Helen Henderson to Make Presentations on Littoral Society Pollution Reduction Projects in Barnegat Bay

A naturalized bio-retention basin at Laurel Commons Carnation Circle in the Barnegat Bay watershed.

The American Littoral Society's Helen Henderson will be making presentations on Tuesday and Thursday (June 12 and 14) at the NJ Department of Environmental Protection 2018 Water Quality Restoration Grants for Nonpoint Source Pollution Public Information Sessions. Helen will be talking about Littoral Society projects to help reduce the flow of pollutants – including fertilizer, pet waste, automotive fluids and road salt – into Barnegat Bay.

The information sessions are provided as part of New Jersey's 2018 Fiscal Year Request for Proposals, which solicits applications for eligible nonpoint source (NPS) pollution control projects to be considered for funding under the Water Quality Restoration Grant Program. Up to $10M in grants are available for watershed restoration, enhancement, and protection strategies that address NPS pollution within the Barnegat Bay Watershed.​

Helen is currently Ocean Program Manager for the Society, but prior to assuming that position she managed projects focused on green infrastructure and stormwater basin retrofitting for the Barnegat Bay watershed.

Green Infrastructure promotes water management by restoring or mimicking the natural environment and engineers systems to provide clean water and conserve ecosystem function. One such project installed a green infrastructure project at a local hospital to allow water and its contents to be absorbed into the ground, rather than run straight into a nearby creek.

She also directed American Littoral Society retrofits of stormwater basins in the bay watershed. There are over 2,700 sites in the watershed that are designed to hold water from rainstorms. Such basins need regular maintenance and replacement in order to properly do their jobs. Neglected basins can become both unsightly and a breeding ground for mosquitos. Retrofitting efforts incorporate native plants, which are adapted to the local climate, to help reduce the need for maintenance and provide habitat for local species of birds and butterflies.

The full information sessions are from 10:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Helen's presentation on Tuesday will be at 11:30 a.m. at the Jacques Cousteau Coastal Education Center, 130 Great Bay Boulevard, Tuckerton. Helen's second presentation will be at 11:50 a.m. on Thursday at Ocean County College, 1 College Drive, Toms River, Building #10, Conference Rooms A and B.

The NJDEP Water Quality Restoration Grants program's funding priorities include:

• Development of a Toms River Watershed Restoration Plan
• Development of other watershed protection and/or restoration plans
• Implementation of projects to restore wetlands, create living shorelines, and promote resiliency
• Implementation and development of education and stewardship programs
• Expansion of stormwater system mapping beyond existing municipal permit requirements
• Retrofitting stormwater basins throughout the watershed
• Identification and elimination of illicit connections via source tracking
• Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) mapping, restoration and monitoring
• Shellfish enhancement within harvestable but nutrient impaired areas
• Any other projects consistent with the
• NJDEP Barnegat Bay Restoration, Enhancement and Protection (REP) Strategy

To view the request for proposals and for more information about New Jersey's Water Quality Restoration Grants Program, visit: www.nj.gov/dep/wms/bears/npsrestgrants.html.