Leader In Ocean City Flooding Project Earns Award

OCEAN CITY, NJ — A key figure in Ocean City's efforts to alleviate flooding issues earned an award for his work in the city. Thomas Herrington, associate director of Monmouth University's Urban Coast Institute, received the Mid-Atlantic Regional Sea Grant Region’s Outstanding Outreach Award.

Herrington received the award at the Mid-Atlantic Sea Grant Region’s annual meeting, which they held virtually last month. He also serves as the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium's coastal community resilience specialist.

The project helps residents and government find solutions to the island's chronic flooding issues. It's been carried out through the American Geophysical Union’s Thriving Earth Exchange (TEX) program, which pairs scientists with local communities to solve problems on a pro bono basis.

Herrington, an Ocean City native, worked with members of the Ocean City, NJ Flooding Committee — a civilian group — to examine sources and causes of flooding and find longterm solutions.

Herrington trained locals to conduct citizen science work and pool their data on iseechange.org, a program that connects the public and experts on changing environments. Through the app, Herrington compares the information with federal data and investigates the source of flooding, its frequency and location.

New Jersey Sea Grant says Herrington's work serves as a model for researchers and extension agents at Sea Grant programs throughout the country.

“The City of Ocean City has installed three pump and storage systems and has plans for a fourth," Herrington said. "Data collected by the residents has already begun to show reduced flooding in the areas that the pumps were installed. "

Additionally, a marsh restoration program on the bayside of the island helps prevent further erosion and increases the natural buffering the marsh provides, according to the program.

Read more about the project here.

City officials will hold a town-hall meeting with plans to address flooding issues throughout the island at 10 a.m. Dec. 5 in the Ocean City Tabernacle.

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