Views from theTower
~ NEWSLETTER
SPRING 2026 | VOLUME 56 | NO. 1
Toward a Sustainable Future: We All Have a Role By Dr. Lenore Tedesco, Executive Director, The Wetlands Institute Island communities by their very nature have limited resources, and in a rapidly changing world, the stresses on natural resources and island infrastructure are becoming ever more apparent and acute. Seven Mile Island is extremely susceptible to the whims of the sea and storms. The Boroughs of Avalon and Stone Harbor have taken several steps that help move toward sustainability by adopting and promoting practices that strengthen the island communities. It’s important that we all find ways of contributing to the care of the island we love.
At The Wetlands Institute, we have been planning and implementing several projects to help improve our resilience so we too can
carry our mission forward for generations to come. Over the next year, I will share our journey toward sustainability in the hope that it can help educate our community and also provide concrete steps that you can take to become part of the solution. In this article, I will focus on water management at the individual lot level and the importance of the use of native plants. One significant problem for our sustainability is managing flooding and protecting the fresh water supply. The fresh water supply on barrier islands is especially vulnerable to rising seas. Lowlying island streets flood with saltwater dozens of times each year, even on sunny days. Storm intensity and frequency have measurably increased, bringing saltwater flooding as well as flooding by rainwater. Rainfall has increased, with precipitation already 10% higher than in 2000 in New Jersey. I’m sure you have noticed that this increased rainfall is also coming as intense downpours. Rain falling on permeable surfaces, that is surfaces that can absorb water, allows the water to soak into the ground. Fresh water soaking into the ground is the best place for rainfall to go. Impermeable surfaces, in contrast, cause water to run off properties into streets and ultimately to the storm drain network for discharge to the ocean. As the Island’s proportion of
impermeable surfaces increases, runoff rises dramatically. The good news is that there are numerous steps property owners can take to reduce runoff from their properties. Consider porous paving stones for walkways and driveways. They are made of material that allows water to soak in rather than running off them. Consider diverting gutters into landscaped areas designed to absorb water. These so-called rain gardens can significantly reduce runoff from a property. Replacing turf grass with gardens or stones will increase the amount of water that can soak into the ground instead of running off. (continued on page 7)
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