Dunes and Oyster Reefs Possible Answer
Efforts are underway in the state to invest $20 million a year of taxpayer revenues to fund grants that will help towns launch projects using natural and organic materials such as wetlands, oyster reefs, barrier reefs and dune grass to benefit the environment.
The legislation proposed by U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J. 6th District, under the name Living Shorelines Act of 2017, is expected to be an annual series of grants made available to towns along the shore.
Such natural systems are seen as non-manufactured solutions that will protect New Jersey’s coastal communities from storms and erosion.
Oyster reefs are known to decrease the impact of storm surge. Oysters also provide a positive environmental benefit of filtering pollution and also can be harvested.
New Jersey’s fishery and aquaculture resources contribute more than $1 billion annually to the state’s economy.
The dune grass also proved to be a great barrier from the storm surges as is evidenced by towns like Bradley Beach, which attributes the dunes along its beach to have saved the town millions of dollars in damage from the effects of Superstorm Sandy.
Presently, New Jersey accounts for more than 50 living shoreline projects currently being built.
The first living shoreline is currently being built in Raritan Bay with Naval Weapons Station Earle.