The national oceanic and atmospheric administration (NOAA) is providing $246,000 in federal funding to the state of new jersey through the national estuarine research reserve system (NERRS) land…

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) awarded $246,000 to Rutgers, The State University on October 1, 2025, under the Coastal Zone Management Estuarine Research Reserves program (CFDA 11.420) to acquire 1.72 acres of open land in Tuckerton Borough, New Jersey adjacent to the Grassle Marsh Complex. The acquisition supports the Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve's strategic land acquisition objectives and will enhance the reserve's capacity for hazard and climate resilience while protecting critical habitat and species. The parcel is positioned next to the Great Bay Boulevard Wildlife Management Area, a 4,670-acre state-owned salt marsh that forms the northern and eastern shores of Great Bay.

The acquired land will serve multiple reserve missions by providing expanded access and contiguous protection for field research activities conducted by students, faculty, and visiting scientists at the Grassle Pocket Marsh, a core research and education site for the reserve. The award period extends through September 30, 2026, with total federal obligations of $328,000. This project exemplifies NOAA's land acquisition funding category under the National Estuarine Research Reserves program, which supports coastal states and institutions in establishing and operating natural field laboratories for monitoring, research, and public education within estuarine environments.

The national oceanic and atmospheric administration (NOAA) is providing $246,000 in federal funding to the state of new jersey through the national estuarine research reserve system (NERRS) land acquisition and construction program for fiscal year 2025 (NOAA-NOS-OCM-2025-29258). This funding will build the ability of the jacques cousteau national estuarine research reserve within the rutgers university of new jersey to purchase parcels of land that will aid in the enhancement of hazard and climate resilience and protection of critical habitat and species within the jacques cousteau nerr. Funds are being requested to acquire 1.72 acres in tuckerton boro, new jersey of open land next to the grassle marsh complex of the jacques cousteau national estuarine research reserve. This is a high priority parcel for the reserves land acquisition strategy as IT is next to one of the core areas, the great BAY boulevard wildlife management area - a state owned and managed salt marsh area (4,670 acres) at the end of a peninsula extending from little EGG harbor that forms the northern and eastern shores of great BAY. Additionally, the grassle pocket marsh, which these properties are adjacent to, plays an important role in the research, education and stewardship missions of the reserve as IT is used by students, faculty and visiting scientists as a field research site.