Near-shore development impacts habitat value of the bay/upland ecotone by directly displacing native plant vegetation communities that may serve as feeding, nesting and migrating habitat.  Human development along with its associated impervious surfaces and horticultural practices exacerbates runoff, sedimentation and nonpoint source pollution.  Bulkheading impacts shallow water habitats and eliminates shoreline beach habitat importatnt for shorebirds and terrapin turties. 

For this segment of the habitat loss study, CRSSA analyzed the amount of development with a 150 meter buffer zone from the bay and/or bordering salt marshes (see map below).
 

Shorebirds use shoreline beach habitats  to feed, rest and nest

Terrapins need access to shoreline  beach habitats to lay their eggs

 

45% of Barnegat Bay's shoreline is impacted by bulkheading

71% (10,729 acres) of Barnegat Bay's shoreline buffer zone is presently developed and/or altered, leaving only 29% (4,406 acres) in natural land cover       Note the contrast between the highly developed shoreline of Silver Bay (left side of  air-photo) and the undeveloped shore of Cattus Island Park.