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Army Corps, NJDEP to hold meeting on backbay flooding in Ventnor

  • Downbeach

Army Corps of Engineers/Backbay Flooding Map.

VENTNOR - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection will host a public meeting in Ventnor 6-8 p.m.Wednesday, Sept. 12 regarding the New Jersey Back Bays Coastal Storm Risk Management study. An additional meeting will be held Sept 13 in Toms River,

The Army Corps, in partnership with NJDEP, is conducting a feasibility study for coastal storm risk management problems within the New Jersey Back Bay area, defined as the network of interconnected tidal water bodies located landward of the New Jersey ocean coastline in Monmouth, Ocean, Atlantic, Burlington, and Cape May Counties. The study area includes approximately 950 square miles and nearly 3,400 miles of shoreline. The objective of the study is to investigate problems and solutions to reduce damages from coastal flooding that affects population, critical infrastructure, critical facilities, property, and ecosystems.

Some of the measures that will be discussed at the public meetings include structural solutions such as storm surge barriers, tide gates, levees, and floodwalls; non-structural solutions such as elevating homes; and nature-based features such as marsh restoration and the creation of living shorelines. The final plan may also include recommendations of actionable and policy implementable items such as floodplain management and Community Rating System enhancement opportunities.

The general public and other stakeholders are invited to attend the meetings to learn more about the study process and current status. In addition, the public will have an opportunity to provide feedback on the study and interact with project team members. The meeting details are as follows:

The meeting will be held at the Ventnor Educational Community Complex, 400 N. Lafayette Ave.

The Toms River meeting will be held 6-8 p.m. Sept. 13 at Ocean County College Gateway Building - Lot 1, College Drive, Toms River.

Participants are encouraged to submit questions in advance of the meeting by email to [email protected].