Island beach and NJ State Park updates

[clamchucker]

A reminder from Grumpys that Island Beach is open



You can get your 2013 Beach Buggy Permit at the park office (between the bathing pavillions, NOT the gate house) starting today! They will be available 7 days a week from 8AM to 4PM.
Expanded areas of Island Beach State Park have reopened, including access trails and parking lots at A-2, A-3, A-4, A-5 and A-6. You can use from Gillikins Road south to the A-7 access point. The Reeds Road parking area at the northern end of the park is also reopened, allowing fishermen on foot to access the beach through the maintenance trail. Restrooms at Ocean Bathing Area 1 are now open, as is the restroom facility at A-6. The air station for four-wheel drive vehicles at A-6 is also now operable. They are planning to reopen more of the park soon but no date has been set!

[Monty]

A reminder from Grumpys that Island Beach is open
You can get your 2013 Beach Buggy Permit at the park office (between the bathing pavillions, NOT the gate house) starting today! They will be available 7 days a week from 8AM to 4PM.
Expanded areas of Island Beach State Park have reopened, including access trails and parking lots at A-2, A-3, A-4, A-5 and A-6. You can use from Gillikins Road south to the A-7 access point. The Reeds Road parking area at the northern end of the park is also reopened, allowing fishermen on foot to access the beach through the maintenance trail. Restrooms at Ocean Bathing Area 1 are now open, as is the restroom facility at A-6. The air station for four-wheel drive vehicles at A-6 is also now operable. They are planning to reopen more of the park soon but no date has been set!

That is all great news, thank you for the update Clamchucker

[fishinmission78]

I fished Island Beach this morning. Sedge island access on the back side is open for anyone who wants to fish or launch a kayak from there. The park is open to area 23. IBSP has expanded the fishing hours to 6:30am until 10pm, 7 days a week. The hours for getting a beach buggy permit are still 8am to 4pm at the park offices (not the gatehouse) 7 day a week

[fishinmission78]

Island Beach State Park will be open for fishing access 24 hours per day and to the inlet jetty effective May 17th at 630 am. Vehicles can not be driven south of the fence placed just north of the inlet jetty. For further information please contact the park office at 732-793-0506.

[fishinmission78]

Just read about this, island beach access will be limited from A23 south to the inlet. Could take as long as 9 months. How the hell could it take 9 months to fill in some sand?

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

Thanks for that finchaser. I c&p your letter and sent it to reps for district 9 which is seaside park.
This is the link for the reps e-mail If you live somewhere else like north of seaside park you could send it to district 10 but I believe dist 9 would be the best way to get heard.
Please send a letter if you can about access and ibsp access. This is lame. We are going to have nowhere left to fish.The link below should take you to their e-mail addresses so its easy to send.

http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/SelectRep.asp

District Representatives

Senator Connors, Christopher J.
Assemblywoman Gove, DiAnne C.
Assemblyman Rumpf, Brian E.

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.
Also the Army Corps of Engineers is slated to fulfill beach replenishment at Island Beach State Park. This project allegedly will take 9 months. This will negatively impact tourism and revenue for the state and should be shortened if possible. thank you.
Sincerely,
Name
Address
Phone number

[basshunter]

Sent thanks for making it easy. This sucks!

[clamchucker]

I emailed them as well. Thank you finchaser and fishing mission. The official press release-

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has awarded a contract to repair the Superstorm Sandy-damaged north jetty of Barnegat Inlet, state officials announced Monday.

According to the state Department of Environmental Protection, the contract was awarded to Agate Construction Company of Clermont, Cape May County, for $7.6 million to repair approximately 740 feet of the jetty on the north side of the inlet that was battered by Sandy.

The project is expected to begin later this month and be completed by the fall, state officials said.

The storm caused the displacement of stone along the 740 feet being repaired.
The repair work will involve rebuilding the cross-section of the jetty using existing capstone, supplemented with additional capstone, corestone, slushed concrete and stone-filled mattresses.

"This project will bring much-needed stabilization of the jetty at Island Beach State Park, and should be the final piece of the post-storm restoration of our state park, which the Christie Administration has been fully committed to since Superstorm Sandy," DEP Commissioner Martin said in a statement. "This is part of the overall coastal repair and restoration effort along the entire New Jersey coast being done by the Army Corps of Engineers, in coordination with the DEP, that will result in a more resilient state shoreline."

The north jetty is a popular fishing location for local anglers, who often catch blackfish and striped bass from the rocks. The repair project will mean the jetty, and the beach just to its north, will be closed for the duration of the project, though all access points for four wheel drive vehicles will remain open.

"While we recognize the jetty is a popular fishing destination, it is imperative that the jetty area be closed to all go park-goers for their own safety during this project," said Mark Texel, State Park Director for the DEP. "Ultimately, we will have a stronger jetty that will best serve Barnegat Inlet and the south end of our park, and jetty fishing can resume."

The Barnegat Inlet north jetty was first constructed in 1940 and raised in elevation in 1974, the DEP said. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dredged the inlet and several of the smaller channels surrounding it last July in order to ensure safe navigation.