Sandy's Effects

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Extra-tropical cyclone Sandy left a path of devastation across the entire coastline of New Jersey. 

Here is an update as of February 2, 2013...

Island Beach State Park (IBSP), with terrapin nesting habitat, has sustained damage, but it is indicative of barrier island function.  Sands have washed out in some places west into the back dunes and maritime forest areas.  However, despite the shift west, the Park staff and volunteers have been doing a tremendous job in making area accessible once again.  Volunteers and staff have found terrapin carapaces, and are sharing stories of finding dead terrapins as clean-up efforts continue.  We will keep track of these accounts and will continue to support the clean-up and recovery efforts along  marshes, bay beaches, and creeks that serve as critical terrapin habitat.

Our study sites along the mainland part of Barnegat Bay (Forsythe Refuge) have held up well.  The same is true for North Sedge Island (destruction to the docks), but the structures held up okay. 

Reports from Kathy Lacey state that northern parts of LBI (Barnegat Light and High Bar Harbor) have also withstood the devastation, but the amount of debris on the nesting areas is substantial.

Despite the devastation, IBSP is open to Bath House 1 for visitors and we will continue to clean-up our coastal habitats.  We will also be studying the "post-Sandy" effects on populations and nesting ecology.  Stay tuned as we are joining together researchers, students and volunteers to help us with this effort.