Efforts to save Barnegat Bay have dominated environmental news in New Jersey in recent days.
The Sedge Island Marine Conservation Zone in Barnegat Bay (file photo by Doug Hood)
Last week, Exelon Corp., which owns the Oyster Creek nuclear power plant in Lacey, reached an agreement with the state to shut down the plant 10 years sooner than planned.
The state dropped a proposal to require Exelon to build pricey cooling towers to limit the plant’s use of bay water and impact on aquatic life.
The Oyster Creek deal was part of Gov. Chris Christie's 10-point plan to cleanse the bay.
On Monday, the state Legislature OKed a bill that would restrict the use of lawn fertilizer around Barnegat Bay and throughout the Garden State, according to a story by my colleague, Kirk Moore. Christie is expected to sign the measure.
Save Barnegat Bay, which had mixed views on Christie's 10-point plan, has been working on bay issues for decades.
But fixing the bay likely will take decades, according to another story by Kirk on Sunday.
For Kirk, the latest gusher of Barnegat Bay news is the culmination of more than 20 years covering its decline and attempts to save it. He's also provided blanket coverage of the New Jersey Pinelands, fisheries issues and many other topics.
And this year, especially following our Barnegat Bay Under Stress series in August, Kirk has done a bang-up job covering bay-related issues.
A great egret in the Sedge Island Marine Conservation Zone in Barnegat Bay (file photo by Doug Hood)
