Beach/Fishing Access losses and updates NJ

[stripermania]

They should be more worried about preserving the peoples beach access. What good is clean water if we can't enjoy it?



A New Beach Bill in the Senate
September 29 2011 | Blue Water Task Force, Water Quality,
by Mara Dias

The Clean Coastal Environment and Public Health Act of 2011 (S. 1582) is a bipartisan supported bill introduced by Senators Lautenberg (NJ) and Kirk (IL) to re-authorize the BEACH Act. The BEACH Act of 2000 set national standards for recreational water testing and authorized state grants to pay for beach monitoring programs. This landmark law was first championed by Surfrider Foundation a decade ago. In the past four years, multiple attempts to reauthorize the BEACH Act have been made in Congress. The House of Representatives has already approved reauthorization legislation twice now, but proponents of these bills have not been successful in securing a place on the agenda in the full Senate. Let's hope that with a sponsor from both parties this year's bill with have more success moving through the Senate. Senator Boxer (CA), the Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, which has jurisdiction over S. 1582, has also signed on as a co-sponsor. Join Surfrider in urging your Senators to co-sponsor this bill. Send them an email here.



The Clean Coastal Environment & Public Health Act of 2011 proposes to extend the federal BEACH grants, which are distributed to coastal states to pay for beach water testing programs, until 2015. Unlike the previously submitted bills that were unsuccessful (more info here), this newly proposed legislation does not raise the authorized funding for BEACH grants. The authorized funding level will remain at $30 million, hopefully taking away any budget related objections. In reality, BEACH grant appropriations have hovered under $10 million for the last decade and are not likely to increase in the foreseeable future.

This legislation also calls on EPA to approve rapid water testing methods that produce same-day results and expands the scope of the BEACH Act to include tracking and cleaning up the sources of beach water pollution. Improvements in public notification of water quality data and pollution incidents are also mandated, including a requirement for states to develop and maintain online, searchable, water quality databases.

Additionally Congress has tacked on a few studies that it wants the EPA to undertake as part of this bill including a review of mercury testing protocols in the Great Lakes, research on the long-term impacts of climate change on pollution of coastal recreational waters and a study of the impacts of nutrient pollution and algal blooms on coastal recreational waters with recommendations for pollution management actions.

No companion bill has been submitted in the House as of yet, but Surfrider's Northeast Regional Manager, John Weber, participated in a press event held at the Jersey Shore back in August, where both Senator Lautenberg and Representative Pallone both announced their intent to introduce legislation. See local press.

A press release with a link to the text of this bill is also posted on Senator Lautenberg's website.

[DarkSkies]

They should be more worried about preserving the peoples beach access. What good is clean water if we can't enjoy it?

Good point stripermania. The thing is, a lot of folks don't care about beach access unless they're in danger of losing it.
And, if we want to talk about access for fishing from the shore, in general, we as fishermen don't seem to care too much about the possible loss of access in more areas than just the beach.

I want to be as vague as possible here because we may have a new thread to keep us occupied in the winter, and that's asking "why people don't care?"
Why people still feel the need to disrespect the property of others?
Why people still feel the need to brag about small areas of fishing activity on the internet?
Why people don't see that their specific behavior, although they are entitled via the Public Trust Doctrine, is what repeatedly is used to rally townspeople and others against them?
They don't want to take ownership of their idiocy and selfishness, yet are among the first to complain when access in a particular area is shut down.

Just this month, we lost another access area in Lacey Township, NJ, because of all the traffic, and disrespecting of neighbors who lived on the fringes of that area.

From the public urination on private property, to the arguing with and being belligerent towards homeowners who just want to have peace and quiet...to the retaliatory actions of leaving fish racks on property....these are all actions that build a case for banning fishermen.

So although I still want to support beach access and help defend the rights of all fishermen. I find myself frequently asking why we are fighting for the rights of some selfish pigs who apparently don't care....

Food for thought....

