What is The Metedeconk
River Watershed?

​All water bodies have a land area that drains to them.  We call this a watershed.  Ocean County Park is a 90 square mile sub-watershed of the Metedeconk River.  The Metedeconk River is one of many streams and rivers that flow into Barnegat Bay.  The water quality of the River and the Bay has been harmed by non-point source pollution.

What is Non-Point Source Pollution?

When it rains, storm water runoff drains from a watershed to its receiving waterway.  Human activities pollute runoff. This could be as litter, car oil, pet waste, or chemicals such as lawn fertilizers or pesticides. As watersheds have developed over the years, much of the natural land has been disturbed or paved over with asphalt and buildings. Rain water can no longer filter back into the ground and instead flows off these developed areas carrying with it pollutants that harm water quality.

What are We Doing to ImproveThe Metedeconk River Watershed?

  • ​Floating Wetlands
  • Tree Boxes
  • Vegetated Swales
  • Living Shorelines
  • Stream Buffers

What Can I Do To Help Limit Pollution?

Think about the water features while you enjoy the park today and the ways in which you can help keep it cleaner for people and wildlife. Educate yourself about how to lessen pollution or prevent it from occurring in the first place.

The American Littoral Society and partners will be improving the water quality in Ocean County Park through 2018 by implementing a series of “Green Infrastructure” techniques that reduce non-point source pollution entering the Metedeconk River and Barnegat Bay. These projects are built to mimic natural systems.

​We hope you will visit often to learn more about the many ways we are making a difference and join us in protecting and restoring clean water for your park, your community, your river and the Bay.

What are Floating Wetlands?

  • Man-made wetland islands that increase habitat for fish and other aquatic organisms.
  • The islands are planted with vegetation that adds to the beauty of a pond or lake.
  • By plant filtration and uptake, they decrease the amount of pollution, helping to improve water quality.

What are Tree Boxes?

  • Built at street level, they are filled with a special soil mix and planted with indigenous trees and shrubbery.
  • Tree boxes collect runoff.  As it filters through the soil and tree roots the amount of pollutants is decreased.

​What are Vegetated Swales?

  • Long, shallow, man-made dips that collect runoff and allow the runoff to soak into the ground.  
  • They are planted with native plants that filter and absorb pollutants.

What is a Living Shoreline?

  • Living shorelines use a variety of native plants to filter runoff, create and improve habitat for aquatic animals, increase water quality and protect the shoreline from erosion. 

What is a Stream Buffer?

  • A strip of native plants and shrubs planted along the edge of a stream to absorb and filter runoff.
  • Stream buffers slow down runoff, allowing it to soak into the soil before it reaches the stream.
  • This decreases pollutants, helps control flooding and reduces the erosion of the stream.
  • Stream buffers protect and stabilize the stream and improve the stream’s water quality.