OFFICIAL SITE OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY
Federal Project Partnership
The State of New Jersey has a long history of partnering with the United States Army Corps of Engineers, New York and Philadelphia Districts. This partnership, dating back to the early 1900’s, allows New Jersey to continue to fortify its coastline and provide storm damage and flood risk reduction through projects and studies located throughout the state.
The partnership begins with the State identifying coastal erosion issues or repetitive flood damaged areas and requests the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to perform a reconnaissance study of the problem area. Once the problem area has been identified as having a federal interest, the State assumes their role as non-federal sponsor. The USACE requires a non-federal sponsor for all projects and Coastal Engineering (OCE) fulfills this role for all major Coastal Storm Risk Management Projects and feasibility studies in New Jersey.
Most USACE projects and studies span multiple municipalities, this requires a partnership between OCE and those respective municipal entities and counties in the areas encompassed by the project or study. OCE serves as the liaison between USACE and the municipalities keeping the municipal and county interests represented to the USACE.
A list of Federal Projects where OCE is represented as the non-federal sponsor can be found below.
Project Funding
As nourished beaches undergo erosion, they must be maintained through beach re-nourishment. The re-nourishment process consists of restoring the beach to initially construct conditions and typically has less time and cost associated with the project when compared to the initial nourishment. The time between re-nourishment projects, called the re-nourishment cycle, varies from project to project and is designed based upon the severity of the anticipated annual rate; it is typically several years.
Depending on the purpose and location of the project, funding may be available from several sources. For federal beachfill projects, the federal government contributes 65% of the initial project cost while the remaining 35% is divided into a cost-share, with the state contributing 75% and the local governments where the project is located contributing the remaining 25%. Non-federal beachfill projects are funded through a state/local cost-share, with the state contributing 75% and the local governments contributing 25%. All State funding is provided through the Shore Protection Fund (N.J.S.A. 13:19-16 et seq.), which ensures the critical funding needed annually to continue the beach nourishment program and protect New Jersey’s coastal communities.
USACE Projects – New York District
Project Name | Project Type | Location | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raritan Bay & Sandy Hook Bay | Coastal Storm Risk Management | Monmouth County: Keansburg, Laurence Harbor, North Middletown, Keyport, Belford | Initial construction: 1970s Feasibility study ongoing to reevaluate construction plans |
| Raritan Bay & Sandy Hook Bay | Hurricane and Storm Damage Reduction | Monmouth County: Middletown, Port Monmouth | Phase I - Contract 1: Planning, Engineering, and Design (PED) Contract 2: Tide gate and pump station: Completed 2020 Contract 3: Floodwall and road closure gate: Completed 2019 Contract 4a: Completed 2020 Contract 4b: Levee, floodwall, and road closure gates: Under construction, anticipating completion January 2028 Contract 5: Levee, floodwall, pump station, and road raising: Under construction, anticipating completion June 2025 Entire project anticipating completion in 2028 |
| Raritan Bay & Sandy Hook Bay | Coastal Storm Risk Management | Monmouth County: Union Beach | Contract 1: Beach fill, groins, crossovers: Completed Summer 2024 Contract 5 is mitigation |
| Sandy Hook to Barnegat Inlet | Coastal Storm Risk Management | Monmouth County: Sea Bright to Manasquan | Initial construction - Anticipated nourishment: TBD |
NJ Back Bays | Coastal Storm Risk Management | Monmouth, Ocean, Burlington, Atlantic, and Cape May Counties: 89 coastal municipalities | Feasibility study ongoing |
Passaic River at Minish Park | Flood Damage Reduction | Essex County: Newark |
Contract 3A: Construction completed July 2021 |
For the above Federal projects, the Federal government contributes 65% of the project cost, while the remaining 35% is divided into a state/local cost-share, with the State contributing 75% and the local governments contributing the remaining 25%
USACE – Philadelphia District
Project Name | Project Type | Location | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manasquan Inlet to Barnegat Inlet | Coastal Storm Risk Management | Ocean County: Point Pleasant to Berkeley | Initial construction: 2019 |
| Barnegat Inlet to Little Egg Inlet | Coastal Storm Risk Management | Ocean County: Long Beach Island |
Initial construction - |
| Brigantine Inlet to Great Egg Inlet | Coastal Storm Risk Management | Atlantic County: Brigantine Island |
Initial construction: 2006 |
| Brigantine Inlet to Great Egg Inlet | Coastal Storm Risk Management | Atlantic County: Absecon Island |
Initial construction- Absecon Inlet Seawall construction: Completed 2018 Periodic nourishment for Atlantic City and Ventnor: Completed February 2025Dune and crossover work for all municipalities: In progress, anticipating completion 2025 |
| Great Egg Harbor and Peck Beach | Coastal Storm Risk Management | Cape May County: Ocean City |
Initial construction: 1993 |
| Great Egg to Townsend's Inlet | Flood and Coastal Storm Damage Reduction | Cape May County: Ocean City, Strathmere, Sea Isle City | Initial construction: 2016 |
| Townsend’s Inlet to Cape May Inlet | Coastal Storm Risk Management | Cape May County: Avalon, Stone Harbor, North Wildwood | Initial construction: 2002 |
| Hereford Inlet to Cape May Inlet | Flood and Storm Damage Reduction | Cape May County: North Wildwood, Wildwood, Wildwood Crest, Lower Township | Planning, Engineering, & Design (PED) and easement acquisition Anticipated initial construction: 2026 |
| Cape May Inlet to Lower Township | Coastal Storm Risk Management | Cape May County: Lower Township, Cape May |
Initial construction: 2007 |
| Lower Cape May Meadows | Ecosystem Restoration, Flood and Coastal Storm Damage Reduction | Cape May County: Cape May Point, Lower Township, Cape May City |
Initial construction: 2007 |
| Reeds Beach & Pierces Point | Ecosystem Restoration | Cape May County: Middle Township | Reeds Beach & Pierces Point |
| Villas and Vicinity (Delaware Bay) | Ecosystem Restoration | Cape May County: Lower Township | Villas and Vicinity |
| Mordecai Island | Ecosystem Restoration | Ocean County: Long Beach Island | Planning, Engingeering, & Design (PED) |
| Oakwood Beach (Delaware Bay) | Flood and Coastal Storm Damage Protection | Salem County: Elsinboro Township |
Initial beach fill: 2015 |
| Dredge Material Utilization Project – Gandy's Beach, Fortescue, Villas | Coastal Storm Risk Management | Cumberland, Cape May County: Downe and Lower Townships | Feasibility study complete, project authorized by Congress in December 2020 PED and construction phases currently unfunded |
| NJ Back Bays | Coastal Storm Risk Management | Monmouth, Ocean, Burlington, Atlantic, Cape May Counties: 89 coastal municipalities | Feasibility study ongoing |
For the above Federal projects, the Federal government contributes 65% of the project cost, while the remaining 35% is divided into a state/local cost-share, with the State contributing 75% and the local governments contributing the remaining 25%