The Barnegat Bay Partnership is proud to share the release of our 2025 to 2026 Annual Report, a reflection of the progress, partnerships, and people working together to protect and restore the Barnegat Bay watershed.
Each year, our annual report offers a snapshot of the work happening across the watershed, from scientific research and environmental monitoring to education, stewardship, and community engagement. This latest report highlights how collaboration continues to drive meaningful action in one of New Jersey’s most important coastal ecosystems. The Barnegat Bay is not only an ecological treasure, it also supports a vibrant coastal economy and more than half a million residents who depend on its health and resilience.
Throughout the report, readers will find stories that bring this work to life. From long term water quality monitoring and new data tools that make environmental information more accessible, to hands on restoration projects and community science efforts, the report showcases how science and public participation go hand in hand. Investments in monitoring and research continue to fill key knowledge gaps and support smarter decision making across the watershed, including efforts to better understand pollution sources, restore habitats, and improve water flow and quality.
This year’s report also highlights the growing role of community engagement in protecting the bay. Volunteers, students, educators, and partners all play a role in advancing stewardship, whether through collecting data in the field, participating in educational programs, or contributing to decision making that shapes the future of the watershed. These efforts reflect a broader commitment to connecting people to the bay in meaningful ways and ensuring that conservation is something everyone can be part of.
Readers will notice an emphasis on collaboration throughout the report. The Barnegat Bay Partnership works alongside local, state, academic, and nonprofit partners to address complex environmental challenges, from climate impacts to habitat restoration. Together, these partnerships are helping to build resilience across the watershed while protecting the natural resources that make Barnegat Bay unique.
In addition to highlighting progress, the report offers a transparent look at the work still ahead. Protecting the bay requires continued investment, innovation, and shared responsibility. By sharing both achievements and ongoing challenges, the report serves as a roadmap for where we are and where we are headed.
We invite you to explore the 2025 to 2026 Annual Report and learn more about the projects, data, and people shaping the future of Barnegat Bay. Whether you are a long time partner, a community member, or someone discovering this work for the first time, there is a place for you in protecting this watershed.
Read the full report and join us in continuing this work together.
