Absecon Island is an approximately 8-mile long barrier island located in Atlantic County, New Jersey. The area has historically suffered damages from coastal storms, hurricanes and nor'easters. The Absecon Island Coastal Storm Risk Management project is designed to reduce the risk of loss of lives and damages to property and infrastructure from the waves, erosion, high tides and surges associated with these storm events. The project provides flood and coastal storm risk management along Absecon Island, which includes the municipalities of Atlantic City, Ventnor City, Margate City and the Borough of Longport.
The project Features include beachfill with a dune crest width of 25 feet at elevation +14.75 feet above the North American Vertical Datum 1988 (NAVD 88), and a berm width of 200 ft. at elevation +7.5 ft. NAVD 88 within Atlantic City; A dune crest width of 25 feet at elevation +12.75 feet above NAVD 88, and a berm width of 100 ft. at elevation +7.5 ft. NAVD 88 within Ventnor, Margate and Longport, along with construction of various types of dune crossovers, sand fencing, and the planting of multiple species of native dune grasses. Periodic nourishment is authorized on a 3-year cycle. The project also includes construction of 1776 feet of bulkhead and stone revetment along the Absecon Inlet frontage of Atlantic City, and a stormwater management system in Margate which includes 5 ocean outfall pipes. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection serves as the Non-Federal cost sharing Sponsor for this project.