The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has issued a code orange air quality alert Sunday for Ocean County and southeastern Burlington County New Jersey. A code orange air quality alert means that air pollution concentrations within the region may become unhealthy for sensitive groups. Sensitive groups include children…people suffering from asthma… heart disease or other lung diseases…and the elderly. The effects of air pollution can be minimized by avoiding strenuous activity or exercise outdoors. For more information on ground-level ozone and fine particles…visit http://www.state.nj.us/dep/
Winners of the second DNREC Photo Contest were announced during Governor’s Day (July 30) at the Delaware State Fair. Left to right as shown above are contest winners and the categories for which they were cited: Vicente Pineda, People Enjoying Nature; Bill Cheadle, Watersheds: Landscapes and Waterways; Emma Serbinski, Youth; and Fred Waski, Hunting and Fishing. /Delaware DNREC photo
Winners of the 2026 DNREC Photo Contest gathered at the Delaware State Fair today to be honored by Governor Matt Meyer and the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control. This year – the second for the annual contest – DNREC encouraged photographers of all ages and skills levels to submit eye-catching images they had taken of the natural world in Delaware spanning five categories: People Enjoying Nature, Watersheds: Landscapes and Waterways, Wildlife and Aquatic Life, Hunting and Fishing, and Youth Entries.
On Thursday, July 30, 2026, a complaint was filed to New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) regarding a substance on Grenloch Lake in Washington Township, Gloucester County that was white and filmy in appearance. Officials from Gloucester County HazMat Response Unit, within the Office of Emergency Management, responded to investigate along with Washington Twp. Fire Department. The substance on the lake was discovered as described in the complaint to NJDEP. Through the investigation, it was later discovered that an accidental discharge of an ABC dry chemical fire extinguishing agent took place at the New Jersey Transit Bus Garage on SR42 (Black Horse Pike) which entered a nearby waterway, and later collected in a southern section of Grenloch Lake.
Officials on scene coordinated with NJDEP – Bureau of Emergency Response and environmental officials of NJ Transit during the investigation. Less than 25lbs of this low toxicity extinguishing agent was released during the incident, which is anticipated to have a minimal impact to aquatic life.
Participants in a two-day Introduction to Living Shorelines training event (Sept. 22 and 23) offered by DNREC will make field trips to existing projects/Delaware DNREC photo
The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control will host a two-day training event Tuesday Sept. 22 and Wednesday Sept. 23 for anyone interested in an introduction to the development process and components of living shorelines in Delaware. Presented in conjunction with the Delaware Living Shorelines Committee, the in-person training event will be held at the DNREC Field Office on Pilottown Road in Lewes, beginning at 8:30 a.m. and concluding at 4 p.m. each day.
The training focuses on the ecology behind living shorelines and implementing projects based on specific goals. On day one of the training, participants will learn about the causes and kinds of shoreline issues, define the types of living shoreline solutions, and become acquainted with the plants and animals comprising and living in shoreline habitats. Day two of the training will span techniques and applications, an introduction to living shoreline materials, designing for specific goals and a review of project permitting.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing an interim cleanup plan to address arsenic contamination remaining beneath the surface at the Vineland Chemical Superfund site in Vineland, New Jersey. The proposed plan focuses on arsenic-contaminated saturated soil, which is soil below the groundwater table, that continues to act as a source of contamination to groundwater, sediment, and nearby floodplain areas.
“To protect human health and the environment, EPA is taking an important step to keep arsenic from spreading,” said EPA Regional Administrator Michael Martucci. “EPA’s proposed plan targets a remaining source of arsenic contamination at the Vineland Chemical site and builds on years of cleanup work already completed.”
Preservation New Jersey stands with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Preservation Action, the National Preservation Partners Network (NPPN), the National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers (NCSHPO), the National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers (NATHPO), and preservation organizations across the United States in expressing strong opposition to proposed changes to the regulations implementing Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA).
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources offered local officials and special guests a preview of Wetipquin Creek State Park on Tuesday, as the state celebrated the acquisition of the 445-acre property that will become Wicomico County’s first state park.
Penn State Extension’s Master Watershed Steward program will hold its seventh annual native tree and shrub sale this fall with 25 pickup locations across the state. Funds from the sale will support regional Master Watershed Steward volunteer activities, including stream repair projects, tree plantings and youth education programs.
This year’s fundraiser features one native woody vine species and 23 native tree and shrub varieties, including the highly requested pawpaw and persimmon. Master Watershed Stewards will accept orders through Aug. 25 or until supplies run out, with curbside pickup available in September or October. Pickup dates and times vary by location.
Native plants offer a variety of benefits to communities, including environmental, social and even economic benefits, program leaders noted. Native trees, shrubs and other plants improve air and water quality, reduce stormwater runoff and pollution, and enrich and enhance property and enjoyment. Master Watershed Stewards plant trees to intercept and infiltrate stormwater, stabilize soils, and filter pollutants. Whether residents seek trees for privacy, foliage, shade, pollinator attraction or a beautiful landscape, the sale organizers noted that the program offers a variety of trees and shrubs to meet a wide range of needs.
As temperatures rise and mosquito activity increases across New Jersey, health and environmental officials from the New Jersey Departments of Health (NJDOH), Environmental Protection (NJDEP), and Agriculture (NJDA) are urging residents to take simple steps to protect themselves and their communities from mosquito bites.
“Protecting public health is a shared responsibility. The best defense against diseases transmitted by mosquitoes is to avoid being bitten in the first place and reducing breeding grounds,” saidDr.Raynard E. Washington, New Jersey Health Commissioner.
Volunteer registration is now open for the 39th annual Delaware Coastal Cleanup, set for Saturday, Sept. 19, at more than 40 sites statewide. Hosted by the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, this popular annual event welcomes participants who turn out to help maintain the state’s beaches, coastline and waterways from 9 a.m. to noon. Individuals as well as groups can sign up at the de.gov/coastalcleanup webpage now through Tuesday, Sept. 8, at 4:30 p.m.
Each year, the Delaware Coastal Cleanup draws hundreds of volunteers who collect litter, debris and recyclables from shorelines and natural areas. The event directly supports DNREC’s mission to provide quality outdoor recreation experiences while protecting public health and the environment.
