Submerged Aquatic Vegetation has several functional roles in the Barnegat Bay estuarine ecosystem. Submerged Aquatic Vegetation provides a substantial amount of primary production for the Barnegat Bay estuary, and serves as critically important habitat for benthic epifauna and infauna (animals living on the surface of the seabed). Submerged Aquatic Vegetation also represents valuable spawning, nursery, and feeding grounds for finfish populations in the estuary. It likewise stabilizes benthic habitats by baffling waves and currents and mitigating substrate erosion. Eelgrass (Zostera marina) is the dominant seagrass species in Barnegat Bay, forming dense beds particularly on sandflats) along the backside of the barrier island system (Barnegat Bay Estuary Program, 2001). Submerged Aquatic Vegetation beds also improve water quality by absorbing nutrients and trapping fine sediments while absorbing significant quantities of carbon dioxide from the air.

Because of the critical importance of Submerged Aquatic Vegetation, the Strategy includes its restoration in the Barnegat Bay focusing on improving water quality, allowing Submerged Aquatic Vegetation to grow in more areas, protecting existing beds, and restoring it to where it previously grew.

• Actions: Develop a Submerged Aquatic Vegetation restoration strategy through a stakeholder work group


• Lead: DEP


• Partners: Academia, National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration, and environmental advocacy groups


• Progress:
  • $300,000 Water Quality Restoration Grant for creation of eight (8) 196 square meter seagrass (SAV) restoration areas in Barnegat Bay. Funding awarded to Montclair State University in state fiscal year 2018.
  
  
  • $225,000 Water Quality Restoration Grant for creation of two (2) 0.25 acre dual SAV restoration sites in Barnegat Bay. Funding awarded to Stockton University in state fiscal year 2018.