserve with the additional 50 plants in the ground! This continuing effort - led by the Littoral Society's Jamaica Bay Guardian Don Riepe - was coordinated in honor and memory of the late Cindy Goulder. Join us on Sunday, May 31st at 10am to volunteer on an additional planting that will take place here.

]]><![CDATA[Littoral Society Speaks Out In Support of NJ PACT REAL Rules at Trenton Earth Day Hearing]]>Thu, 23 Apr 2026 20:28:20 GMThttps://www.littoralsociety.org/blog/littoral-society-speaks-out-in-support-of-nj-pact-real-rules-at-trenton-earth-day-hearing

Lucia Osborne, American Littoral Society Delaware Bayshore Program Director, speaks to a reporter outside the Joint NJ Senate & Assembly Environment and Energy Committees hearing on the NJPACT REAL rules.

Littoral Society Board Vice President Mark Mauriello testifies at the REAL Rules joint committee hearing in Trenton, NJ.

On Earth Day (April 22), the American Littoral Society defended the coast by speaking out against SCR-106, a resolution from the New Jersey State Senate that attempts to invalidate the NJ PACT REAL Rules, which protect coastal environments, steer development away from high risk areas, and require new homes be built with climate change in mind.

We submitted written testimony to the Joint Senate & Assembly Environment and Energy Committees, which met in Trenton to hear testimony on the importance of the NJ PACT REAL Rules.

Officially called the Resilient Environments and Landscapes (REAL) rules, they are designed to make new homes in New Jersey more resilient to flooding. These rules were created after an executive order issued by then-Governor Phil Murphy in 2020. The state adopted the rules in January 2026.

Lucia Osborne, the Littoral Society's Delaware Bayshore Program Director, explained it plainly: “In New Jersey, we’ve gotten stuck on this merry-go-round of build, flood, rebuild and repeat. The NJ PACT REAL Rules break that cycle by using common sense, science-based guidelines that protect critical environments, people, and homes along the coast. They are the best chance we have at maintaining a vibrant and healthy coast in the face of climate change.”

Speaking from his experience as a former NJ Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner and builder, Littoral Society Board Vice President Mark Mauriello testified at the hearing, saying: "Will the REAL Rules positively impact me in my lifetime? Probably not. But will the REAL Rules positively impact my children and grandchildren? Most definitely."

"We’re proud to have board members like Mark contributing their expertise to ensure that regional coastal resilience planning protects New Jersey's future alongside us," Osborne said.

The REAL Rules are scheduled to go into effect on July 19.

***UPDATE*** the REAL Rules have been delayed by one year.
A one-year delay for builders could mean decades of flood costs for New Jersey taxpayers.
New Jersey knows flooding is getting worse. So why are we building risky development for another year?
The REAL rules are common-sense protections that help make sure new development is built for the flooding we know is coming. Protecting homes for the long run, and protecting New Jersey taxpayers from future costs.
Tell Governor Sherrill: Don’t delay the REAL rules. Protect NJ taxpayers.
Call 609-292-6000
And sign LCV's petition here

]]><![CDATA[Littoral Society Advances Major Marsh Restoration at Mouth of Maurice River with NJDEP Natural Climate Solutions Funding]]>Thu, 23 Apr 2026 19:13:15 GMThttps://www.littoralsociety.org/blog/littoral-society-advances-major-marsh-restoration-at-mouth-of-maurice-river-with-njdep-natural-climate-solutions-fundingHybrid breakwaters and sediment-capture barriers will restore marsh habitat, reduce storm risk, and strengthen protection for Delaware Bayshore communities

The American Littoral Society is advancing marsh restoration at the mouth of the Maurice River with new support from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection through the Natural Climate Solutions Program. Announced on Earth Day, the investment highlights how New Jersey is turning climate funding into on-the-ground projects that protect both communities and ecosystems.

The announcement was made during an Earth Day award ceremony in Point Pleasant, where Society staff joined partners from across the state and met with NJDEP Commissioner Ed Potosnak to recognize new investments in nature-based resilience projects statewide.

This phase of work will restore 13 acres of marsh directly while helping stabilize conditions needed to recover more than 375 acres of degraded marsh that protect communities along the Delaware Bayshore. By reducing wave energy and capturing sediment, the hybrid breakwater system rebuilds marsh elevation and strengthens the landscape’s ability to buffer storms, support fisheries, and store carbon. In a state surrounded by water, restoring marsh systems like these is one of the most effective ways to reduce coastal risk.

Littoral Society staff joined NJDEP Commissioner Ed Potosnak (center) at the Earth Day award ceremony in Point Pleasant, NJ. From Left to Right: Zack Royle, Habitat Restoration Manager; Danielle McCulloch, Littoral Society Executive Director, Ed Potosnak; Shane Godshall, acting Restoration Program Director; Julie Schumacher, Habitat Restoration Coordinator; and Kerstin Axe, Restoration Technician.

