South Amboy Receives $2.8M To Build 'Living Shoreline'

SOUTH AMBOY, NJ — Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ 6) announced Tuesday that South Amboy will receive $2.8 million to bolster its coastline from flooding and protect wildlife habitats.

The city of South Amboy will use the funding to restore 20 acres of former industrial land along 1.5 miles of its bayfront. This will include marsh and shoreline construction to enhance nesting habitat for osprey, little blue herons and snowy egrets.

A date has not been set for when the project will begin.

The goal of the project is to improve resilience to flood hazards and still give the public safe access to the waterfront, said the office of Congressman Pallone.

“It gives me great satisfaction to know that our federal partners understand and endorse our efforts to restore our waterfront,” said South Amboy Mayor Fred Henry. "The Raritan Bay has historically been a nexus of commerce, recreation and beauty for many generations. Our efforts to restore a living shoreline in South Amboy would have only been a dream without the steadfast support of Congressman Pallone."

What are living shorelines in New Jersey?

These infrastructure projects use natural materials and systems, including dunes, wetlands and oyster reefs to support the natural flood resilience of healthy shoreline ecosystems. Living shorelines are supposed to be adaptable to changing environmental conditions. It also enhances ecosystem functions, which can improve water quality and wildlife habitat protection.

Certain types of living shorelines can support carbon mitigation. They are also affordable and create jobs, said Pallone.

The funding is distributed through the 2022 National Coastal Resilience Fund (NCRF), which is administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF).

This year’s awards included funding from the bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

“I’m thrilled that South Amboy is receiving federal funding to restore its coastal ecosystem and improve flood protection. Living shorelines projects are proven natural infrastructure solutions that will protect our coastal communities from the effects of climate change, including more flooding from sea level rise and stronger hurricanes,” Pallone said. “Since Superstorm Sandy, New Jersey has invested hundreds of millions of dollars to make our state more resilient against the effects of climate change, and this funding is another step in the right direction to build on this progress.”