New Jersey gives $10M to anti-pollution work in Barnegat Bay

(AP) - New Jersey is spending $10 million on projects to prevent stormwater pollution from entering the ecologically fragile Barnegat Bay.

The state Department of Environmental Protection on Friday announced grants to nonprofit groups, local governments, and state colleges and universities. They will institute projects to prevent polluted runoff from entering the 660-acre watershed.

Barnegat Bay is one of the most ecologically threatened bays in the nation and is the subject of various efforts to improve its water quality.

It's a major recreational draw, but the heavy development that comes along with that has greatly increased stress on the bay as paved surfaces allow pollutants to wash into the waterway.

Some of the projects include stormwater collection basins; shoreline stabilization; an oyster reef and work to deal with stinging jellyfish.

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