On June 18th, MRRI staff completed the final retrieval of a suspended sediment trap deployed in Anderson Creek as part of an ongoing EPA study examining the movement of contaminated sediments within the lower Hackensack River estuary. The bi-directional sediment trap was installed to collect suspended particles transported by flood and ebb tides independently. This … Read more
Credit: NJCCRC Rutgers University, 2026 On June 10th, Rutgers University’s NJ Climate Change Resource Center hosted the 2026 NJ Climate Change Research Symposium in Piscataway, NJ. The day-long event provided scientists with an opportunity to share the latest research in natural and social science, economics, engineering, and policy, all aimed at better understanding the challenges … Read more
MRRI staff installed new pressure transducers to monitor water levels on both the landside and riverside of the manually operated tide gate at the Kingsland Impoundment in Lyndhurst. These new sensors will inform assessments of the tide gate’s performance and send alerts when trails should be closed due to high water levels. These sensors add to the … Read more
Over the past few months the US drone industry has undergone major changes, the most notable of which is the prohibition of the use & procurement of Chinese drone technologies by federal government entities & non-federal organizations working with or for the federal government. As a result, MRRI has been conducting research into acquiring a … Read more
On June 3, 2026, three seniors from Bergen County Academies, Fiona Beauchamp, Alex Kovalenko, and John Kalla, successfully shared their internship experiences at school and concluded their 2026 Senior Experience Internship with the Meadowlands Research and Restoration Institute (MRRI). Throughout the school year, the interns worked with MRRI’s professional staff every Wednesday, gaining hands-on experience in environmental … Read more
A new air quality monitoring system (Aeroqual AQS-1) was installed at the NJSEA Lyndhurst campus on May 28th, 2026. This new system combines laser-based PM2.5 analysis (Particulate Matter 2.5 µm) with gas sensors for O3, NO2, and H2S in a single, compact unit. It provides near-reference, real-time measurements, remote data access, cloud integration, and automated … Read more
The Meadowlands Research and Restoration Institute has expanded its field research capabilities with the acquisition of a new 1240 Lowe research vessel equipped with a 6.5 horsepower Beaver Dam long tail mud motor. The new vessel was fully assembled by MRRI staff and is designed specifically for navigating shallow waters, mudflats, and difficult-to-access wetland environments throughout … Read more
Ying “Cheryl” Yao, Chief Chemist and Laboratory Supervisor at the Meadowlands Research and Restoration Institute (MRRI), presented recent research at the New Jersey Water Environment Association (NJWEA) 111th John J. Lagrosa Annual Conference on May 12, 2026. Her presentation, titled “Airborne Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) and Microplastics: Distribution and Partitioning in Northern New Jersey,” highlighted the … Read more
After six and a half years of dedicated effort, Ying “Cheryl” Yao, scientist at the Meadowlands Research and Restoration Institute (MRRI), earned her Ph.D. in Environmental Science from Rutgers University. Cheryl conducted research on emerging contaminants and successfully defended her dissertation, titled “Airborne Microplastics and PFAS: Distribution and Interactions in the Urban Atmosphere,” on March … Read more
The Meadowlands Research & Restoration Institute (MRRI) is proud to recognize Talayeh Aviles for her outstanding contributions as a Field Research Intern with the MRRI–NJSEA team. During her internship, Talayeh played a key role in several ongoing research and monitoring efforts across the Meadowlands. One of her tasks included conducting ichthyoplankton surveys, identifying organisms to … Read more