Nature-Based Climate Solutions to Lower the Temperature
The Low-Cost Alternative to Mitigating Severe Weather Events
Save Barnegat Bay is proud to participate in the 2026 New Jersey Coastal & Climate Resilience Conference, bringing together scientists, municipal leaders, and community organizations working to address climate impacts along New Jersey’s coast.
🔗 Conference information
https://www.njcoastalresilience.org/event/2026-new-jersey-coastal-and-climate-resilience-conference/
Our session highlights how science, municipal leadership, and community partnerships are helping communities around Barnegat Bay implement practical climate resilience solutions.
Barnegat Bay is New Jersey’s largest coastal lagoon, and the communities surrounding it are increasingly facing:
rising temperatures
stronger coastal storms
coastal flooding and sea level rise
aging infrastructure
stress on coastal ecosystems
Across the watershed, partners are working together to apply nature-based solutions, real-time environmental monitoring, and data-driven planning that reduce risk while strengthening the ecological health of the Bay.
Session Participants
Jersey Shore Mesonet 202508Save Barnegat Bay
Britta Forsberg
Executive Director
📧 britta@savebarnegatbay.org
Karen Argenti
Save Barnegat Bay
📧 kabx101@gmail.com
Leading watershed-wide efforts connecting science, education, and community action to protect Barnegat Bay.
Stafford Township
Matt von der Hayden
Business Administrator
Stafford Township is advancing climate resilience through the Resilient Stafford Action Plan, integrating infrastructure investment, nature-based solutions, and environmental protection to reduce flooding risks and protect Barnegat Bay.
📧 mvonderhayden@staffordnj.gov
🌐 https://www.staffordnj.gov/
Borough of Bay Head
Rick McGoey
Bay Head is implementing data-driven coastal management strategies to protect Twilight Lake and reduce flooding while improving ecosystem health.
📧 rmcgoey@bayheadnj.org
🌐 https://www.bayheadnj.org/
Jersey Shore Mesonet
Dr. Michael Folmer
Jersey Shore Mesonet
The Jersey Shore Mesonet is a regional network of advanced weather and environmental monitoring stations that provide real-time data on temperature, rainfall, wind, and coastal conditions. These stations support flood forecasting, storm monitoring, and climate research across the Barnegat Bay region and New Jersey’s coastal communities.
🌐 Learn more
https://www.savebarnegatbay.org/jersey-shore-mesonet
Drexel University — College of Engineering
Dr. Matina Shakya
Researcher — Climate Resilience & Monitoring Systems
Dr. Franco Montalto
Professor & Director, Sustainable Water Resource Engineering Laboratory
Researchers at Drexel University’s Sustainable Water Resource Engineering Laboratory work with municipalities and regional partners to develop science-based tools that support climate resilience planning.
Their work integrates:
real-time environmental monitoring
storm surge and flooding analysis
watershed modeling
nature-based infrastructure solutions
Through partnerships with communities around Barnegat Bay, Drexel researchers help translate scientific data into practical strategies that reduce flooding risk, improve water quality, and strengthen coastal resilience.
Working Together for the Future of Barnegat Bay
The Barnegat Bay watershed spans more than 660 square miles and dozens of municipalities, making collaboration essential.
By bringing together scientists, municipal leaders, and community organizations, we can ensure that nature-based solutions and science-informed planning help protect coastal communities and restore the health of Barnegat Bay.
