The barrier island communities of the Barnegat Bay watershed consist of the small municipalities of Mantoloking, Brick, Lavallette, Ortely Beach (Toms River), Seaside Heights, Seaside Park, and South Seaside Park (Berkeley) to the north of Barnegat Inlet, as well as the municipalities on Long Beach Island to the south of Barnegat Inlet (Surf City, Harvey Cedars, Barnegat Light, Long Beach, Ship Bottom, and Beach Haven).

With the major exceptions of Island Beach State Park, the Sedge Island Wildlife Management Area, and the Holgate Division of the Edwin B. Forsythe Wildlife Refuge, the barrier islands of the Barengat Bay watershed are almost entirely developed and contribute stormwater runoff directly to the bay. However, they are not located within the subwatershed of any landward stream.