NJ coastal hazards planning project wins $900,000 NOAA grant

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recently awarded a Regional Coastal Resilience Grant of nearly $900,000 to a New Jersey planning project impacting 15 municipalities that will help them plan for coastal hazards and storm surge.

“The challenges confronting our nation’s coastal communities are incredibly complicated — effective solutions are going to require strong science, ingenuity and collaboration if they are going to safeguard and ensure the future vitality of our economy and valuable natural resources,” NOAA Office for Coastal Management Acting Director Dr. Jeffrey Payne said.

The project, the New Jersey Fostering Regional Adaptation through Municipal Economic Scenarios (NJ FRAMES) will allow the communities, located in northeast Monmouth County, to use stakeholder input to determine the benefits and costs of regionals and independent activities to improve the area’s resiliency.

“Addressing flooding hazards for New Jersey’s coastal communities is a critical component of the Christie Administration’s plans to enhance flood resiliency statewide,” Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin said. “The expertise of coastal scientists, combined with the input of affected communities and residents will help us identify these important next steps to be taken to protect this region from the effects of devastating floods.”