Barnegat Bay Watershed – Subsurface Gravel Wetlands

Taylor Wiseman & Taylor (TWT), part of a team of leading hydrologists in the State hired by Ocean County, helped design Subsurface Gravel Wetlands in order to reduce the amount of nitrogen entering Barnegat Bay through stormwater.

Barnegat Bay has been classified as highly eutrophic by both State and Federal authorities. This eutrophication, which threatens the ecological health of the Bay, is primarily the result of excessive nutrient loading. Nitrogen has been identified as one of the principal nutrients that can adversely affect water quality. Reduction in the amount of stormwater-borne nitrogen from highly developed shore areas draining into Barnegat Bay became a key objective in improving bay water quality. The Subsurface Gravel Wetlands, located within eight existing basins, were designed to not significantly impact the basin’s ability to detain and/or infiltrate stormwater.

TWT provided hydrographic analysis along with the development of key design details that were implemented as design standards for all of the Subsurface Gravel Wetland projects. TWT was subsequently selected to provide Construction Observation services during the construction phase as well.