Barnegat Bay is troubled, ongoing

studies suggest, and ominous signs point

to an uncertain future.
The bay bottom appeared to be in
good condition, except for a few areas,
according to initial findings of 10 ongo-
ing studies. And intense development in
the upper bay area apparently has not
had a substantial impact on local juvenile fish.
But young stinging sea nettle jellyfish are through-
out the bay and adults may eventually show up in south-
ern areas. Moreover, closing the Oyster Creek nuclear
power plant in Lacey now scheduled for 2019 and a
warm-water magnet for larval fish may alter fish
populations in unpredictable ways.
Barnegat Bay stressors are not just pollution, said
Thomas Belton, a state Department of Environmental
Protection scientist, in a July interview. They include
bulkheads (that attract sea nettles), the Oyster Creek
power plant, which has a big impact on the system.
When you shut that off, you have to think of Barne-
OMINOUS
SIGNS FOR
BARNEGAT
BAY FUTURE
135 kinds of algae live in
the bay and several
harmful (toxic) species
were detected at low
levels but not in
blooms.
Salt marshes can re-
move 90 percent of
the nitrogen, a major
source of bay pollu-
tion, entering them.
Development de-
stroyed more than 28
percent of Barnegat
Bay's tidal marshes
between 1940 and
1970.
FILE PHOTOS
Top: Island Beach State Park naturalists take visitors into
Barnegat Bay to clam in 2013. Above: The Oyster Creek
nuclear generating station in Lacey.
OYSTER CREEK NUCLEAR POWER PLANT
Closing the Oyster Creek nuclear power plant may alter fish
populations in the bay. Researchers found many larval fish
near the plants intake and warm-water discharge canal.
Environmentalists seek action
to halt degradation of waterway
See OMINOUS, Page A5
ONLINE
For a series of stories on the troubled Barnegat Bay,
visit APP.com/barnegatbay.
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WEDNESDAY 09.17.14
VOLUME 135
NUMBER 223
SINCE 1879
ADVICE D5
CLASSIFIED E1
COMICS D4
LOCAL A3
OBITUARIES A15
OPINION A10
SPORTS C1
TABLE D1
WEATHER C8
YOUR MONEY A8
OBAMA SENDS 3,000 U.S. TROOPS TO HELP BATTLE EBOLA PAGE 1B
Gov. Chris Christie has handed his critics within the
Republican Party fodder for reneging on a promise to
support New Yorks GOP gubernatorial candidate.
Christie repeatedly praised Democratic Gov. An-
drew Cuomo in New York at a news conference follow-
ing an anti-terrorism summit Monday and has yet to
commit to any of Republican challenger Rob Astorinos
fundraising events.
Christie earlier in the summer described Astorinos
campaign as a lost cause, but last week changed gears,
suddenly calling Astorino the best candidate to lead
the state forward.
But now, the New Jersey governor who controls
fundraising of the Republican Governors Association
as the groups chairman appears to be solidly in Cuo-
Christie praises
Cuomo, poses
with Democrats
Fails to help GOP hopeful for N.Y. governor
By Bob Jordan@BobJordanAPP
See CHRISTIE, Page A4
POINT PLEASANT BEACH If drivers pay for parking,
why are they still getting tickets?
A state Superior Court judge ruled against the bor-
oughs parking ordinance after a Camden County attor-
ney appealed his parking summons this summer.
Kevin D. Walsh of Merchantville was ticketed be-
cause he displayed his parking receipt on the wrong
side of the dashboard. After a hearing before Judge Ro-
chelle Gizinski, Walsh got his ticket tossed out of court
and now he is gunning to get refunds for all other
Judge tosses Point
Beach parking fine
By Larry Higgs @APPLarry
See PARKING, Page A4
Dishes and desserts
to celebrate Rosh Hashana
Table, D1
A SWEET
NEW YEAR
PRESS ON YOUR SIDE
HOW TO FIGHT
MEDICARE SCAMS
Seniors are warned to check their Medicare
statements to make sure theyre not getting
ripped off. YOUR MONEY, A8