APPROPRIATION / PHASE: General Investigation
DESCRIPTION: The New Jersey Back Bay (NJBB) Focus Area is located behind the New Jersey barrier islands of Monmouth, Ocean, Atlantic and Cape May Counties and includes the set of interconnected water bodies and coastal lakes that are separated from the Atlantic Ocean. The authority for the NJBB Study (Resolutions adopted by U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate Committees in December 1987) support NACCS outcomes, are broad in scope and application and address the development of a coastal processes database, monitoring and related actions as the basis for actions and programs to prevent the harmful effects of shoreline erosion and storm damage. The authority also recommends that site specific studies for beach erosion control and hurricane protection be undertaken in areas with a Federal project, action, or response. The purpose of the study is to investigate Coastal Storm Risk Management (CSRM) strategies and solutions to reduce damages from coastal flooding affecting population, critical infrastructure, critical facilities, property, and ecosystems. The NJBB Study is being performed to align with the goals of the North Atlantic Coast Comprehensive Study (NACCS), which are to:
- Provide a risk management framework, consistent with and NOAA/ USACE Infrastructure Systems Rebuilding Principles; and
- Support resilient coastal communities and robust, sustainable coastal landscape systems, considering future sea level and climate change scenarios, to reduce risk to vulnerable populations, property, ecosystems, and infrastructure.
STUDY STATUS: USACE released a draft feasibility report in December 2024 outlining a Tentatively Selected Plan and the Final Report is pending a review of internal policy and guidance
NON-FEDERAL SPONSOR: New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection