About Us
The Challenge
The island has experienced accelerated erosion and has lost approximately 26 acres (37%) since 1930, which is due to a realignment of the New Jersey Intracoastal Waterway by the Army Corps of Engineers, storms, boat wake, and sea level rise. During this same time period, Barnegat Bay has also seen many miles of shoreline bulkheaded and tremendous residential development. Replacing natural land-water interface with bulkheads and riprap has contributed to the elimination of crucial parts of the coastal ecosystem that thrives at the edge of the marsh. Since Mordecai Island provides vital habitat for many species of fish, plants, migratory and breeding birds (including threatened species) as well as mollusks and crabs, the loss of three to four feet per year has caused great concern.
What we do
The Mordecai Land Trust’s mission to preserve and protect Mordecai Island includes protecting the sizable amount of property on LBI that it shields from storm surge and damaging winds. As an all-volunteer non-profit tax exempt organization, we work with NJFW, USFW, NJDEP, NOAA, ReClam the Bay, and the US Army Corps of Engineers in our anti-erosion and living shoreline work to help protect the diverse groups of species that reside, feed, migrate or nest on the island.
Our Governance
Linda L. Colgan
President
Jim Dugan
Vice-President
Michele M. Budd
Vice-President
Deb Harkness
Treasurer
Kathleen Birch
Secretary
Alyce Tatlow
Membership
Board of Trustees
|
2025 |
2026 |
2027 |
|
Michele Budd |
Ben Condon |
James Balbo |
|
Deb Harkness |
Nancy Lampman |
Pat Miller |
|
Richard McOrmond |
Dr. Susanne Moskalski |
Lynne Neff |
|
Norrie Oelkers |
Shelley Spicer |
Bill Pilling* |
|
Elaine Stevens |
Julie Woldin |
Jeanne Runne* |
|
Alyce Tatlow |
Dr. Suzanne Wolfinger |
Dr. John Wnek |
Executive Committee:
Dr. Nancy Davis, 2025*
Jim Dugan, 2025**
Edwin T. Cox III, 2026*
Kathleen Birch, 2026**
Laura Darling, 2027*
Linda L. Colgan, 2028*
*LEHYC appointees, ** MLT member Appointees
Ex officio Board Member (past president) Non- Voting:
Richard G. Oelkers*
*Denotes past president
Our Partners
The IRS has determined that the Mordecai Land Trust is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (“Code”) and not a private foundation pursuant to sections 509(a)(1) and 170(b)(1)(A)(vi) of the Code. Mordecai Land Trust was established in 2001.
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