Flooding along N.J.'s back bays to be subject of meeting

Federal and state officials want ideas on how to reduce flooding along New Jersey's back bays

Federal and state officials want ideas from the public on how to reduce the risk of flooding along the back bays of New Jersey in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the state Department of Environmental Protection have set a public meeting for Dec. 1 at Stockton University in Galloway to get input for flood mitigation along the back bays of Monmouth, Ocean, Atlantic, Burlington and Cape May counties.

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Officials are looking to identify significant issues that contribute to flooding along the back bays. While the ocean's storm surge caused major damage along the beachfront during Sandy, local officials have said bay flooding caused most of Sandy's damage.

The coastal back bays of New Jersey are being studied to develop a flood mitigation plan(U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) 

State officials put Sandy's damage cost in New Jersey at $36.9 billion.

The New Jersey Back Bay Study is part of the Army Corps' North Atlantic Coast Comprehensive Study that identified nine high-risk areas along the Atlantic Coast in need of further analysis and planning. It includes the interconnected bodies of water and coastal lakes.

The measures under consideration to help with flooding include retreating from the coast, retrofitting buildings, developing coastal storm plans, improving the National Flood Insurance Program and making zoning changes.

Structural changes under consideration include storm surge barriers for inlets, tidal gates, raised roads and rail lines, levees, permanent and temporary food walls and crown walls. That also includes beach replenishment, groins, breakwaters, bulkheads, sea walls, revetments and storm water system drainage improvements.

The plan will also consider natural features such as living shorelines, reefs, wetland restoration, submerged aquatic vegetation restoration, and plant systems to manage storm water runoff.

The meeting is scheduled from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the university's Campus Center.