Paddle for the Edge Community Science Program
Advancing Barnegat Bay Marsh Restoration with Community-Collected Science
Established in 2015, Paddle for the Edge is a long-term community science initiative focused on monitoring the health and stability of the Barnegat Bay shoreline. Over the past decade, volunteer paddlers have surveyed 241 miles of shoreline, contributing nearly 11,500 individual data points. This high-resolution dataset provides essential insights into shoreline erosion, marsh retreat, and habitat change that would be impossible to capture through traditional monitoring alone.
Why this Data Counts
The Barnegat Bay Partnership (BBP) has officially launched the Paddle for the Edge Data Portal; an interactive online tool providing access to a decade of community science data collected by volunteer paddlers in New Jersey estuaries. The portal allows users, including past volunteers, restoration managers, wetland scientists, and more, to explore data that can inform restoration priorities, track marsh condition changes, and support ongoing conservation efforts.
Together, the Barnergat Bay estuary spans miles of the shoreline of New Jersey. By crowd sourcing our data efforts, we can gather substantially more data than just the BBP team can on their own. Each contributing paddler brings data to the team that helps with future management decisions.
Additional Resources
Weather & Tide Stations
Navigate these cards to see weather and tide station resources to use when planning your paddle.
See the dropdown for weather resources! Conditions can change quickly, so be vigilant and stay safe. Heat, rain, and fog can be dangerous.
Assessing at slack LOW TIDE is crucial for edge surveys. Use the dropdown to help you find the best time to paddle.
Kayak Rental & Launch Sites
See our Kayak Launch & Rental Portal. Explore locations in and around the Barnegat Bay watershed to help you get out on the water.
Paddle for the Edge Training Manual
Click/Tap to open the Paddle for the Edge Training Manual.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to have a paddle buddy?
Although we always encourage paddling with others to ensure safety, only volunteers registering as a Scribe are required to find a buddy. This will also ensure the data is of appropriate quality by having a second perspective. Scouts are allowed to paddle alone if they choose. Skippers do not need to find a buddy – a member of the BBP team will accompany them on a guided paddle.
Do I need my own kayak?
It doesn’t have to be a kayak! While that is the recommended vessel, stand-up paddleboards and canoes are also acceptable. Motorized boats are discouraged for use in data collection due to causing wake close to marsh edges but are encouraged to transfer smaller vessels to hard-to-reach locations.
Volunteers registering as Scouts or Scribes need their own vessel. Check out our Kayak Launch and Rental Portal to help find resources near you. Skippers will be provided with a kayak, paddle, and PFD upon arrival at their scheduled site.
Scouts: BYO gear, choose location, take photos
Scribes: BYO gear, assigned location, collect data
Skippers: BBP gear, assigned location, collect data
How do I know when to go out?
Paddles should be scheduled around low tide to capture the most features of the marsh edge. We recommend launching an hour or two before the predicted low tide. Check out the Additional Resources to help plan your paddle.
How do I register?
Click this link to register for the upcoming season of Paddle for the Edge! Registration is closed? Click this link to join our mailing list for the next season.
What happens to the data collected?
Every data point is reviewed by BBP staff at the end of a Paddle for the Edge season. We look to make sure all information is filled in and photos are clear. BBP staff will revisit any priority sites that need additional clarification or photos. After review, the data is analyzed to categorize each point as “Moderate Erosion,” “Severe Erosion,” “Static,” or “Accretion” as well as document the historical rate of land use change. The reviewed and analyzed data is then uploaded to the Paddle for the Edge Data Portal where it can be viewed by the public.
Can I setup a group paddle for my school/club?
Absolutely! Paddle for the Edge is a great way to educate students on their local environment, create team building experiences, or:
Send an email to Paddle4TheEdge@gmail.com with your name, organization, and approximate number of participants, and a BBP staff member will be in contact to make arrangements.
