Climate Resiliency Plan Announced For Long Beach Island Region

LONG BEACH ISLAND, NJ — Long Beach Island is one of four regional groups that has released regional climate action plans in advance of the 10th anniversary of Superstorm Sandy, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's Office of Climate Resilience announced Monday.

The "Resilient NJ" plans are an outgrowth of a National Disaster Resilience Competition award to New Jersey intended to advance regional planning in areas most impacted by Sandy. The plans set forth resilience actions across 24 communities in the four regions.

Community leaders and residents met with advisers provided by the DEP to develop the plans. These plans "prioritize actions and strategies, identify funding sources, set timelines, and identify opportunities to enhance regional and community resilience in the face of increasing threats from climate change and sea-level rise," according to the DEP.

"These planning efforts are critical to our communities," the DEP said. "It is projected that a Sandy-like storm surge event occurring in 2070 could cause $45 billion in property damages in these four regions alone."

Sandy caused $30 billion in damages across the state in comparison.

"Our communities are on the front lines of dealing with the impacts of climate change – and each one faces unique challenges," said Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette. "These communities are to be commended for taking this critical step toward solutions that will help them become more resilient."

"For too long, the public has thought of climate impacts as a problem happening somewhere else, to someone else, and at some time in the future," said New Jersey Chief Climate Resilience Officer Nick Angarone. "But we know that the threats are happening here and now. The key to the success of the Resilient NJ effort is putting local decision-makers at the helm to ensure that these plans take root. Resilient NJ provides the critical resources and technical assistance to empower our communities to develop an informed, innovative, and implementable vision of their resilient future."

The LBI region includes Long Beach Township, Beach Haven, Ship Bottom, Surf City, Harvey Cedars and Barnegat Light.

Per the DEP, the LBI regional plan includes the following:

• Policy and outreach such as developing a climate education program, establishing resilience zoning codes, and creating flood mitigation design guidelines.
• A conceptual plan developed for the popular commercial district of Bay Village offering innovative green infrastructure solutions that may be implemented not only there, but on other applicable sites across the island.
• Living shorelines, green streets, expanded stormwater detention, and floodable spaces.
• Enhanced island-wide ecosystem connectivity using roadway improvements and flow path channels.