What does the future hold for Barnegat Bay, and what can we do together to protect it?
These questions were at the heart of the Barnegat Bay Partnership’s 2026 State of the Bay Symposium, where scientists, environmental professionals, municipal representatives, and community members came together to explore the health of the Barnegat Bay ecosystem.
Building on the findings of the 2026 State of the Bay Report, the symposium offered an opportunity to look beyond the data and hear directly from the people studying, managing, and protecting the watershed. Three panel discussions focused on water quality, living resources, and water supply, with audience questions sparking conversations about everything from stormwater pollution and shellfish harvesting to marsh restoration and the future of our drinking water.
Throughout the day, one message became clear: protecting Barnegat Bay requires good science, strong partnerships, and an engaged community.
Water Quality
The first panel explored the challenges of managing water quality in a watershed where everything from our lawns and roads to our stormwater infrastructure can influence the health of the bay.
Representatives from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and Stafford Township discussed ongoing efforts to reduce pollution, improve stormwater management, and protect recreational and shellfish harvesting waters.
A major focus was the development and implementation of the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), which establishes a pollution budget for the bay. Panelists emphasized that while monitoring and regulatory requirements are important, meaningful improvements depend on turning those findings into projects on the ground.
Those projects can include living shorelines, habitat restoration, reductions in impervious surfaces, and improvements to municipal infrastructure. Stafford Township representatives shared how partnerships, long term planning, and funding opportunities have helped the municipality address water quality challenges, including improvements to its sewer system.
The conversation also highlighted the importance of continued water quality monitoring for shellfish harvesting. NJDEP regularly collects and evaluates data to determine where shellfish can be safely harvested, with classifications changing as environmental conditions warrant.
Perhaps one of the most relatable discussions centered on what residents can do to help. Stormwater runoff carries pollutants from our neighborhoods into nearby streams and ultimately the bay. Picking up pet waste, installing rain gardens, keeping storm drains clear, and participating in community cleanups are all ways residents can make a difference.
As the panelists reminded attendees, even small efforts can grow into larger community initiatives.
Living Resources
The second panel turned its attention to the plants, animals, and habitats that make Barnegat Bay such an important ecosystem.
Representatives from NJDEP Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service discussed the latest research on submerged aquatic vegetation, hard clams, and tidal wetlands, along with the challenges of managing resources in a changing environment.
One particularly interesting conversation focused on seagrass monitoring. New satellite imagery is providing scientists with additional tools to map submerged vegetation throughout the bay. While differences in monitoring methods make long term comparisons challenging, these technologies offer exciting opportunities to better understand where seagrass is growing and how its distribution may be changing.
Hard clams were another important topic, particularly the need for updated population data. The last comprehensive hard clam survey in Barnegat Bay was conducted in 2011 and 2012, leaving significant questions about current populations and their recovery. NJDEP representatives discussed plans for a new survey and efforts to improve fisheries management and restoration strategies.
The discussion also explored the condition of the bay’s tidal wetlands. Marshes face challenges from erosion, rising water levels, and changes in habitat conditions, but restoration projects are demonstrating that intervention can make a difference.
At the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, researchers are exploring innovative approaches that use dredged sediment and compost to restore marsh elevations and encourage native vegetation growth. These projects offer valuable lessons for future restoration efforts throughout the watershed.
Across all three topics, panelists emphasized the importance of continued monitoring. Understanding what is changing, why it is changing, and which restoration techniques are successful helps resource managers make more informed decisions about the future of the bay.
Representatives from NJDEP, Brick Township Municipal Utilities Authority, and the U.S. Geological Survey discussed how drinking water supplies, groundwater, streams, and the surrounding ecosystem are interconnected.
A central topic was ecological flow, or the amount and timing of water needed in rivers and streams to support healthy aquatic ecosystems. Through ongoing research with the Barnegat Bay Partnership, the USGS is working to better understand how human water use influences streamflow and what that means for the organisms that depend on these waterways.
Panelists also discussed the challenges of managing water during drought conditions, particularly in a region where summer populations and water demand increase significantly.
Water conservation emerged as an important theme. While larger infrastructure improvements and statewide planning are necessary, residents can also contribute by using water more efficiently, reducing unnecessary outdoor water use, and incorporating practices that help rainwater soak into the ground.
The discussion extended to emerging concerns, including saltwater intrusion, aging infrastructure, PFAS treatment, and the potential water demands of data centers.
One of the most important takeaways was that water supply and ecosystem health cannot be considered separately. Decisions about how much water we withdraw, where it comes from, and how we manage it have implications for both our communities and the natural environment.
Although each panel explored a different aspect of the Barnegat Bay ecosystem, the conversations were closely connected.
Stormwater management influences water quality. Water quality affects seagrass and shellfish populations. Streamflow supports aquatic habitats, while wetlands and other natural landscapes help manage water throughout the watershed.
The symposium also reinforced the importance of identifying gaps in our knowledge. Whether through updated hard clam surveys, improved seagrass mapping, or continued ecological flow research, collecting reliable data is essential to understanding the bay and measuring our progress.
Just as importantly, the day demonstrated the value of collaboration. Scientists provide the research, agencies and municipalities help turn that research into management decisions, and community members play an important role in supporting those efforts.
We are grateful to the panelists who shared their expertise, the partners working to protect the watershed, and everyone who attended and contributed thoughtful questions.
The 2026 State of the Bay Report provides a snapshot of where we are today. The conversations at the symposium helped us explore where we go from here.
We encourage everyone to continue learning about the bay, stay involved in local environmental efforts, and explore the findings of the 2026 State of the Bay Report. Protecting Barnegat Bay is a shared responsibility, and there is a role for everyone in its future.