[buckethead]

Don't know if you folks have been following but there has been some access maneuvering in jetty country. For the first time ever they are going to let the Army Corps of Morons fill the beach and notch the jetties in the Deal area. This is stupid. for proof of that all you have to do is look at Monmouth Beach. Filled in for millions and now it is back to its original state again.

Dark I got this from the average angler site, you can move the thread if it's not ok here.




04.15.13 Deal and Loch Arbor sign on for beach replenishment.....

Loch Arbor beach 4/03/13

Well, it's finally here. Beach replenishment, oh wait, nourishment, it's one of the things I hate most when you cross Mother Nature and "smart" humans. Well "Jetty Country" may not be spared the bulldozers and dump trucks and pump ships and pipes any longer. What Sandy did, or didn't do, it has given the Army Corp of Engineers, the NJ DEP, and now the municipalities all the reasons why re-building the beaches now makes sense.




At 7pm tonight in Loch Arbor was the public hearing and vote on the Resolution # 2013-63, "Authorizing Right of Way to the New Jersey, Department of Environmental Protection for beach replenishment in the Village of Loch Arbor." During the meeting we learned Deal has already signed on board.

In the 1990's Elberon, Deal, Allenhurst, and Loch Arbor said no to beach replenishment. Over the last 20 years beaches have been filled, emptied, refilled, emptied, and refilled, and groins constructed, notched, reconstructed.....and inlets also.

But "Jetty Country" remained intact. Well maybe not during Phase 1 of the next round of sand pumping, but in a later phase, re-nourishment will happen from the 8th Avenue jetty to Elberon, or to West End.

The Army Corp has told Loch Arbor that they are looking to bring the Village back to pre-Sandy beach profile....yeah right. I hope they aren't going to tell Allenhurst that Wednesday, or already sold that island to Deal.

So beaches will be bigger, drops off more severe, no dunes...because people don't like them, and the famous jetties will be filled in, and yes, trust me, notched. Look at Bradley, Spring Lake and Long Branch, and Belmar too.

I have to say I was disappointed with the turnout from the fishing community tonight. The surfers had some good numbers and good speakers. Former Mayor Bill Rosenblatt talked at length about the 1990's when Loch Arbor and the other towns said no. Capt Paul Eidman from the Anglers Conservation Network spoke as well. In the end the four commissioners all voted "yes". Let the nightmare begin.


Allenhurst hasn't voted on this yet but keep looking as they will be having an upcoming public meeting sometime in the near future.

Bill Rosenblatt

Loch Arbor Mayor Fernicola

Loch Arbor Engineer Peter Avakian

http://theaverageangler.blogspot.com/

[buckethead]

Allenhurst too:

http://theaverageangler.blogspot.com/


04.23.13 Vote tonight in Allenhurst on beach replenishment...

Tonight the town of Allenhurst will vote to pass a resolution signing the town up for beach replenishment in Allenhurst. They will join the towns of Loch Arbor and Deal in allowing the Army Corp of Engineers and NJ DEP in unprecedented pumping of sand up throughout "Jetty Country" as it is known to anglers that fish northern Monmouth County.


During the 1990's Elberon, Deal, Allenhurst, and Loch Arbor voted against beach replenishment. Beach replenishment has occurred from Sandy Hook down to Lake Takanassee and from Asbury Park down to Cape May, skipping a few State Parks and towns along the way.


Sadly, the momentum has already shifted and I feel this will happen. Although the initial plan calls for returning the beaches to pre-Sandy profiles, once the light turns green anything can happen. Sand will be pumped in, groins will be notched, natural beach structure will be lost, and the environmental impact in this area be great.

Monmouth Beach "nourishment" 2013

Yes, for a season the beaches will be big, but Mother Nature will do what she wants to do. Just look at Long Branch and Monmouth Beach if you want to see what post beach "nourishment" looks like. Take a walk and don't fall off the steep cuts that are on the beach, and, in the summer be careful when you step, or dive in the water.


"Dunes" have become a dirty word as beach goers and property owners don't want valuable square footage taken up or their views impeded.


