Urban Coast Institute

09/04/2026

Following the week‘s heavy rains, Thursday’s ocean water quality testing showed bacteria levels above NJDEP standards at a Loch Arbour beach and medium levels at a few others. Check the Blue Water Task Force app for data: https://bwtf.surfrider.org

Samples were collected by the Surfrider Foundation: Jersey Shore Chapter and analyzed by Monmouth University.

09/03/2026

🌊 Better data. Better decisions. Healthier beaches.

The Blue Water Task Force is expanding water quality monitoring in Monmouth County through an exciting collaboration with Monmouth University's Urban Coast Institute. 🙌 Surfrider Foundation

Our volunteers collect water samples from multiple locations near coastal lake outflows, while Professor Jason Adolf and his laboratory team perform the scientific testing that makes this program possible. ☺️

Together, we're increasing monitoring, improving access to water quality information, and helping protect everyone who enjoys New Jersey's beaches. 👍🏽

A sincere thank you to Jason and the entire Monmouth University team for their expertise and commitment to our coast. 💙

➡️ To learn how to become involved, please email [email protected]

08/31/2026

For its 100th anniversary, the ASBPA is holding a vote on the best all-time beach restoration projects. 🗳 The following Jersey Shore projects are in the running:

Cape May Inlet to Lower Twp. (2005, 2006)
Keansburg (2020)
Monmouth County (2016)
North Wildwood (2025)
Ocean City (2025)
Sea Bright to Manasquan Inlet (2006)
Thompsons Beach (2018)

☀️ There’s still time to vote for the ASBPA Best of the Best Restored Beach Award!

🏖️ Restored beaches improve habitat, boost tourism, and keep coastlines resilient. Celebrate the communities behind these efforts by voting — and encourage your neighbors, followers, and residents to participate too!

🗳️ Make your pick by Tuesday, September 15th: https://asbpa.org/2026/01/13/vote-for-the-best-of-the-best-restored-beaches/

📸: 2017 Best Restored Beach Award, Phipps Ocean Park, Palm Beach, Florida

08/26/2026

UCI staff joined the NJDEP, municipal and county officials, federal representatives, community organizations, and local residents for a Shark River Basin resilience tour on Monday. The tour, which coincided with New Jersey Flood Safety Week, included stops at Maclearie Park in Belmar, South Riverside Living Shoreline in Neptune Township, and Memorial Park in Neptune City.

“The science is clear: Sea level is rising, and will continue to do so into the future,” UCI Acting Director Tom Herrington said. “Heavy rainfall is becoming more frequent and is projected to increase in the future. Nowhere are these two impacts more threatening than right here at the Jersey Shore. That is why Monmouth University feels it is so important to work with our partners and communities and bring the resources of the university, its faculty and students to help build community and ecosystem resilience to the growing threat of coastal and inland flooding.”

Blog: https://www.monmouth.edu/uci/2026/08/26/uci-joins-partners-for-shark-river-basin-resilience-tour/

08/20/2026

Check out the latest upgrade to the MARCO Portal's mobile app, developed by recent Monmouth University CSSE Department graduates Ava Taylor and Anjali Narang 📲

📍 New update on the MARCO Ocean Data Mobile App

Tag locations as you explore the Mid-Atlantic! With this new feature, you can drop a pin on the map and save data layers and multimedia directly to that location. Add maps, written notes, photos, videos, and audio files so you can easily find and revisit important sites later.

Whether you’re fishing, boating, spending a day at the beach, or conducting research in the field, Tags make it easier to capture what you discover along the way.

📲 Learn more: https://portal.midatlanticocean.org/news/tag-sites-with-maps-notes-photos-videos-and-more-on-mobile-app/

08/19/2026

🌊 Before You Hit the Beach, Check the Water Quality!

Planning a day at the Jersey Shore? 🌞 🏖️ The Blue Water Task Force web app makes it easy to check the latest water quality results for Monmouth County beaches. Monmouth University Surfrider Foundation

Each Thursday, Surfrider Foundation Jersey Shore Chapter volunteers collect ocean water samples, which are then tested by researchers at Monmouth University. Results are typically posted after 10 AM on Fridays, giving beachgoers an up-to-date look at bacteria levels before they swim or surf.

📍 Visit the map, click on a beach, and see whether enterococcus bacteria levels are low, moderate, or high according to NJDEP standards.

👉 View the latest water quality results ➡️ https://bwtf.surfrider.org/explore

Learn more about this important community monitoring effort from Monmouth University’s Urban Coast Institute:
Read the full blog post ➡️ https://www.monmouth.edu/uci/2026/08/10/visit-blue-water-task-force-site-for-weekly-water-quality-results/

📸 Photo Credit: Brian Snyder at our North Belmar (Shark River Inlet) sampling location

08/18/2026

📅 Save the Date!

The Ninth Annual Mid-Atlantic Ocean Forum is headed to New Jersey!

Join MARCO on April 28–30, 2027 at Monmouth University in West Long Branch, NJ for three days of conversation, collaboration, and connection around the issues shaping our region’s ocean and coast.

More details, including registration and program information, will be coming soon. For now, mark your calendars and we hope to see you in New Jersey!

🌊 April 28–30, 2027
📍 Monmouth University | West Long Branch, NJ

08/14/2026

All clear ✅ Yesterday’s beach water quality readings are now posted on the Surfrider Foundation’s Blue Water Task Force site, and each met NJDEP standards. View the data at https://bwtf.surfrider.org/

08/12/2026

Check the Blue Water Task Force web app for water quality readings before heading to your favorite Monmouth County beaches. 🌊🧪 Samples are gathered at local beaches every Thursday by Surfrider Foundation: Jersey Shore Chapter volunteers and lab tested at Monmouth University, with results typically posted after 10 a.m. on Fridays.

ℹ️ More info: https://www.monmouth.edu/uci/2026/08/10/visit-blue-water-task-force-site-for-weekly-water-quality-results/

08/11/2026