Nitrogen Pollution
How Nitrogen Pollutes the Barnegat Bay Watershed
Nitrogen and the Bay
Every Year Threats to Barnegat Bay Increase
Scientists from Rutgers University agree that the health of Barnegat Bay is diminishing. From problems like over-development, to eutrophication, human intervention is drastically decreasing the Bay’s health. Check out sections below and see for yourself how nitrogen pollution affects the Bay.
Too Much of a Good Thing
Research Suggests that an astounding 858,000 pounds of nitrogen enter Barnegat Bay every year. A Rutgers University study concluded that 30% of the total nitrogen entering the Bay comes DIRECTLY FROM FERTILIZER. Don't believe us? email us and we will happily provide you with the sources for this data. Again, remember that we are not in the business of discovering these facts, we just report the scientific evidence to you.
Barnegat Bay is Unique
Unlike many of the estuaries found along the Eastern Seaboard of the United States, Barnegat Bay is ecologically and geographically unique. The Bay averages about six feet deep, reaching only about 13 feet at its very deepest point. Since the Bay is extremely shallow, sunlight penetrates down to the bottom. When too much nitrogen enters the Bay and fuels a burst of algae growth, these algae can clog the entire water column. Normally algae only live very near to the surface, but in Barnegat Bay, these algae can extend to the bottom, competing with the natural submerged aquatic vegetation for sunlight. After the algae die and settle to the Bay floor, bacteria in the water use a lot of oxygen breaking down this waste. When the oxygen levels in the water column become too low, normal vegetation species such as eelgrass, die eliminating vital habitat for fish, shellfish and birds.
Estuaries Need Clean Water
The Bay is an estuary. That means that in order to function properly, it needs clean fresh and salt water. The Bay only has three inlets that allow in saltwater, the Point Pleasant Canal, Barnegat Inlet, and Little Egg Inlet. Because there is relatively little flushing from these inlets, water that starts in the north end of the Bay takes nearly 70 days to reach the Atlantic Ocean. Nitrogen stays in the bay longer, spawning the growth of algae and increasing the risk of eutrophication.
The Rivers Flowing into the Bay Are Polluted
According to an ongoing study conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency found both of the Manasquan and Toms Rivers are founded to be highly impaired. Waters from these two sources are substantial portions of the inflow entering the Bay. As more nitrogen rich water enters the Bay, the problems of eutrophication and pollution increase. You can read the EPA report here.
Every Year Threats to Barnegat Bay Increase
Scientists from Rutgers University agree that the health of Barnegat Bay is diminishing. From problems like over-development, to eutrophication, human intervention is drastically decreasing the Bay’s health. Check out sections below and see for yourself how nitrogen pollution affects the Bay.
Too Much of a Good Thing
Research Suggests that an astounding 858,000 pounds of nitrogen enter Barnegat Bay every year. A Rutgers University study concluded that 30% of the total nitrogen entering the Bay comes DIRECTLY FROM FERTILIZER. Don't believe us? email us and we will happily provide you with the sources for this data. Again, remember that we are not in the business of discovering these facts, we just report the scientific evidence to you.
Barnegat Bay is Unique
Unlike many of the estuaries found along the Eastern Seaboard of the United States, Barnegat Bay is ecologically and geographically unique. The Bay averages about six feet deep, reaching only about 13 feet at its very deepest point. Since the Bay is extremely shallow, sunlight penetrates down to the bottom. When too much nitrogen enters the Bay and fuels a burst of algae growth, these algae can clog the entire water column. Normally algae only live very near to the surface, but in Barnegat Bay, these algae can extend to the bottom, competing with the natural submerged aquatic vegetation for sunlight. After the algae die and settle to the Bay floor, bacteria in the water use a lot of oxygen breaking down this waste. When the oxygen levels in the water column become too low, normal vegetation species such as eelgrass, die eliminating vital habitat for fish, shellfish and birds.
Estuaries Need Clean Water
The Bay is an estuary. That means that in order to function properly, it needs clean fresh and salt water. The Bay only has three inlets that allow in saltwater, the Point Pleasant Canal, Barnegat Inlet, and Little Egg Inlet. Because there is relatively little flushing from these inlets, water that starts in the north end of the Bay takes nearly 70 days to reach the Atlantic Ocean. Nitrogen stays in the bay longer, spawning the growth of algae and increasing the risk of eutrophication.
The Rivers Flowing into the Bay Are Polluted
According to an ongoing study conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency found both of the Manasquan and Toms Rivers are founded to be highly impaired. Waters from these two sources are substantial portions of the inflow entering the Bay. As more nitrogen rich water enters the Bay, the problems of eutrophication and pollution increase. You can read the EPA report here.