Citizens United To Protect The Maurice River - Membership Meeting & Presentation / 3-11-26

Come to the membership meeting to get up-to-date with CU Maurice River and hear highlights from recent programs, along with a preview of upcoming events and opportunities to get involved in local conservation efforts. This gathering will also feature a presentation continuing the Celebrating Community Science theme, focused on how volunteers and local partners contribute to meaningful ecological data collection and stewardship throughout the watershed.
 
CU Maurice River is pleased to welcome a presentation from Mike Hogan of the South Jersey Land and Water Trust, who will share insights from its vernal pool survey initiative. Vernal pools are seasonal wetlands that fill with rain and groundwater in the spring and dry later in the year, creating critical breeding habitat for many amphibians, insects, and plant species that depend on these fish-free environments to complete their life cycles. These unique ecosystems are important for biodiversity and help connect terrestrial and aquatic food webs, making them valuable indicators of landscape health.

This talk will highlight how community scientists help identify and document these sensitive habitats, why protecting them matters for the broader Maurice River watershed, and how volunteers may be able take part in ongoing conservation work.