Rally for the Two Rivers: Water Quality Update in Collaborative Effort with NJDEP

Since re-launching the weekly bacteria monitoring program in mid-July 2023, twelve weekly sampling
events have been completed in twenty-one sites in the Navesink River Watershed thanks to the support of our dedicated volunteers! The sampling events occurred both under standard environmental conditions and following heavy rain events in the area (0.5 - 0.91 in). Preliminary results from these investigations indicated extremely high levels of bacteria in samples collected from the Marine Park location. 

Red Bank Borough’s Department of Public Works (DPW) is actively tracking down the likely sources of this human fecal “poo-lution” with support from the NJDEP, and COA was in attendance during these track down efforts in the second and third week of September. COA is confident that these issues are temporary and will be identified and fixed. 

COA, in consultation with NJDEP, Monmouth County Health Department, and Red Bank DPW took a rare action to issue a critical citizen Water Quality Alert for the Navesink River in the Marine Park area to protect public health and safety. 

The Monmouth County Health Department has posted signs in the Marine Park area advising users that the stormwater outfall may cause health standards in the nearby waters to be exceeded for recreational use.