PORT REPUBLIC — Stockton University has received a $2.44 million grant to overhaul portions of its Marine Field Station along Nacote Creek, with plans that include a new boat ramp, additional dock space, shoreline restoration and an accessible science pier.
The $2,440,760 grant from the Pro-NJ Trust will fund infrastructure improvements designed to expand Stockton's coastal research and educational programs while also making the facility more resilient to flooding and storms.
“This project will create a strategically located working waterfront to support coastal science in Atlantic and Ocean counties by providing improved and accessible facilities for use by Stockton University and its many state, federal and educational partners,” Marine Field Station Director Steve Evert said.
The Marine Field Station serves as a research and educational hub for Stockton faculty and students in disciplines including marine science, environmental science, geology, biology, chemistry and coastal zone management.
More than 200 Stockton undergraduate and graduate students use the facility annually, according to Evert, in addition to researchers, government agencies and K-12 students from Atlantic, Cape May and Ocean counties.
New Boat Ramp, Docks and Living Shoreline
The improvements will primarily focus on the station's marina area along Nacote Creek.
Evert said the property currently has a degraded lagoon habitat, shoreline erosion and a boat ramp that is no longer usable.
Stockton plans to significantly reduce the amount of bulkhead along the creek, from approximately 300 feet to about 100 feet.
The university would reclaim the degraded lagoon using dredged material and install approximately 100 feet of living shoreline, a nature-based approach designed to stabilize the shoreline while providing environmental habitat.
A new boat ramp and additional dockage will also be constructed.
Stockton says the improvements should reduce nuisance flooding, provide greater shoreline protection and decrease the potential for storm damage.
(photo by Susan Allen/Stockton University): From left, Stockton Marine Science majors Alexander Wroblewski, a senior from Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, River Hammell, a senior from Wenonah, and Jess Taylor, a senior from Whiting, record fish monitoring data at the dock at Stockton’s Marine Field Station in Port Republic.
Making Coastal Science More Accessible
One of the project's most significant educational components will be construction of an accessible science pier.
The pier will expand Stockton's Dockside Science Program, which allows high school and college students to participate in coastal science and environmental monitoring without having to board a boat.
“In addition to the needed site improvements and increased capacity to welcome regional partners, I am particularly excited that this project will increase access to our Dockside Science Program for students with disabilities by building an accessible science pier,” Evert said.
Long-term monitoring stations will be installed on the pier to collect information including water quality and tide levels, with the ability to accommodate additional monitoring needs in the future.
Amanda Norvell, dean of Stockton's School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, said the improvements will give more students access to hands-on coastal research.
“The improvements to the Marine Field Station will expand our capacity to conduct near-shore research while ensuring that more students, including those with disabilities, can participate directly in the hands-on experiences that prepare them to address the environmental and economic challenges facing New Jersey's coastal communities,” Norvell said.
Supporting New Jersey's 'Blue Economy'
The improvements come as Stockton places greater emphasis on coastal science disciplines that extend beyond traditional marine biology.
Evert said the university is increasingly teaching areas including marine operations, coastal resiliency, mapping and environmental monitoring.
Those skills, he said, can give students more potential career paths while preparing them to participate in New Jersey's growing “blue economy” — economic activity connected to oceans, waterways and coastal resources.
“These program advancements are benefiting students by providing a broader base from which to carve out their career paths and contribute to the blue economy,” Evert said.
The field station also hosts a meteorological station for the Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve, part of a national network of protected areas used for long-term research, water-quality monitoring, education and coastal stewardship.
Evert said he hopes Stockton will eventually obtain additional funding for a dockside science pavilion that would further expand public programming.
Emergency Response Benefits
The project could also have public-safety benefits.
Improvements to the waterfront will provide better vessel access to the waters surrounding the Mullica River for scientific work and emergency response.
New Jersey's Bureau of Marine Water Monitoring has occasionally used the station's docks since 2015. The agency monitors tidal waters for swimming safety and performs work supporting the state's shellfish industry.
The Galloway Township Office of Emergency Management has also identified the Marine Field Station as an emergency-response location for surrounding waterways.
Evert said the upgraded facility should make it possible for Stockton to accommodate additional agencies and institutions working throughout Atlantic and Ocean counties.
Construction Still More Than a Year Away
The improvements won't happen immediately.
Stockton expects the design, engineering and permitting process to take approximately six to 18 months, with construction beginning after the necessary approvals are secured.
The grant comes from the Pro-NJ Trust, a $15 million fund established by Ocean Wind to support municipal infrastructure projects, educational research and nonprofit initiatives involving coastal resiliency in Atlantic, Cape May and Ocean counties over a seven-year period.
Once completed, Stockton officials say the improvements will allow the Marine Field Station to accommodate more students, researchers, government agencies and school groups while simultaneously restoring a portion of the Nacote Creek shoreline.
“Through this investment, Stockton will strengthen a vital hub for coastal science, student learning and regional collaboration,” Norvell said.
About the Author
Karen Johnson
With over 30 years of news experience in major markets like Los Angeles, Denver, and Columbus, Karen now covers our area for South Jersey NewsBeat. She also brings her articulate and conversational news delivery to WOND radio listeners every weekday. Her background includes work with the NBC Radio Network, and she thrives in fast-paced news environments.
