Protecting Barnegat Bay

PROTECTING BARNEGAT BAY

Help Protect Barnegat Bay in your own back yard

MY BAYSCAPE CONTEST - CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNER!

Richard and Lorraine Sansone of Lanoka Harbor. Their winning entry said they wanted "beautification without eutrophication"! Below are photos of the areas to be improved with bay-friendly native plants - the focus of our Shore Stewards program:

Bayscape winner

Bayscape Winner

Stay tuned as we transform a spot in their yard into a more bay-friendly "bayscaped" area thanks to their prize that includes a free consultation with a gardening expert and enough free native plants *compliments of Pinelands Nursery* to get their project off to a good start.

Here"s how they entered:

Contest rules and bayscaping fact sheet: download pdf
Submit your entry by e-mail -download electronic entry form
Submit your entry by mail - download paper form or send self-addressed stamped envelope to My Bayscape Contest, American Littoral Society, 18 Hartshorned Drive, Suite 1, Highlands, NJ 07732.

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NJ DEP Embraces Efforts to Heal Barnegat Bay

We are extremely happy to report that the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) has responded decisively to our efforts on behalf of the Barnegat Bay Nitrogen Pollution Action Project. On June 1, Commissioner Lisa P. Jackson announced important new commitments to the protection and restoration of Barnegat Bay, which we know is dying from pollution and poor stewardship.

NJDEP’s New Commitment: The NJDEP has committed to fund the development of a benthic index (set of biological indicators) to set ecological goals and indicators to guide the restoration effort; develop a model fertilizer ordinance to reduce one of the biggest pollutants affecting the Bay; work with the Barnegat Bay National Estuary Program and its partners to develop projects and investigations that will track down the sources of pollution; and strengthen current water pollution control programs. A copy of the full announcement is posted on the NJDEP Division of Watershed Management website: http://www.nj.gov/dep/watershedmgt/bbep_dep_strategy.htm)

The Impact: The American Littoral Society applauds this renewed commitment by Commissioner Jackson. It will demonstrate to the public and local elected officials the level of their support needed to restore and preserve one of New Jersey’s most precious natural resources. It will also strengthen the partnership of stakeholders engaged in restoring the bay including NJDEP, the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the Barnegat Bay National Estuary Program and Ocean County Planning Department, as well as environmental and civic groups.

What’s Wrong with the Bay: Barnegat Bay is sick. It is suffering from a disease called eutrophication, which, in this case, means there is an excess level of Nitrogen in the estuary. Its impacts are clear:

rapid microalgal and macroalgal growth, harmful algal blooms
impaired fisheries
loss of seagrass habitat critical to the species that inhabit the bay

Eutrophication is responsible for depleting what were once abundant populations of hard clams, soft clams, mussels, scallops, fish, and more. It is linked to stinging sea nettles now flourishing on a disrupted food chain in the Bay. In a worst case scenario, eutrophication can cause hypoxia (lack of adequate oxygen) and can lead to a massive die-off of organisms in the Bay.

How did it happen: Scientific studies have determined that Nitrogen enters the estuary from groundwater recharge, atmospheric deposition (airborne particles from coal-fired power plants and auto emissions) and land based runoff pollution. The greatest amount of nitrogen is from polluted stormwater runoff due to development and disturbance of the land area that drains to the Bay.

What is being done: In an effort to help the healing begin, the American Littoral Society, the Barnegat Bay National Estuary Program, and other advocates have formed a task force called the Nitrogen Pollution Action Project. Through joint and individual efforts, members are educating the public about how their personal actions contribute to the nitrogen pollution in Barnegat Bay through joint and individual efforts. Only with an educated and engaged public and leadership such as demonstrated by Commissioner Jackson can we succeed in nursing our beloved Bay back to health.

Hear Us on WOBM FM: Society Launches Radio Campaign

On May 30th, Executive Director Tim Dillingham and Atlantic Coast Project Manager Helen Henderson took to the air waves on WOBM 92.7 FM to speak with morning show hosts "Shawn and Sue" about the issues facing Barnegat Bay. Click here and scroll down to "Things you have heard on the show" to listen to the entire interview. Don"t miss the next live interview on Wednesday, July 2nd to learn more about how you can protect Barnegat Bay.

Throughout the summer listeners will learn how they can Protect Barnegat Bay. Listen to our public service announcements by clicking on each topic below:

Nitrogen Pollution in Barnegat Bay

Restore the Bay

Preserve Land for the Bay

"Bayscape" for the Bay

Visit Protect Barnegat Bay website. Click here

Sunday June 1 - A Day of Support for the Bay:

The Barnegat Bay Festival!

DEP Commissioner Jackson with an important announcement:

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Lisa P. Jackson spoke about everyone’s individual responsibility to protect and improve the bay. Commissioner Jackson also announced a stepped-up initiative to determine the extent of the bay’s degradation and new protection efforts.

Read all the details in the Barnegat Bay Estuary Program"s Release by clicking Here

DEP Commissioner Jackson

Good Clean Fun for the cause:

The weather cooperated as we celebrated our precious resource Barnegat Bay. People lined up at our dunk tank to try and sink Berkeley Mayor Jason Varano and American Littoral Society Executive Director Tim Dillingham as well as all our volunteers throughout the day. $1 a throw was collected to help support the American Littoral Society’s program to protect and restore the health of Barnegat Bay.

Thank you to our volunteers who helped run the dunk tank!

Dunk Tank Volunteers