Ocean County College

Description:section 320 of the Cwa Authorizes the Administrator of the Epa to Convene Management Conferences to Develop Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plans for Estuaries of National Significance That Are Threatened by Pollution, Development, or Overuse. a Cooperative Agreement Is Provided to Ocean County College (OCC) to Support Implementation of the 2021 Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) Prepared by the Barnegat Bay Partnership (BBP) and the Policy Committee-approved Annual Workplan. the Barnegat Bay Partnership Is One of 28 National Estuary Programs Nationwide, and Conducts Its Work by Implementing the Epa-approved CCMP. the Goal of This Program Is to Improve Water Quality, Restore and Protect the Natural Habitat and Living Resources, and Support Sustainable Human Uses of the Barnegat Bay Estuary. Implementation of the CCMP Will Seek to Protect and Improve Water Quality Throughout Barnegat Bay and Its Watershed; Ensure Adequate Water Supplies and Flow for Ecological and Human Communities; Protect and Restore Habitat and Healthy and Sustainable Natural Communities of Plants and Animals and; Improve and Sustain Collaborative Approaches to Responsible Land Use Planning and Open Space Preservation. the BBP Will Make Available Sub-awards for Assistance With Watershed Protection and Restoration Plan Implementation Projects That Further Progress Towards the Water Quality, Water Supply, Living Resources and Land Use Planning Goals. Activities:the Projects Included Will Support Activities That Address the Key Challenges Facing the Estuary Including Assessing Trends in Water Quality, Habitats, Natural Resources and Uses; Coordinating Implementation of the CCMP by the Nep, Along With the State, Federal, Local Agencies, Stakeholders, Ngos, Citizens, Partners, and Others; and Monitoring the Effectiveness of Activities Conducted Under the Management Conference Approved CCMP and Annual Workplan. Activities to Protect and Improve Water Quality Include Water Quality Monitoring, Technical Assistance for Nutrient Reduction, Development and Implementation of Watershed Protection Plans for Sub-watersheds, and Reducing Sources of Marine Debris. Activities to Ensure Adequate Water Supplies and Flow for Ecological and Human Communities Include Working With Partners on Water Supply Conservation Measures and Associated Public Outreach. Activities to Protect, Restore and Enhance Living Resources Include Reducing Boating Impacts, Eelgrass Restoration, and Coastal Wetland Monitoring. Activities to Improve and Sustain Responsible Land Use Planning and Open Space Preservation Includes Land Acquisition and Promoting Stewardship and Responsible Use of Open Space. Subrecipient:the BBP Will Make Available Sub-awards for Assistance With Watershed Protection and Restoration Plan Implementation Projects That Further Progress Towards the Water Quality, Water Supply, Living Resources and Land Use Planning Goals. Outcomes:anticipated Deliverables Relating to Protecting and Restoring Water Quality Include Collection of Water Quality Data That Will Be Used to Inform Management Decisions; Enhancement to the Jersey-friendly Yards Website to Continue Reductions of Nutrients Into the Watershed; Implementation of Sub-watershed Protection and Restoration Plans; and Annual Beach Cleanups. Anticipated Deliverables Related to Ensuring Adequate Water Supply and Flows Include Identification of Projects to Reduce Consumptive Water Use and Protect Supplies and Use of Social Media to Promote Water Conservation. Anticipated Deliverables for Restoring and Protecting Living Resources Include Development of Outreach Materials for Boaters to Protect Seagrass; Collection of Data Through Community Science Programs and Continued Monitoring of Coastal Wetlands and Zooplankton. Anticipated Deliverables for Land Use Planning Include the Acquisition of 750 Acres of Open Space and the Development of Public Outreach Tools to Explain the Ecologi