TRENTON The Department of Environmental Protection is readying for the upcoming beach season by reminding residents about programs that help maintain New Jersey's excellent beach water quality and the various online platforms available to help the public be shore ready this summer, Commissioner Catherine R. McCabe has announced.
The Cooperative Coastal Monitoring Program, now in its 45th year, provides water quality data and beach status information to the public for 188 ocean, 22 bay and eight river public recreational beaches that are routinely monitored during the season, beginning Saturday, May 25.
We encourage the public to use these resources, so they will be ready for another great season at the Jersey shore, McCabe said
The njbeaches.org website is a one-stop-shop for all things related to beach water quality in New Jersey. Visitors to the site may access maps and other information about which recreational bathing beaches are open, closed, or have swimming advisories; water quality test results; and updates from coastal surveillance flights that look for algae blooms or debris that might impact a visit to the shore. Daily updates to the website began Monday, May 13 and will continue through September.
Proceeds of the state's Shore to Please license plates help support shore cleanup programs, including the Cooperative Coastal Monitoring Program.
Beachgoers may also stay updated on shore-related happenings by following @NJBeachReport on Twitter.
The Cooperative Coastal Monitoring Program is a joint state and local partnership between the DEP, the state Department of Health and county agencies including the Cape May, Ocean and Monmouth health departments as well as the Atlantic County Division of Public Health. Participating municipal agencies include the Atlantic City, Long Beach Island and Long Branch health departments, the Middletown Township Board of Health and the Monmouth County Regional Health Commission.
For a video showing a coastal surveillance flight, visit https://youtu.be/zqVlYk7MfL0
Like the New Jersey Division of Water Monitoring and Standards on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NewJerseyH2O/
Follow the Division of Water Monitoring and Standards on Instagram @njwatermonitoringandstandards
Follow the DEP on Twitter @NewJerseyDEP
