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Smart Yard, Healthy Bay

Simple Steps, Big Impact Protect Barnegat Bay Right from Your Yard

The Smart Yard, Healthy Bay campaign is a behavior change initiative focusing on encouraging residents to adopt sustainable practices in their yards to protect the health of Barnegat Bay. It emphasizes actions like reducing fertilizer use, planting native species, managing stormwater runoff, and minimizing pesticide application. These changes help prevent harmful nutrients and pollutants from reaching the bay, ultimately supporting a healthier ecosystem and preserving water quality.

“Smart Yard, Healthy Bay is a community initiative to inspire sustainable yard practices that help protect the beauty and health of Barnegat Bay. Your yard choices can make a big difference in reducing pollution and promoting biodiversity.”

Benefits of Participation:

  • Keep Barnegat Bay clean and thriving
  • Improve water quality and soil health
  • Create a safe habitat for local wildlife
  • Enhance the resilience of your landscape to changing weather

What You Can Do

  • Reduce Fertilizer Use: Too much fertilizer contributes to algae blooms. Less is more! Learn More>>
  • Plant Native Species: Native plants support local wildlife and reduce water use. Learn More>>
  • Manage Stormwater: Install rain barrels or create rain gardens to control runoff. Learn More>>
  • Limit Pesticides: Protect pollinators and prevent chemicals from reaching waterways. Learn More>>

Resources & Tools

Provide helpful guides and tools, such as:

  • “Smart Yard Checklist”
  • “Native Plant Guide”
  • “DIY Rain Garden Guide”
  • Links to partner organizations and nurseries

Pledge to Help

I pledge to make my yard a Smart Yard for a healthy Barnegat Bay.

Smart Yard, Healthy Bay

Name
Specific Actions

Alexandra Sellitsch

Alex is 27 years old and is an aspiring marine biologist who is finishing up her junior year at Stockton University. Growing up by the beach has made a significant impact on Alex’s life, which has influenced her passion for the ocean. She is an advocate for elasmobranch conservation, and enjoys getting her hands dirty in research. Alex is currently an intern with Barnegat Bay, researching pathogen influences in the bay’s water. She is also an active intern partnering with one of her professors, who is researching dual seagrass habitats in the Mullica River-Great Bay Estuary. In her spare time, Alex enjoys spending time at the beach and teaching herserself new hobbies. Hobbies that include roller skating, and surfing. Alex is also volunteering with the Berkeley Township Underwater Search and Rescue Team, and is in the process of obtaining her SCUBA certification.