NJDEP STRATEGY FOR BARNEGAT BAY

The Barnegat Bay Estuary watershed encompasses most of the 33 municipalities in Ocean County as well as four municipalities in Monmouth County. Long recognized for its great aesthetic, economic, and recreational value, this backbay system is now affected by an array of human impacts that potentially threaten its ecological integrity.

The Barnegat Bay Estuary's 75-square mile environmentally sensitive estuarine system, consists of aquatic vegetation, shellfish beds, finfish habitats, waterfowl nesting grounds, and spectacular vistas as well as a population of more than 500,000 people, which more than doubles during the summer season. The magnitude and intensity of different land uses in the Barnegat Bay watershed is also impacting the Bay.

The Department, in partnership with several stakeholder groups is working to determine the cause and effect of observed ecological problems.

DEP RESEARCH INFORMATION ON BARNEGAT BAY

	Overview of the Technical Issues Thomas Belton, Division of Science, Research & Technology
	Water Quality Leslie McGeorge and Bob Connell, Water Monitoring & Standards
	Current Criteria and Alternatives Deb Hammond, Water Monitoring & Standards and Barb Hirst, Land Use Management
	Ecological Health and Assessment Bob Connell, Water Monitoring & Standards and Bob Celestino and Jim Joseph, Natural & Historic Resources
	Watershed Analysis Bob Mancini, Land Use Management
	Water Flow/Budget in the Bay Jeff Hoffman, New Jersey Geological Survey
	Nutrient Loading to the Bay Bob Nicholson, U.S. Geological Survey
	New Rules Larry Baier, Land Use Management