The Bureau of Marine Water Monitoring has been involved in assessing nonpoint source pollution since the 1980's. Nonpoint source pollution refers to contaminants that enter the water from sources such as stormwater runoff, boating wastes and failing septic systems. The Bureau has developed methods for monitoring this type of pollution to better understand ways to reduce or eliminate impacts from nonpoint sources. The goal is to improve coastal water quality to make additional waters available for shellfish harvest, reduce impacts to bathing beaches and to improve the ecological health of New Jersey's coastal waters.

Wreck Pond Restoration Action Plan

Toms River Nonpoint Source Load Study: Conducted from 1994 to 2000 to study the relationship between pollutant loads (quantities) and land use (urban, residential, undeveloped). Work was performed in tributaries of the Toms River in Ocean County, New Jersey.

Pollution Source Tracking in Long Swamp Creek, Ocean County: A demonstration project of field techniques for identifying actual and potential nonpoint pollution sources along Long Swamp Creek, a tributary of the Toms River in Ocean County, New Jersey.

Seaside Heights Bacterial Source Tracking: A demonstration project using bacterial source tracking to identify and correct sources of human waste impacting coastal water quality.

Navesink River Bacterial Source Tracking: The Department recently started a program to identify nonpoint sources of pollution that have caused the water quality in the Upper Navesink River to be degraded for many years. A meeting was held on September 21, 2005 to discuss the plans of the department and its' partners. Partners include the Monmouth County Health Department, Monmouth County Planning Board, Navesink River Municipalities Committee, NY/NJ Baykeeper, and NJDEP's Division of Watershed Management.