Last modified on June 24th, 2025 at 2:18 pm

“Blue Acres Post-Buyout Land Management Field Guide”, developed by a former intern, provides an overview of natural floodplain functions, authorized uses of Blue Acres properties, and strategies for managing encroachments on State-owned lands. This guide is intended to help municipalities and other stakeholders effectively manage and utilize acquired open space lands for flood risk mitigation and climate resilience.

Key Sections of the Guide

1. Obligations of Municipalities:
   • Outlines the responsibilities of municipalities in managing Blue Acres properties to ensure compliance with state regulations and promote flood resilience.
2. Flood Risk Mitigation for Climate Resilience:
   • Discusses strategies and practices for mitigating flood risks and enhancing climate resilience through effective land management.
3. Functions of a Floodplain:
   • Soil Compaction, Porosity, and Permeability: Explains the importance of soil health in floodplain management, including how soil compaction, porosity, and permeability affect flood resilience.
   • Vegetation and Runoff: Highlights the role of vegetation in managing runoff and reducing flood risks.
   • Benefits of Healthy Floodplains: Describes the ecological and community benefits of maintaining healthy floodplains.
4. Authorized Uses of Acquired Open Space Land:
   • Provides guidelines on what activities and uses are permitted on Blue Acres properties to ensure they contribute to flood resilience and ecological health.
5. Prohibited Uses of Acquired Open Space Land:
   • Lists activities and uses that are not allowed on Blue Acres properties to prevent actions that could undermine flood resilience efforts.
6. Addressing Unauthorized Uses of Blue Acres Open Space:
   • Identifying Encroachments: Explains how the severity of encroachments on buyout properties is determined by the cost and effort required to restore the land and the extent of soil impact.
   • Encroachment Examples: Provides examples of common encroachments and how they can impact floodplain management.
   • Preventing Misuse: Recommends actions municipalities can take to prevent and address misuse of Blue Acres open space.
7. Creative Uses of Blue Acres Open Space:
   • Encourages innovative and community-friendly uses of Blue Acres properties that align with flood resilience goals, such as creating recreational areas or restoring natural habitats.

Last modified on June 24th, 2025 at 12:22 pm

The concept design samples were developed by students in the Rutgers Department of Landscape Architecture in partnership with Blue Acres. These samples are intended to provide illustrative examples of potential landscape designs for flood-prone areas and are not meant to serve as endorsements.

The sites included in these samples are located in:

• Highland Park
• Hillsborough
• Lincoln Park
• Old Bridge
• Paterson
• Rahway

The designs aim to showcase innovative approaches to managing and utilizing open spaces acquired through the Blue Acres program, highlighting strategies for enhancing flood resilience and ecological health. These concept designs were created as part of the Rutgers Center for Urban Environmental Sustainability (CUES) coursework.

Last modified on June 24th, 2025 at 12:36 pm

This two-page document provides an overview of permissible land uses and strategies for enhancing floodplain functions on Blue Acres properties and other flood-prone open spaces. It highlights real-world examples of repurposed properties, guidelines for maintaining open space, and nature-based solutions to improve water absorption and community resilience.

Key Points

1. Community Benefits of Open Space:
   • Examples include a restored native landscape in Woodbridge with native plants and a gravel walkway, a maintained mowed lawn with planted trees, and an engineered multi-use space in Lambertville with access to both the land and the waterway, seating, and native plants.
2. Land Use Considerations:
   • Blue Acres properties must be maintained as open space with restrictions such as no pavement, no vehicle use or storage, no obstructive fences, and no walled structures.
3. Enhancing Floodplain Functions:
   • Strategies include planting native flood-tolerant plants, preventing soil compaction, and implementing green infrastructure like rain gardens and bioswales to improve water absorption and resilience.
4. Additional Resources:
   • References to “Creating Flood-Resilient Landscapes: A Primer for New Jersey Communities” and the “Blue Acres Program Post-Buyout Land Management Field Guide” for further guidance on managing flood-prone land.