Below is a part of the agenda for tonights meeting in Allenhurst-

RESOLUTION #5


A RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE MAYOR AND CLERK TO SIGN CONTRACT ACCEPTING BEACH REPLENISHMENT


Offered By: Seconded By:


WHEREAS, The wind and tidal surge associated with Hurricane Sandy has caused significant damage to the recreational beach facilities along the beachfront as well as beach protection structures along the entire Allenhurst oceanfront; and,


WHEREAS, As a result of this damage, FEMA has developed a plan to replenish the beaches along the coast of New Jersey from Sandy Hook to Cape May; and,


WHEREAS, It appears that the entire coast will be covered by a Federal Grant that should result in little or no cost to each municipality accepting this proposal; and,


WHEREAS, The preliminary proposal requires only public access to the beach every one-half mile of beach front and unrestricted parking in the area of beach access; and,


WHEREAS, Oceanfront property owners will have to grant access to the contractor to apply the sand and to beach visitors who wish to use this beach according to the rules that apply; and,


WHEREAS, The Board of Commissioners, after consulting with the Borough Engineer and Borough Attorney have decided that, subject to the final proposal for beach replenishment and an agreement with oceanfront property owners, they agree to commit to this program as required;


NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the Board of Commissioners, that a preliminary agreement be made, subject to a discussion with the oceanfront property owners, where applicable for the acceptance of beach replenishment.




VOTE: Comm. McLoughlin____; Comm. Bolan____; Mayor McLaughlin____

[buckethead]

And its final the towns all fell like dominoes.
No more jetty fishing.


http://theaverageangler.blogspot.com/

04.23.13 And Allenhurst votes.......yes to access for beach replenishment

So the meeting started at 730pm, a new police officer was sworn in at 735pm, and they voted yes to Resolution #5 - Accept Beach Replenishment, at 740pm. By 745pm I was out of there.

What they did was vote to allow, give, the US Army Corp of Engineers and the NJ DEP the access they need to do the beach replenishment. That's the first part. Next the towns have to approve the beach replenishment plan that will be presented to them. Imagine a bowling ball on top of a steep mountain. Or imagine a calf walking through the woods towards a hungry pack of wolves. That's what is happening with each yes vote.

At the end of the meeting I was told they opened up the floor for comments. A surfer stood up to make the position against beach replenishment. It kind of reminded me of Nancy Pelosi and her famous quote, " We have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it."

Another nail in the coffin of a great natural resource that many people enjoy.

[storminsteve]

That is so lame! We will have to buy wet suits and ask urbanfishingman to give us skishing lessons.

[cowherder]

So beaches will be bigger, drops off more severe, no dunes...because people don't like them, and the famous jetties will be filled in, and yes, trust me, notched. Look at Bradley, Spring Lake and Long Branch, and Belmar too.

I have to say I was disappointed with the turnout from the fishing community tonight. The surfers had some good numbers and good speakers. the nightmare begin.


http://theaverageangler.blogspot.com/

Thanks for posting that buckethead. Wish I knew about it I might have gone. Thanks to Colin Archer. I like his blog is is very colorful. Looks like we will have to find new places to fish.

[DarkSkies]

I see you are a fan of Colin....good guy, have fished for several winters with he, I and a few other nuts being the only ones out there in freezing temps...
One night he even hooked me with a backcast after mugging me....and I didn't throw him in.......I realized it was an accident....

Seriously, he is one of the good ones out there...no bs, really a good fly fisherman, and cares about fishermens rights and access.....
If just learning about fly fishing, hiring him would be a good choice...he's pretty passionate about it....
Check out his blog, all the info is there....and send him my regards.....





The thing to realize here, is they are not restricting access....in fact they may now be mandated to make those areas more accessible by accepting federal $$....but the fishing will most certainly suffer....end of an era for sure......thanks for posting buckethead, please keep us up to date if you can...

