Our Mission
The main purpose of Rally for Barnegat Bay is to inform the community about the issues surrounding the bay. The project also aims to target any locations with high bacteria levels so the problem can be managed as soon as possible.
More information can be found on Clean Ocean Action's website by clicking the link below.
Barnegat Bay's Great Significance
Barnegat Bay plays vital roles in the livelihoods of New Jersey counties and townships. Tourist destinations, water sports, recreational pastimes, and local businesses all benefit from the lucre of the waters The bay covers 37 different municipalities in New Jersey, a main municipality being the Toms River. Barnegat Bay even houses the famous Barnegat Light, a popular tourist attraction for people around the world. The bay also holds great economic value due to tourism, fishing, and recreational value.
The Toms River's Many Contributions
The Toms River is a source of enjoyment, especially during the summer. Many activities are available, such as boating, fishing, swimming, and other marine sports. The waterway also promotes local businesses such as waterside restaurants, marinas, boat repair shops, bait shops, and tourism centers. Moreover, there are four swimming beaches, three marinas, and seven yacht clubs located on the Toms River.
Picture taken by Elizabeth Suchodolski
Perpetuating Problems in the Bay
Jeffrey's Creek, a semi-enclosed water area, displays high amounts of bacteria due to frequent use by waterfowl and less regular flushing. However, other parts of the river are less enclosed yet still show high bacterial levels. Water samples at Beachwood Beach and Dillon Park had E. coli levels higher than the acceptable amount for swimming. Moreover, Mathis Park was very close to surpassing this measure.
Several and individual sections of the river can no longer be used for recreational purposes, such as swimming or fishing. Furthermore, many parts of the river are unable to support sufficient ecosystems and aquatic organisms. Due to developing issues, the EPA failed deemed the Toms River as an impaired water system.
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Picture taken by Beachwood Police
The Popularity of Boating
According to the 2006 U.S. Census Population Estimates, close to 2% of New Jersey residents were registered recreational boaters. However, this statistic is most likely lower than the actual number of boaters, as many people participate in recreational activities without registration. Such occasions include using vehicles owned by family or friends and using non-registered boats like kayaks. The average boater in New Jersey took about 28 trips to the water in 2006. Each boater took an average of four people during each trip. Fishing and cruising are the two main reasons why people went boating.