The Barnegat Bay Partnership (BBP) is a partnership of federal, state, county, municipal, academic, business, non-profit, and private organizations working together to protect, restore, and enhance the natural resources of the Barnegat Bay ecosystem. Since 2003, the BBP and its staff have been administered through Ocean County College and supported with a grant award from the USEPA.
The BBP is administered as a department of Ocean County College, and currently has a 7-person staff (6 full-time, 1 part-time).
The Partnership’s management structure includes:
Policy Committee
The Policy Committee is comprised of high-level municipal, county, state, and federal leaders, as well as a Science and Technical Advisory Committee member and a Citizen representative. The Policy Committee provides overall direction and sets priorities for the BBP, defines Advisory Committee membership, and selects the Program Director.
Advisory Committee (AC)
The AC is comprised of representatives from federal, state, and county agencies, other partners, and the chairs of the Science and Technical Advisory Committee and Communication and Education Committee. The AC refines the definitions of watershed problems and develops strategies to solve them, provides oversight to the scientific characterization of the watershed, prepares action plans for the CCMP, and plans programs to implement the CCMP. All AC members who have taken responsibility for implementing an action from the BBP 2012 -2016 Strategic Plan are eligible for membership on the BBP Advisory Committee.
Science and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC)
The STAC is composed of scientists, engineers, environmental professionals, planners, citizen interest groups, representatives from federal, state, and local governments, and individuals from academia and industry. The STAC provides the BBP and collaborating entities with objective, expert advice and peer review for overall scientific and technical matters related to National Estuary Program activities and goals, such as those specified in the CCMP and the BBP’s Strategic Plan. It works with the Advisory Committee to identify and prioritize science and technical needs within the Barnegat Bay-Little Egg Harbor estuary and its watersheds, and assists with the BBP’s efforts to raise awareness and resources for addressing these needs. The STAC also facilitates communication among other specialized science and technical subcommittees, and recommends forming and disbanding new STAC sub-committees and technical work groups as needed.
Communication and Education Committee (CEC)
The CEC provides the BBP and collaborating entities with objective, expert advice and peer review for overall communication, education and outreach matters related to National Estuary Program activities and goals, such as those specified in the CCMP, the BBP’s Strategic Plan, and the BBP’s Communication Plan. The CEC works with the Advisory Committee to identify and prioritize communication, education, and outreach needs within the Barnegat Bay-Little Egg Harbor Estuary and its watersheds, and assists with the BBP’s efforts to raise awareness and resources for addressing these needs. The CEC also facilitates public participation and diverse stakeholder involvement in BBP-related activities and assists with the selection of the Citizen Representative to the BBP Policy Committee.
BBP Governing Documents
- BBP Roles and Responsibilities Memorandum of Understanding
- STAC Charter
- CEC Charter
- BBP Advocacy Policy
For information on committee meetings, please check our calendar of events.