Projects like this move resilience from planning into construction. The Natural Climate Solutions Program enabling large-scale implementation that protects communities, working waterfronts, and critical habitat while strengthening one of the Delaware Bayshore’s most important natural protection systems.

Shane Godshall, Habitat Restoration Program lead on the project, said the investment “demonstrates the state's ongoing commitment to Delaware Bayshore communities and recognizes their contributions to South Jersey’s economy and culture. The project will directly benefit these communities by combating climate change and providing protection from open-bay conditions.”

Completing a critical line of protection
This phase extends the hybrid breakwater system across Northwest Reach, creating a continuous line of protection that reduces wave energy and allows sediment to settle and marsh elevations to recover over time.

Low-profile breakwaters and permeable sediment barriers are designed to work with natural tidal processes to capture suspended sediment and gradually raise marsh surfaces into the elevation range needed for healthy salt marsh vegetation. As elevations recover, marsh plants return, carbon storage increases, habitat improves for fish and coastal wildlife, and nearby communities gain stronger protection from storms. Techniques used at Northwest Reach will help inform restoration strategies across the Delaware Bayshore and other vulnerable coastal areas in New Jersey.

By combining engineered stability with natural sediment movement, the project strengthens shorelines in a way that is cost-effective and adaptable to changing conditions.

Supporting communities, habitat, and working waterfronts
Marsh restoration at the mouth of the Maurice River provides benefits well beyond carbion sequestration. Along the Delaware Bayshore, marshes reduce flooding, protect port infrastructure and working waterfronts, support fisheries, and sustain globally important habitat for shorebirds and horseshoe crabs.

During Hurricane Sandy, marsh systems like these reduced wave heights by as much as 80 percent in some locations. Restoring and protecting them now helps ensure they continue providing that level of protection in the future.

The project also contributes to long-term climate goals by increasing carbon sequestration and preventing the release of stored carbon from eroding marsh soils.

Advancing innovation in nature-based shoreline protection
A defining feature of this phase is the installation of permeable barrier systems designed to accelerate marsh elevation recovery by working with natural sediment movement. These techniques expand the set of tools available for restoring vulnerable coastal landscapes across the Delaware Bayshore and throughout New Jersey.

This work is being carried out in partnership with the Stockton University Coastal Research Center, Wildlife Restoration Partnerships, New Jersey Fish and Wildlife, and local Bayshore leaders, including the Bayshore Council. Together, these partners are helping translate public investment into measurable protection for communities and ecosystems.

Capt. Al Modjeski, former Habitat Restoration Program Director for the American Littoral Society.

Continuing a legacy of restoration leadership
This phase reflects the vision of Capt. Al Modjeski, whose leadership helped shape nature-based shoreline protection efforts throughout New Jersey. His commitment to creative, collaborative solutions continues to guide the Society’s restoration work today.

Through continued partnership with NJDEP’s Natural Climate Solutions Program, the American Littoral Society is helping ensure that New Jersey’s coast remains strong, productive, and resilient for generations to come.

]]><![CDATA[Plants and Volunteers Bring Dune Restoration to NYC's Coney Island Creek Park]]>Fri, 17 Apr 2026 17:44:42 GMThttps://www.littoralsociety.org/blog/plants-and-volunteers-bring-dune-restoration-to-nycs-coney-island-creek-park

Thousands of plants in the sand and hundreds of hands on the beach is the testament to another successful season of beachgrass planting at Coney Island Creek Park in Brooklyn, NY.

In March and early April, the American Littoral Society — in partnership with the National Wildlife Federation's Resilient Schools and Communities (RiSC) program and NYC Parks — brought in nearly 700 intergenerational volunteers to the park who helped plant 38,000 plugs of beachgrass along the shoreline in order to stabilize dune, reduce erosion and strengthen natural defenses against coastal flooding.

Along the way, the program also delivered hands-on environmental education to 520 students and 60 teachers, while also removing nearly 600 pounds of debris from the park. Together, these efforts are helping transform Coney Island Creek into a more resilient and ecologically vibrant space.

This work is part of a multi-year collaboration focused on restoring dunes as natural defenses for coastal areas — solutions that not only protect coastlines but also create habitat and improve overall ecosystem health. The impact of this season’s work has already drawn broader attention, with PBS LearningMedia visiting the site on March 24 to film volunteers in action. The footage will be featured in an upcoming digital series, Our Climate Future, highlighting real-world climate solutions and community-driven change.

Looking ahead, partners at Brooklyn College and the Science and Resilience Institute at Jamaica Bay will begin monitoring the newly planted grasses this April, helping to track their growth and inform a long-term maintenance plan for the site. This next phase is critical to ensuring the success and longevity of the restoration effort.

The collaboration also extends beyond New York. Through the RiSC program, 10,000 American beachgrass plants were donated to the Littoral Society’s Sandy Hook, NJ team, where they will be planted during an upcoming Earth Month volunteer event to support dune restoration along the Jersey Shore — another region facing ongoing challenges from coastal flooding and erosion. These plants were sourced from Church’s Garden Center in Long Island, a RiSC partner.

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