Chris Evangelista - Meadowlands Research & Restoration Institute

MRRI Scientists Present at Restore America’s Estuaries 2024 Coastal & Estuarine Summit

October 24, 2024 by Chris Evangelista

MRRI scientists attended Restore America’s Estuaries 2024 Coastal & Estuarine Summit in Arlington, VA, October 6-11, 2024. The five day summit brought together national and international experts on tidal and coastal wetland restoration. Amidst a diverse schedule, wetland practitioners, academics, environmental lawyers and policy makers discussed current successes and future possibilities in sustainable wetland restoration … Read more

Launch of the Updated ICP-MS System

July 18, 2024July 18, 2024 by Chris Evangelista

The New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority (NJSEA) has upgraded the Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) system to the latest technology for the Meadowlands Research & Restoration Institute (MRRI) laboratory. From July 8-10, 2024, a field engineer from Agilent Technologies installed the new Agilent 7850 ICP-MS and provided training on this state-of-the-art instrument and … Read more

A recent study funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) aims to understand mineral formation in the anoxic sediments of the Hackensack estuary.

July 3, 2024 by Chris Evangelista

A recent study funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) aims to understand mineral formation in the oxygen-depleted sediments of the Hackensack estuary. The recently approved NSF proposal (worth $551,795) focuses on the concept of “reverse weathering”, which involves the creation of clay minerals from eroded terrestrial minerals in marine sediments. This research has significant … Read more

Water Quality Data Sharing with WDX

July 3, 2024 by Chris Evangelista

The 2023 water quality data collected in the Meadowlands Lower Hackensack Estuary has been checked with QA/QC procedures and shared with US EPA through national Water Quality Exchange (WQX). The Meadowlands Research & Restoration Institute (MRRI) has been sharing water quality data collected within the District since 2016. The water quality monitoring project was established … Read more

Tracking Legacy Contaminant Movement Between River Sediments and the Marsh Platform

June 20, 2024June 19, 2024 by Chris Evangelista

The Environmental Protection Agency is relying on MRRI and a two-year grant to determine how contaminants move between the marshes and main stem of the river at selected microbasins in the lower Hackensack River. The study aims to understand the direction and amount of sediment movement under typical tidal conditions. At each drainage point, suspended … Read more

Boat Training for MRRI Personnel

June 14, 2024 by Chris Evangelista

The Meadowlands Research and Restoration Institute (MRRI) staff recently completed training on their newly acquired research vessel. This training, involving nine staff members, covered essential operations such as down scan and side scan sonar for underwater imaging, shallow water anchoring techniques using the integrated PowePoles®, the use of the bow access door for marsh platform … Read more

MRRI GIS had its presence felt at the New Jersey Geospatial Forum’s Lightning Talks

June 7, 2024June 7, 2024 by Chris Evangelista

MRRI’s GIS staff presented at the New Jersey Geospatial Forum’s General Meeting on June 6th, 2024. The Forum is a statewide organization, founded by the New Jersey Office of Information Technology, and it focuses on New Jersey’s geospatial industry. Membership is open to the public and encourages participations of individuals from various sectors interested in … Read more

Four BCA Seniors Complete the 2024 Senior Experience Internship at MRRI

May 31, 2024 by Chris Evangelista

On May 29th, four seniors from Bergen County Academies (BCA) – Miriam Inba, Arda Sensoz, Julianna Nunez, and Shlok Jhaveri – concluded their 2024 Senior Experience Internship at MRRI. Throughout the school year, these interns joined the professional staff at MRRI every Wednesday, gaining hands-on experience in GIS mapping techniques, laboratory procedures, and field safety. … Read more

Blue Carbon National Working Group Meeting, Washington DC, May 21-22, 2024

May 31, 2024May 24, 2024 by Chris Evangelista

This past week MRRI scientists joined Restore America’s Estuaries’ Blue Carbon Working Group in Washington DC to discuss current legislation and restoration initiatives aimed to preserve and enhance blue carbon repositories of the coastal US. On the first day keynote speakers from EPA, NOAA, USGS, SERC, The Nature Conservancy, Maryland Department of the Environment, and … Read more

MRRI Takes Home First Prize at NJDEP Mapping Contest

May 6, 2024 by Chris Evangelista

MRRI Senior GIS Specialist, Brian Wlodawski received first prize at the NJDEP 36th Annual Map Contest for the Reference Map category. His winning entry, utilizing FEMA’s flood map, effectively highlighted flood risk areas in the Meadowlands district while emphasizing community vulnerabilities and land use complexities. There were 39 maps submitted and nearly 150 attendees.