Discover DEP: the Official Podcast of the NJ Department of Environmental Protection

Episode 15-New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust with Executive Director David Zimmer

The New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust (NJEIT) provides low-cost financing for the construction of environmental infrastructure projects that enhance and protect ground and surface water resources to ensure the safety of drinking water and to facilitate responsible, sustainable economic development. NJEIT was the first program of its kind in the country. David Zimmer, Executive Director of NJEIT, came in to discuss this innovative program with Bob Bostock.

For more information on the New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust, visit: www.njeit.org.

Episode 14-Red Knot with Dr. Amanda Dey

In 1999, the Red Knot, a medium sized shorebird,  was listed as a threatened species in New Jersey under the New Jersey Endangered Species Conservation Act. Dr. Amanda Dey, Principal Zoologist who works in the Endangered and Nongame Species program at DEP, sits down to talk with Bob Bostock about this bird’s important yearly stopover in the Delaware Bay during its migration to the Arctic, as well as actions that are being taken to help protect the Red Knot.
 
 
For more information on Red Knots, visit: http://www.nj.gov/dep/fgw/ensp/redknot.htm.

Episode 13-Emerald Ash Borer with Regional Forester Rosa Yoo

The Emerald Ash Borer, an invasive insect, poses a threat to New Jersey’s 24.7 million ash trees. This shiny green beetle can be hard to detect in the wild, but the damage it causes soon becomes all too obvious. This insect’s larvae can bore through the bark of ash trees, cutting off the flow of nutrients and eventually killing the trees. Rosa Yoo, Regional Forester, joins Bob Bostock to discuss the Emerald Ash Borer infestation, why residents should be concerned about this, and what they can do to combat this issue.

For more information on the Emerald Ash Borer, visit: www.emeraldashborer.nj.gov. 

Epsiode 12-Zika virus and mosquitoes with Deputy Commissioners David Glass (DEP) and Dr. Arturo Brito (DOH)

The Zika virus is fast becoming a growing concern for people around the world, and as summer approaches, New Jerseyans are becoming more conscious of the virus. The DEP and the NJ Department of Health have been coordinating through their #zapZika campaign to better inform the public on how they can help control the mosquito population and protect themselves against the virus. DEP Deputy Commissioner David Glass and DOH Deputy Commissioner Dr. Arturo Brito joined Bob Bostock to discuss the Zika virus and the preparations that their respective departments have made to protect New Jerseayns.

This episode can be found at: http://www.nj.gov/dep/podcast/

For more information on Zika, visit: http://www.nj.gov/dep/mosquito/docs/zika-fact-sheet.pdf

Episode 11-Flag Day and Twin Lights Historic Site with Mark Stewart

On June 14, we celebrate Flag Day as a way to honor our nation’s flag. To mark this day, Bob Bostock sits with Mark Stewart, Secretary of the Twin Lights Historical Society, to talk about Flag Day and the history of Twin Lights Historic Site. Twin Lights holds an important place in this country’s history as the location of the first official reading in 1893 of the Pledge of Allegiance. They also discuss “Seeing Stars,”  a special exhibit about Old Glory and its history, which is in Twin Lights’ museum through the end of the year.

For more information: www.Twinlightslighthouse.com

http://www.nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/historic/twin-lights/twin-lights-index.htm

Episode 10-Cooperative Coastal Monitoring Program with Virginia Loftin

The 2016 beach season is rapidly approaching, and DEP’s Cooperative Coastal Monitoring Program (CCMP) is making sure that New Jersey’s recreational beaches are ready to be open to the public. In the 2015 beach season, ocean and bay beaches were open 99.9% of the time. New Jersey has consistently been a national leader in water quality, and beach monitoring helps to make sure that New Jersey maintains that same level of quality at our recreational beaches. Bob Bostock spoke to Virginia Loftin, who oversees the CCMP, to discuss water quality monitoring, coastal surveillance, and how the work of the CCMP positively affects the Jersey shore.

More information can be found at https://njbeaches.org/.

Episode 9-National Trails Day with Brandee Chapman, State Trails Coordinator

On June 4, New Jersey will be participating in the annual National Trails Day which is celebrated statewide and nationally. As an initiative of the American Hiking Society, National Trails Day was first celebrated in the United States in 1993 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the National Trails System Act. Bob Bostock sits with Brandee Chapman, State Trails Coordinator, to discuss the New Jersey Trails Program and National Trails Day.

More info: www.trails.nj.gov and www.americanhiking.org

 

Episode 8-Barnegat Bay Blitz with Katie Ribsam

On June 3, DEP is hosting its 7th Barnegat Bay Blitz, a watershed-wide cleanup that takes place throughout 37 municipalities in Ocean and Monmouth counties. Over 26,000 volunteers have participated in the past six blitzes. At each Blitz, thousands of bags of trash and recyclables have been picked up as well as dumpsters full of debris. Bob Bostock spoke to Katie Ribsam, a DEP Environmental specialist and Co-chair of the Barnegat Bay Blitz, to discuss how the Blitz came to be and the importance of Barnegat Bay.

Episode 7-Public Access Maps with Becky Foster

This week, DEP announced a new public access map that allows users to locate more than 2,900 public access points along the Atlantic coast and back bays in Monmouth, Ocean, Atlantic, and Cape May counties and find out detailed information about the amenities available at each access point. Bob Bostock spoke to Becky Foster to discuss her work on the new map and the importance of public access points throughout the state.

The new map can be found at: http://www.nj.gov/dep/cmp/access/

Episode 6-Camden Collaborative Initiative with Frank McLaughlin

The Camden Collaborative Initiative (CCI) is a solutions oriented partnership between governmental, non-profit, private, and community-based agencies formed to plan and implement innovative strategies to improve the environment and the quality of life of Camden’s residents. The CCI is building upon the success of environmental initiatives underway, made possible by the efforts and resources of multiple partners that have come together to address the complex environmental issues present in the City. For their work, the CCI received an Environmental Champion Award from the Environmental Protection Agency. Bob Bostock spoke to Frank McLaughlin, Environmental Specialist, who represented DEP at the awards ceremony to tell us more about the innovative work that is transforming Camden.