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Barnegat Bay Project
TYPE: Ecosystem Restoration
LOCATION : The study area is the Barnegat Bay/Little Egg Harbor estuarine system, a 75-square-mile shallow estuary situated between the mainland and barrier island and barrier spit in Ocean County, N.J., and extending from the Point Pleasant Canal in the north to Beach Haven Inlet in the south. The western boundary of the study area is the Garden State Parkway. The study area covers approximately 210,000 acres and includes the tributary reaches most closely connected to the bay. STUDY/PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Barnegat Bay's open shallow water environment supports ecologically valuable eel grass beds, which when coupled with the surrounding wetlands, create a nutrient rich habitat for many species of juvenile and harvestable fish and shellfish. The estuary provides innumerable economic, aesthetic and recreational benefits to the region and is being studied by the Barnegat Bay Estuary Program . Extensive filling of wetlands, bulkheading, point and non-point source pollution, dredging and dredged material disposal and other natural and anthropogenic changes have contributed to an overall decline in the vitality of the estuary.
The purpose of this feasibility study is to develop various ecosystem restoration projects throughout the estuary to restore or improve habitats for numerous species of plants, fish and wildlife, consistent with the ongoing Barnegat Bay Estuary Program. STUDY/PROJECT STATUS: As a first step in the ecosystem restoration study, the Corps conducted a reconnaissance of the Barnegat Bay area. A report was written, and subsequently approved by Corps headquarters on September 12, 1997. The report identified the following areas for further investigation:
Two additional concerns were identified that are not considered primary benefit categories (i.e., the optimization of a proposed project will not depend upon their associated objectives being satisfied):
In August of 1998, the Corps and its non-Federal partner, NJDEP, formalized their agreement on the scope of the Barnegat Bay Ecosystem Restoration Feasibility Study . The Corps then began two fast-tracked studies. These investigations look at the potential for restoration of anadromous fish passage through installation of fishladders at Lake Pohatcong in Tuckerton and Manahawkin Lake in Stafford, and at habitat improvement opportunities in deep holes that were dredged in the bay in the 1960s. The Corps has also been conducting a site selection process to identify further restoration opportunities in the estuary. Through a multi-step study that has included data collection and evaluation, resource agency participation, public workshops and field visits, the Corps has located over 20 potential sites. Further work will include additional public and agency input, development of design ideas, cost analyses, and more in-depth environmental assessment. STUDY SCHEDULE:
ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION: The objective of ecosystem restoration is to restore degraded ecosystem structure, function, and dynamic processes to a less degraded, more natural condition. Restored ecosystems should mimic, as closely as possible, conditions which would occur in the area in the absence of human changes to the landscape and hydrology. Indicators of success would include the presence of a large variety of native plants and animals, the ability of the area to sustain larger numbers of certain indicator species or more biologically desirable species, and the ability of the restored area to continue to function and produce the desired outputs with a minimum of continuing human intervention. ( USACE Planning Guidance Notebook, ER 1105-2-100, Revised 22 April 2000 ) |
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