Rally for the Two Rivers
What is Rally for the Two Rivers?
Rally for the Two Rivers is a coalition of groups dedicated to improving and maintaining water quality in the Navesink and Shrewsbury River watersheds through research, education and policy. The coalition was formed in 2016 in response to a downgrade of over 500 acres of of shellfishing area due to pollution. Pollution sources include urban and agricultural stormwater runoff and failing infrastructure.
Clean Ocean Action released an in-depth report on these issues in June 2016, and as part of Rally for the Two Rivers, has been organizing public meetings, source tracking efforts, and pursuing regulatory and policy tools as well as education and outreach in the watershed.
- To get involved, please contact outreach@CleanOceanAction.org.
- Visit the Rally For the Two Rivers Facebook page for important updates and events.
- For more information, please visit the Rally for the Two Rivers Google Drive Folder
Rally for the Two Rivers is an alliance of groups coordinated by Clean Ocean Action including: American Littoral Society ~ ANJEC ~ Conserve Claypit Creek ~ Fair Haven Sailing Club/River Rats ~ Hartshorne Woods Association Monmouth Boat Club ~ Monmouth Conservation Foundation ~Navesink Business Group ~ Navesink Maritime Heritage Association ~ Navesink River Municipalities Committee ~ Navesink River Rowing Club ~ Navesink Shrewsbury River Fishing Club ~ NJ Friends of Clearwater ~ NY/NJ Baykeeper ~ Oceanport Water Watch ~ Oceanic Free Library ~ Pirates Care ~ Recreational Fishing Club - NJ Chapter ~ Red Bank Business Alliance ~ Riverview Medical Center ~ Rumson Environmental Commission ~ Rumson Garden Club ~ Save Coastal Wildlife ~ Shrewsbury Sailing & Yacht Club ~ Sierra Club - Shore Group ~ Surfrider - Jersey Shore Chapter, WATERSPIRIT, and growing!
Click here to access the Two Rivers Watershed Water Quality Reporting Form
Community members can use this resource to report water quality observations within the Navesink and Shrewsbury Rivers to Clean Ocean Action. Responses will provide critical information on what is happening in our waterways and fill information gaps for our ongoing water quality monitoring programs. Potential observations can include fish kills, algae blooms, debris in the water, or anything that seems out of the ordinary. Thank you in advance for your time and commitment to the health of our waterways!
Please note: This form is for informational purposes only. For immediate action, please contact the NJDEP via 1-877-WARNDEP (1-877-927-6337) or the WARN NJDEP app.
Public Meeting & Information Session on May 23, 2023 at 7pm
Come to the Rally Relaunch to Get Involved!

RALLY FOR THE TWO RIVERS RETURNS!
Join the Public Meeting & Information Session to find out how you can get more involved in water quality improvement and protection for the Navesink and Shrewsbury Rivers. Newcomers are welcome and encouraged to join!
This information session will cover all that you need to know from the latest updates on Navesink water quality and next steps moving forward; plans for monitoring the Shrewsbury; volunteer recruitment for Citizen Scientists; and much more! The meeting will be held at the COA house at 49 Avenel Blvd. Long Branch, NJ 07740.
The meeting will be held at the COA house at 49 Avenel Blvd. Long Branch, NJ 07740. Sea you then!
Facebook Event Page: https://fb.me/e/2FjQPUSGP
Follow us on Facebook to stay posted: https://www.facebook.com/RallyfortheTwoRivers/

Click here to explore the Rally for the Two Rivers Waterway Mindfulness Toolkit!
Presented by Clean Ocean Action, with contributions from Rally for the Two Rivers Alliance partners, this toolkit is a compilation of educational resources that will help to instill "waterway mindfulness" in residents of all ages throughout the Two Rivers watershed. With lesson plans, hands-on activities, and other virtual learning resources, this toolkit is perfect for teachers, parents, students and anyone interested to explore!
Spring 2021 Fish Die-off in Two Rivers Area, Monmouth County
After extensive investigation in Spring 2021, the NJDEP identified the cause of dead bunker in the Two Rivers Area in Monmouth County, NJ, to be a bacterium, Vibrio anguillarum. NJDEP released an FAQ sheet with more detailed information. Read the NJDEP's FAQs here. Learn more about the die-off on COA's blog.
At May's COA Rally for the Two Rivers meeting, representatives from the NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), alongside Senator Vin Gopal, Oceanport Mayor Jay Coffey and Councilwoman Meghan Walker, spoke about the ongoing fish die-off in the Navesink and Shrewsbury Rivers. View the Rally for the Two Rivers meeting recording.
See dead fish in local waterways or on beaches? Late August/Early September Brings More Reported Dead Fish
Report your observations and photos of the scene to the NJDEP Hotline at 1-877-927-6337, and to Clean Ocean Action at info@cleanoceanaction.org.
Clean Ocean Action is following-up with NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) regarding recent observations of dead fish on beaches in the Raritan Bay and Toms River area as well as Wildwood Crest. Dead fish on the beaches of Wildwood Crest were reported by Scott Fallon at The Bergen Record on September 1. Thanks to NBC's Brian Thompson for alerting Clean Ocean Action to this report!
Earlier in the week of August 30, 2021, Clean Ocean Action observed similar dead fish in the Toms River area during our water quality field visits. Visual observations suggested that those in the Toms River are Atlantic Menhaden and exhibited symptoms similar to the dead fish observed during the massive die-off in the Two Rivers area in Monmouth County in Spring 2021 (that die-off was caused by Vibrio anguilarum bacterial infection). Clean Ocean Action is in communitcation with NJDEP officials who are working to determine if these recent incidents are related to vibrio-infected die-offs or attributed to any other causes.