[DarkSkies]

Oct 1, 2013....lost beach access at Sandy Hook....
http://stripersandanglers.com/Forum/...Hook-shut-down


Although this is only temporary, I'm posting it here so we can try to document these losses to help raise public awareness.....

Technically, fishermen should be allowed to walk the beaches at Sandy Hook, if they were to park at Sea Bright and walk North....
This may or may not be permitted....as Sandy Hook is a federal park, they may have different rules during the park closure....

Again, under the Public Trust Doctrine, we "should" theoretically have access...but as many fishermen have discovered, it doesn't always work that way....






**Anyone who has updates or different towns and streets to add to this thread...please feel free to post....


This includes "No Parking" areas....
There will be a whole host of streets in Deal that will be "No Parking" by next summer....the plans for that are in the works now...although this will not technically restrict beach access, the parking restrictions will certainly discourage access......

[DarkSkies]

Oct 2013...lost beach access at Sea Bright.....

With the dredging they are doing, oceanside access to much of Sea Bright is now restricted.
Specifically, you are not allowed to walk or fish some of the dredging areas while they are working,. as it has been deemed too dangerous.

This technically violates the Public Trust Doctrine, but is not without precedent. In times of danger to the public, or where public safety is an issue, towns have, and will continue to, restrict access until the issues are resolved. This was common in certain Ocean and Monmouth County beach areas after Sandy, and the town certainly has the right to do this.








What I would like you folks to do here is to continue to help document parking restrictions, and changes or modifications in NJ beach access. I believe the history of these, will someday become useful when we are looking at how much access we have lost, or are losing.

Thanks for reading....

[DarkSkies]

Oct 2013.....

** Lost parking access at Sea Bright....."Something Fishy".
It's no secret that fishermen used to park in the Something Fishy commercial lot, and then would walk across the street and fish the Sea Bright and Sandy Hook beaches.

This was probably illegal, but was tolerated by the managers/owners.
Fishermen doing this did it for years, and were not hassled as long as they were discreet and respectful of the property.....





Since Sandy, this has changed....
**Now there are no parking signs there...and they are towing violators...
I believe the fine is $75 or higher...an old timer I know got ticketed and had to pay it a few weeks ago....
Please don't park there...don't do it.....


Last fall, I met a high ranking member of one of the fishing clubs one night when taking a break from fishing....he confided to me he had picked up a tremendous amount of garbage that night....one such load being a bag of bunker heads that someone had left in the Something Fishy lot.........they were probably fishing the river, got back to their vehicle, and left it there instead of bringing it home.....

Each time trash like this is found, you folks may have seen me or other members here rant about it.....
We're not just doing it to hear the sound of our voices...we know what the consequences are from folks leaving trash around where it's not supposed to be...and have seen our access taken away, specifically the Rumson and Oceanic Bridges, and other areas....because of inconsiderate and sloppy fishermen.

That's why I will continue to crusade against this...
Woe to the fishermen I find doing this at night, who think it's no big deal....this is one of the biggest issues that causes us to lose acceess each year.

Whether the Public Trust Doctrine says we deserve to have fishing access, towns and business can easily restrict our parking access....and this effectively restricts our fishing access, without them violating our rights......







** Please remember this the next time you see someone littering at the end of a street, bulkhead, jetty, or National or State Park...please don't turn a blind eye, to the littering of others.....
Thanks for reading......

[DarkSkies]

Press Release- www.stripersandanglers.com


Oct 21, 2013 - More Restricted Fishing Access in Ocean County, NJ

It was recently reported to http://www.stripersandanglers.com/ that there is now more enforcement of restricted back bay fishing areas in Ocean County. Fishermen previously had conditional access to these areas. There has always been a confict fishing bulkheads, marinas, and areas adjacent to them when they bordered private property areas.

The Public Trust Doctrine is supposed to protect public access. In recent cases where private property rights came into play, the rights of the private property owners usually prevailed.

