Research at the JCNERR
JCNERR conducts research on the physical, chemical, and biological
components of the site estuaries and neighboring watersheds.
Click on the program of interest to learn more about research within the JCNERR
Barnegat
Bay-Little Egg Harbor Estuary:
Ecosystem Condtion and Recommendations
Research Programs at the JCNERR
- System Wide Monitoring Program (SWMP)
- Landscape Change (CRSSA WEBSITE)
- Buildout Analysis of Mullica River and Barnegat Bay Watershed
- Nutrients
- Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Demographic Study 2004-2006
- Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Mapping (CRSSA WEBSITE)
- Bio-monitoring
- Brown Tide (CRSSA WEBSITE)
- Finfish Studies
- Striper Tracker
Link to:
Scientist's Page: Research Publications
System Wide Monitoring Program (SWMP)
System Wide Monitoring Program The JCNERR currently has five SWMP monitoring sites. They include are in Lower Bank, Chestnut Neck in the Mullica River, Great Bay and Little Egg Harbor. Monthly arrays of water quality and nutrient data are now being collected at all of these sites. JCNERR also has access to a weather station at the Rutgers Marine Field Station (RUMFS), within the boundaries of the Reserve. Meteorological conditions including wind speed and direction, solar radiation, barometric pressure, and humidity are recorded in one-second intervals at RUMFS and made available as real-time data on the COOLroom web site.
Mullica River Buildout Analysis
The Mullica River Watershed is located in the Pinelands ecosystem and currently contains a high percentage of unaltered land. However, due to its close proximity to the Atlantic City, Philadelphia, and New York City metropolitan areas there is great potential for further development. The Mullica River Buildout Analysis was conducted to determine the potential impact of past and future development on water resources. The project has three parts:
- identifying past land use;
- determining the potential of future development;
- using indicators to asses the impacts of the past and potential future development on water demand and urban non-point source pollution.
While there is currently little development in the watershed, our analysis indicates that a substantial portion of the land is available for future development. However, if growth is limited to the designated Pinelands’ growth areas, the impacts to water resources will be minimized.
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View a PDF of the full report ]
Barnegat Bay Buildout Analysis
In this study, we quantified the amount of development possible at build-out by with the follwoing variables:
- number of dwelling units
- population
- percent of impervious surface cover
The number of dwelling units and population are indicators of residential water demand, while impervious surface is an indicator of non-point source pollution. By understanding the potential changes of these indicators, we can better identify actions needed to protect the resources in Barnegat Bay.
[View a PDF of the full report ]
The Rutgers University Marine Field Station has also been involved in finfish research within the reserve.
Scientists from the Rutgers University Marine Field Station are trying to better understand the coastal migration of striped bass. The study area includes the Mullica River/Great Bay estuary, the southern end of Barnegat Bay, and the coastal ocean outside of Little Egg Inlet off Tuckerton, New Jersey.
The goals of this project are:
- To provide a better understanding of striped bass population size and structure
- To test acoustic tagging and listening methods for use on a bigger scale (along the whole US East Coast, and for more species)
- To identify essential fish habitat for striped bass
- To learn more about the use of coastal migration routes by striped bass from various populations
Visit the Striper Tracker website for more information.
