Lautenberg, Menendez Announce Nearly $600,000 for NJ Coastal Research and Monitoring The federal funding will be used for research conducted at the Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve, operated by the Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences at Rutgers University.
PoliticalNews.me - Jun 01,2012 - Lautenberg, Menendez Announce Nearly $600,000 for NJ Coastal Research and Monitoring
WASHINGTON, DC—U.S. Senators Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) announced that the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has awarded $587,190 in federal funding to Rutgers University for water quality monitoring and coastline ecosystem research in New Jersey. The federal funding will be used for research conducted at the Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve, operated by the Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences at Rutgers University.
“Ensuring the quality of our water is critical not only to the environmental health of our state, but also to our vibrant coastal economy,” said Lautenberg, a member of the Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Subcommittee, which funds NOAA. “The work done at the Cousteau Reserve is so important because estuaries are natural filters that preserve the quality of our water and protect us from dangerous pollutants. This funding will help Rutgers continue to lead in researching and preserving the environmental conditions and safety of our coastal areas in New Jersey and across the country.”
“I’m pleased to see Rutgers – through the renowned research done at the Jacques Cousteau Reserve – continue to lead the efforts in our state to understand, monitor and ensure the health of our waters,” said Menendez. “Monitoring our water quality and studying the health of our coastline ecosystems is incredibly important in maintaining high-quality shoreline environmental conditions and in supporting our coastal economies.”
The Cousteau Reserve encompasses approximately 115,000 acres in southeastern New Jersey, including a variety of habitats within the Mullica River-Great Bay ecosystem. It is one of 28 national reserves created to promote the responsible use and management of the nation's estuaries through a combination of scientific research, education, and stewardship. Programs conducted at the Cousteau Reserve address coastal issues affecting New Jersey, including the water quality of coastal systems, effects of sea level rise on coastal communities and ecosystems, and public awareness of coastal and estuarine value.