A significant landmark victory in that area had been the winning back of fishermen access rights at Shoreham Beach, LI in 2012...

http://stripersandanglers.com/Forum/...Shoreham-Beach

In NJ, these issues of access Vs Public Trust had been handled by the DEP. A decision was made in 2012 to hand over some of these decisions to local government, with a final DEP oversight. What this implied to some was that the DEP would ultimately have less say in these matters. This became a cause of concern for fishermen and outdoors enthusiasts.

During the week of Oct 20, this was made even more clear as fishermen were twice ticketed for fishing a local Ocean County marina area, as reported by a local fisherman.

The first time 7 fishermen were ticketed, with the penalty being $175 for each violation.

The second time 6 fishermen were ticketed, with the penalty being $175 for each violation.

This is being put out there as a public service to those who think their rights are protected under the Public Trust Doctrine, and to remind all fishermen that fishing access is not guaranteed.

[DarkSkies]

As I mentioned in posts 5 and 6 above, the local police are now enforcing "No fishing or trespassing" signs. Some of these cases have steep fines attached.

In the past, there had sometimes been an understanding that police would leave local fishermen alone, as long as they were respectful and not littering.

At the current time, more of these no tresspassing signs are being taken literally. My hope here is to raise awareness so that more fishermen are not penalized.

IMO there is not much to be gained by protesting these specific cases, as fishermen access in some areas has become secondary to property rights.
In many instances we have done this damage to ourselves by our selfish and littering behavior.

I am not naming the most recent marina as there is no sense in drawing attention to it.
If you fish in Ocean County regularly,, you will probably hear of this ticketing campaign before the week is over...






Needless to say, if you are out there fishing an area, and see a no trespassing sign, please take that sign seriously or risk fines and arrest....
Remember that the penalties are now more serious for being caught fishing off of or near railroad bridges or State Property as well.....and some of the local roadway bridges that fishermen like to fish from...

In some cases the fines are $1000 for the first offense for trespassing on State Property.....

Thanks for reading, and please tell your friends.....

[storminsteve]

Every year its the same thing. We shoot ourselves in the foot. Thanks for the heads up dark.

[buckethead]

Thank you ds. They are just going to keep squeezing and squeezing until there are only a few places left to fish

[cowherder]

I think the fishermen being the problem part is the most important. Every time I am out there I see fisherman garbage. what does it take to take your container from clams or worms and throw it in the garbage?

[buckethead]

The dredging is also killing us. Has anyone seen the surf cams lately? It seems half of new jersey is now covered by flat featureless beaches. What a waste of federal dollars

[DarkSkies]

Just reported by Finchaser.....

With all the dredging and filling in of NNJ beaches, there is no provision in the DEP for continued beach access for fishermen, bird watchers, etc....the way I understand it,.....anyone other than swimmers.......



I'm sure this is just an oversight and will be addressed through the appropriate channels. However it's something that needs to be monitored closely by us all.

If anyone has further information, please add to this as it develops, and keep us informed.....this is another kick in the teeth to NJ land based fishermen.

[finchaser]

Our state government is about to vote to fund beach replenishment - the replenishment that was not supposed to be done until each town had provided their MAP (Municipal Access Plan) which only one town, Sea Bright, ever did.
What this means is that the towns will have absolutely no incentive to provide access and the state will have no leverage to force them to do so.

Please send this note to your representatives ASAP.

Here is a link to find your Assemblymen and Senators

http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/legsearch.asp

Please send this (or your own version of it)
A mention that this issue could cost them your vote in the next election would be a nice touch.



RE: S2600/A3892 - Shore Protection Projects Funding
Dear ______
The bill mentioned above proposes a "prioritization" system which has, in our experience, never been effective in securing the needed public access. I am asking that the Legislature require public access. If public access is not created, or enhanced (such as providing needed parking or restrooms), no Shore Protection Funds should be spent.
Sincerely,
Name
Address
Phone number

[fishinmission78]

Just read that ibsp will be having some replenishment from A23 on South. Work begins in 2 weeks some of the equipment is already there.
This is supposed to take up to 9 months. I'm not buying my pass till I see how effed up this will be.