LBI Neighbors

Eelgrass: Lean and Green

Eelgrass (Zostera marina) grows in shallow bays and coves, tidal creeks, and estuaries along the Atlantic coast. Eelgrass beds create an important environment for crabs, scallops, fish, and other wildlife. The long, bright green, ribbon-like leaves are often covered with tiny marine plants and animals.

Eelgrass provides food, breeding areas, and protection for many species

It also prevents erosion. For eelgrass to grow, the water must be clear, to provide plenty of light to the plants. Eelgrass habitats are among the most productive and biologically diverse ecosystems on the planet

What a thrill it is to catch sight of an osprey, swooping down from her high perch! Barnegat Bay is and has been an important area for osprey. Osprey nests are generally on platforms, in the salt marshes and marsh islands throughout the back barrier lagoon system. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) conducts an annual census of the osprey population in the Bay to record the number of nesting pairs and the fledglings’ success. Osprey populations in the region go down in number because of exposure to toxins, predators, and humans.

The health of our Bay is extremely important. As water flows through the wetlands and salt marshes, many of the pollutants are filtered out. This filtration process creates cleaner and clearer water, which benefits both people and marine life. Wetland plants and soils act as a natural buffer between the land and ocean, absorbing flood waters and dissipating storm surges. This protects us and our homes and businesses from storm and flood damage. Salt marsh grasses and other estuarine plants also help prevent erosion and stabilize the shoreline.

WHERE DOES THE WATER WE USE COME FROM?

There are two basic sources of drinking water: ground water and surface water. Surface water is the water naturally open to the atmosphere, such as rivers, lakes, streams, and reservoirs. Ground water is water found beneath the Earth’s surface. Ground water, which comes from rain and snow seeping into rock and soil, is stored in underground areas called aquifers. Aquifers supply wells and springs.

LBI is part of the New Jersey Coastal Plain Aquifer System. Drinking water on Long Beach Island comes from several wells drilled into the ground that pump water out of the aquifers. One of the original sources of our aquifers is the Delaware River Basin.

These aquifers supply water to LBI:

Piney Point

Atlantic City

Rio Grande

Kirkwood Cohansey

The water that reaches the aquifers is generally much cleaner than the water of reservoirs on the Earth’s surface. Almost no bacteria live in aquifers. Many pollutants are filtered out as the water passes through the soil on its way to the aquifer.

The first artesian wells were drilled on LBI over a hundred years ago. Visitors and residents would take buckets to the nearest wells—usually at a Coast Guard Station. Pressure forced the water to the surface and a pump put the water into a tank. The first water tank was a wooden one, in Beach Haven, built in 1893.

WHERE DOES THE WATER WE USE GO?

When we use fresh water in our homes and businesses, it goes down the drains, through the sewer system, and is pumped to the Southern Water Pollution Control Facility (SWPCF) in Manahawkin. This secondary wastewater treatment facility is part of the Ocean County Utilities Authority, which treats 20 million gallons of wastewater a day. On average, more than 90% of the pollutants are removed before the treated water is discharged to the Atlantic Ocean through an outfall pipe. The water ends up about a mile from shore, over 40 feet deep.

But that is just the water we use inside. It’s a different story for all other used water. Garden water, outdoor shower water, water that runs into the streets all go directly back into the Bay. Our Bay!

What you Can do To conserve Water

• Take shorter showers.

Water gardens only when needed.

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Run dishwashers and washing machines only when full.

• Repair leaks. A leaking toilet can waste up to 200 gallons of

Don’t let the water run while shaving or brushing your teeth.

• water a day!

Use a rain barrel to capture water from a downspout.

• Use soaker hoses or drip irrigation for trees and plants.

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• Use a broom to clean your walkways, not a hose.

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Take your vehicle to a car wash that recycles its water.