What is Barnegat Bay?
One of New Jersey's Treasured Natural Places
Barnegat Bay
Not Just a Bay but a Watershed
Barnegat Bay covers about 40 miles of coast, stretching south from the Point Pleasant Canal to Little Egg Harbor inlet. This extremely intricate ecosystem encompasses many different unique habitats. The Bay's unique geography increases the harmful effects of pollution and eutrophication compared to other water-bodies along the Eastern Seaboard. Let’s take a closer look at the geography of this beautiful ecosystem.
Where is it?
Barnegat Bay is located almost totally within Ocean County, New Jersey. The watershed (a term that we will discuss more a little later) includes about 30 of the 59 municipalities in Ocean County. Ocean County is about 915 square miles, of that total, about 660 square miles fall within the Barnegat Bay Watershed. To the north, the ever increasing urban sprawl descending south along the coast from New York City is pushing more and more people into contact with the Bay. The same is true to the west, where the Philadelphia suburbs slowly approach. In 2000, the US Census Bureau estimated that about 511,000 people lived in Ocean County. By 2006 the population boomed to over 553,000, making it one of the fastest growing counties in the nation. In the summer that population can swell to nearly one million.
Bay Geography
The Bay is separated from the Atlantic Ocean by a thin strip of land called the Barnegat Peninsula (think of towns like Bay Head, Mantoloking and Seaside Heights), and Long Beach Island. The only access to new saltwater comes from three small sources. The Point Pleasant Canal connects the north end of the Bay to the Manasquan River, and the Atlantic Ocean via the Manasquan Inlet. The other two inlets are the Barnegat Inlet to the south and to the far south the Little Egg Inlet. Fresh water flows into the bay from several rivers and creeks including Reedy Creek, Oyster Creek, Toms River, and the Metedeconk River.
A Watershed is a region that drains directly into a water-body
The Bay itself is relatively small, compared to the size of the watershed. Think of the Barnegat Bay watershed like this; rain that falls in Jackson, New Jersey, about 22 miles inland from the Barnegat Peninsula, percolates through the soil ending up in the Upper Metedeconk River. The Metedeconk River flows downstream towards the Atlantic Ocean ending up in the Bay. Water rolls downhill, like pretty much everything else in the world. All the rain that falls on Ocean County will one day end up in the Atlantic Ocean. It’s the lowest spot! Everything else, by definition, is above sea level. From Point Pleasant Beach to Beach Haven almost 50 miles away, there are only three major inlets. All three drain through the Bay carrying along any pollution or excess nutrients contained within that water. See what I mean, anything polluting the water throughout Ocean County has a great chance of polluting the Bay. Check out the Solutions page for ways you can help.
Want to learn More About Watersheds?
Barnegat Bay is an Estuary
Estuaries are places where freshwater and saltwater mix. These unique geographic features are protected from the full force of the ocean by land. They are home to literally hundreds of species of marine life during some or all of their lifecycles. Creatures like sea turtles, seals, striped bass, crabs, clams, seabirds and people rely on these places to survive. Because so many species use estuaries during their life they are vital producers of the food we eat. They are a vital part of the marine system and must be protected.
Want to learn More About Estuaries?
Not Just a Bay but a Watershed
Barnegat Bay covers about 40 miles of coast, stretching south from the Point Pleasant Canal to Little Egg Harbor inlet. This extremely intricate ecosystem encompasses many different unique habitats. The Bay's unique geography increases the harmful effects of pollution and eutrophication compared to other water-bodies along the Eastern Seaboard. Let’s take a closer look at the geography of this beautiful ecosystem.
Where is it?
Barnegat Bay is located almost totally within Ocean County, New Jersey. The watershed (a term that we will discuss more a little later) includes about 30 of the 59 municipalities in Ocean County. Ocean County is about 915 square miles, of that total, about 660 square miles fall within the Barnegat Bay Watershed. To the north, the ever increasing urban sprawl descending south along the coast from New York City is pushing more and more people into contact with the Bay. The same is true to the west, where the Philadelphia suburbs slowly approach. In 2000, the US Census Bureau estimated that about 511,000 people lived in Ocean County. By 2006 the population boomed to over 553,000, making it one of the fastest growing counties in the nation. In the summer that population can swell to nearly one million.
Bay Geography
The Bay is separated from the Atlantic Ocean by a thin strip of land called the Barnegat Peninsula (think of towns like Bay Head, Mantoloking and Seaside Heights), and Long Beach Island. The only access to new saltwater comes from three small sources. The Point Pleasant Canal connects the north end of the Bay to the Manasquan River, and the Atlantic Ocean via the Manasquan Inlet. The other two inlets are the Barnegat Inlet to the south and to the far south the Little Egg Inlet. Fresh water flows into the bay from several rivers and creeks including Reedy Creek, Oyster Creek, Toms River, and the Metedeconk River.
A Watershed is a region that drains directly into a water-body
The Bay itself is relatively small, compared to the size of the watershed. Think of the Barnegat Bay watershed like this; rain that falls in Jackson, New Jersey, about 22 miles inland from the Barnegat Peninsula, percolates through the soil ending up in the Upper Metedeconk River. The Metedeconk River flows downstream towards the Atlantic Ocean ending up in the Bay. Water rolls downhill, like pretty much everything else in the world. All the rain that falls on Ocean County will one day end up in the Atlantic Ocean. It’s the lowest spot! Everything else, by definition, is above sea level. From Point Pleasant Beach to Beach Haven almost 50 miles away, there are only three major inlets. All three drain through the Bay carrying along any pollution or excess nutrients contained within that water. See what I mean, anything polluting the water throughout Ocean County has a great chance of polluting the Bay. Check out the Solutions page for ways you can help.
Want to learn More About Watersheds?
Check out the Environmental Protection Agency's Watershed Page for more great information.
Barnegat Bay is an Estuary
Estuaries are places where freshwater and saltwater mix. These unique geographic features are protected from the full force of the ocean by land. They are home to literally hundreds of species of marine life during some or all of their lifecycles. Creatures like sea turtles, seals, striped bass, crabs, clams, seabirds and people rely on these places to survive. Because so many species use estuaries during their life they are vital producers of the food we eat. They are a vital part of the marine system and must be protected.
Want to learn More About Estuaries?
Check out the Environmental Protection Agency's Estuaries Page for more great information.