OFFICIAL SITE OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEYMurphy Administration Partners with USDA to Launch Buyouts of Flood-Prone Property in Cranford
Last modified on January 3rd, 2025 at 8:38 am
(24/P58) TRENTON – See the original DEP press release here.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Blue Acres program, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), has launched a $3.5 million project to buy out flood-prone residential properties in Cranford Township, Union County, marking the beginning of a partnership that is expected to expand the availability of additional USDA buyout funds in flood-prone communities across the state.
The Cranford project specifically targets homes that were flooded along Orchard Brook. The buyouts are funded entirely by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service’s (NRCS) Emergency Watershed Protection program, established for emergency recovery work including the purchase of floodplain property buyouts.
This project, and similar DEP-USDA partnership projects expected to be launched in other communities, expands the reach of the state’s post-Ida disaster recovery projects, which to date have been primarily funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance programs and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)’s Community Development Block Grant programs.
“We are extremely pleased to partner with USDA and announce this additional source of funding that will provide more fuel for the state’s buyout program and support New Jersey residents seeking to move out of areas plagued by repeated flooding,” said Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette. “Cranford’s leadership sets a great example for other communities to follow by making sure its residents are informed about their options for escaping the threat of flooding and supporting decisions to relocate. There’s no doubt these buyouts will provide much needed relief to property owners in Cranford and in other communities going forward.”
“Through these voluntary buyouts, the NRCS is committed to working with NJ DEP’s Blue Acres program to acquire at-risk properties and restore the land to a natural state. This approach helps protect the surrounding community by increasing flood storage capacity and preventing future development in high-risk zones,” said Julie Hawkins, New Jersey-NRCS State Conservationist. “The program is especially valuable where structural solutions like levees or flood walls are ineffective or financially unsustainable. Once a property is purchased, it is restricted to open space use, ensuring that flood-prone areas are preserved for conservation and community safety.”
“Cranford continues to advance our ‘All of the Above’ flood mitigation strategy to support our residents and prepare for the next storm. This dynamic new home buy-out program is an incredible example of cooperation across federal, state, and local government to help residents in highly flood prone areas,” said Cranford Township Mayor Brian Andrews. “We greatly appreciate the Biden Administration and Murphy Administration for their partnership pushing this forward and hope it can be a model for projects in other towns.”
“The Murphy Administration has been working hard to implement a statewide climate resilience strategy to better protect lives and property,” said DEP Chief Resilience Officer Nick Angarone. “However, in many cases, buyouts are the only way to ensure that safety and well-being of property owners by moving them out of harm’s way.”
An Innovative Funding Partnership Opportunity
Properties acquired through the buyout project will be restored to open space that will mitigate flooding, create recreational opportunities and provide ecological benefits for the community. The DEP-USDA partnership provides crucial funding that supports ongoing efforts to meet the statewide demand for flood buyouts. Through continued funding requests, the DEP Blue Acres program will seek to expand its ability to offer buyouts in more communities across the state.
State-led buyouts are a powerful tool communities can employ in conjunction with other flood mitigation measures to reduce flood risk and prevent the loss of homes in areas prone to repeated flooding and erosion. Cranford, which has a long history of working with homeowners to mitigate their flood vulnerability through home elevations, initially proposed a plan for buyouts following Tropical Storm Ida in September 2021.
In August, DEP and Cranford Township officials met with homeowners participating in the project to discuss the buyout process. Another meeting is planned for January for homeowners located near the buyout cluster, but who are not participating, to share information about the buyout project goals and benefits. Additionally, DEP’s Blue Acres program plans to seek community input on the restored open space that will be created.
About Blue Acres
DEP’s Blue Acres Buyout Program helps New Jersey communities identify and avoid risks of flooding through strategic climate resilience planning and the state-led acquisition of flood-prone property. Since Tropical Storm Ida impacted the state in 2021, New Jersey has committed $100 million in federal funds for buyouts across storm-affected areas. The state has also leveraged funding from the Garden State Preservation Trust to supplement Blue Acres work, including providing local matches for federally funded buyouts.
The homeowners of the properties targeted for acquisition are willing sellers who have experienced repeated flooding and streambank erosion jeopardizing their homes. The DEP Blue Acres program is committed to making the buyout process as seamless as possible and will assign a case worker to guide each homeowner through the process.
Since its inception in 1995, Blue Acres has acquired nearly 1,200 flood-prone properties, successfully moving families out of harm’s way, deed-restricting the land in perpetuity for uses compatible with natural floodplain functions and enhancing community climate resilience.