Category: Publications

Floodplain Buyouts: An Action Guide for Local Governments on How to Maximize Community Benefits, Habitat Connectivity, and Resilience (2017)

Last modified on May 19th, 2025 at 2:10 pm

This Action Guide highlights communities across the country that have established programmatic and management structures for floodplain buyouts to make the most of acquired properties. This is a guide for thinking through various available management options that maximize the benefits of floodplain acquisition programs and for considering challenges before they arise in order to promote successful completion of projects. UNC-Guide-Maximizing Comm Bens-Habitat-and Resilience w Buyouts

Creating Flood-Resilient Landscapes: A Primer for New Jersey Communities (2023)

Last modified on May 20th, 2025 at 11:50 am

This Primer can help stakeholders plan, design, and implement flood resilience projects on Blue Acres parcels (as well as any flood-prone open space). This project is a collaboration between the Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station and South Dakota State University School of Design. Funding was provided by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection through the Bureau of Climate Resilience Planning’s Resilient NJ initiative, as well as a seed grant from the Rutgers Climate and Energy Institute.

Creating Flood-Resilient Landscapes: A Primer for New Jersey Communities

Concept Design Samples for Blue Acres Sites (2025)

Last modified on May 19th, 2025 at 1:54 pm

These samples were developed by Rutgers Department of Landscape Architecture in partnership with Blue Acres. The samples are not meant to serve as endorsements. Sites include Highland Park, Hillsborough, Lincoln Park, Old Bridge, Paterson, and Rahway. Concept Design Sample Rutgers CUES 2025

Blue Acres Post-Buyout Land Use Considerations Handout (2025)

Last modified on May 20th, 2025 at 11:52 am

This two-page document provides an overview of permissible land uses and strategies for enhancing floodplain functions. It highlights real-world examples of repurposed properties, guidelines for maintaining open space, and nature-based solutions like native plantings and green infrastructure to improve water absorption and community resilience. Blue Acres Post-Buyout Land Use Considerations

 

Land Use Visioning Increases Support for and Participation in Flood Buyouts

Last modified on May 20th, 2025 at 11:54 am

September 18, 2024

As an example of “visioning,” shown above is a concept design for a floodplain restoration project. Blue Acres’ survey asked if similar designs used in public engagement processes would influence respondents’ views on flood buyouts. Graphic from: Creating Flood-Resilient Landscapes, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey Department of Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources

Blue Acres administered an online survey to understand if more public engagement is needed around buyouts and to see if post-buyout land use visioning efforts would improve support for buyout participation and community land stewardship.  For context, land use “visioning” refers to preparing digital renderings of a site that display proposed restoration options for implementation. The visioning being discussed in this survey would occur in consultation with community members to provide visual examples of how the land might be utilized once it becomes open space. 

Survey Distribution
The short, seven-question survey went live on February 28th, 2024, and accepted survey responses for sixty-two days, concluding on April 30th.  To solicit responses, it was shared via email with those on the Blue Acres listserv and the Governor’s Office of Innovation’s email list. The survey was also promoted by Blue Acres staff during presentations at three professional conferences during March and April.  

Survey Responses
The survey yielded eighty-six responses from community members, homeowners, or government representatives. Most respondents (93%) seemed to favor more public engagement around buyouts, and over 87% of respondents felt that if visual aids were available to define post-buyout land use, they would be more likely to support buyouts.  Similarly, the responses to two questions asking how participants connect open space to flood protection showed that most people believe more open space in the floodplain and a naturally functioning floodplain can meaningfully reduce damage from flooding, 94.3% and 76% respectively. Likewise, the majority of respondents indicated they support funding to address long-term management of buyout lands. 

Survey Outcomes
The responses collected support Blue Acres’ ongoing initiatives to better engage communities focusing on flood risk and mitigation communications and post-buyout land use visioning. By creating opportunities for post-buyout land use visioning, Blue Acres aims to grow support for buyouts while empowering community members to advocate for the optimization of buyout lands to meet community goals and needs such as climate resilience, beautification, passive recreation, etc. 

 

Blue Acres thanks all who participated—community feedback is essential as the program works towards innovative, sustainable solutions for flood-impacted areas. 

 

 

New Report – Creating Flood-Resilient Landscapes: A Primer for New Jersey Communities

New Jersey faces escalating flood risks impacting over 629,250 properties. This report advocates for a transformative approach, utilizing buyout programs to acquire flood-prone properties and convert them into protected open spaces. However, managing these areas poses challenges, necessitating an ecologically centered resilience strategy. This concise primer, a blend of engineering, ecology, and social science, serves as a crucial guide for municipalities, professionals, and stakeholders working to enhance statewide flood resilience.

 

Creating Flood-Resilient Landscapes: A Primer for New Jersey Communities