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Project Summary

Lower Cape May Meadows - Cape May Point, Feasibility Study

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1. Project Identification

Name Lower Cape May Meadows - Cape May Point, Feasibility Study
Region Mid-Atlantic
State New Jersey
Location Southern tip of New Jersey
Date of this update  

2. Problem(s) addressed (check one or more)

Habitat degradation

The Lower Cape May Meadows consists of a 1.3 mile long, 350 acre area of undeveloped oceanfront land containing a state park, bird refuge, and freshwater wetlands. These wetlands are one of the most important migratory stopovers in North America for birds of prey, shorebirds, songbirds, and waterfowl drawing thousands of tourists each year. It was named on of the top ten bird watching areas in North America by Nature Conservancy magazine. These bird watchers contribute more than $10 million to the local economy.

In addition, this area is an important breeding area for both rare and common birds along with being home to a variety of rare and endangered plant and animals as well. This area also acts as a buffer to reduce inundation to surrounding communities of Cape May Point and portions of West Cape May. Cape May Point is a small residential community of approximately 600 homes just to the west of the Meadows at the confluence of the Delaware Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.

Lower Cape May Meadows suffers from severe long term and storm induced erosion. The high rate of erosion is caused by the interruption of sand flow by the Cape May Inlet jetties which were constructed around 1911. This erosion has left the existing freshwater ecosystem in the Meadows substantially degraded through saltwater intrusion and drainage pattern alteration. Breaches of the dunes fronting the Meadows have resulted in alterations to the freshwater wetlands and their ability to support the unique and endangered animals and plants which reside there. It is estimated that an additional 147 acres of habitat will be lost between the years 1993 and 2050 if shoreline erosion is to continue unabated.

3. Project Description (100 words or less. Please include qualitative information, e.g. acres of habitat restored, miles of steam reopened to migration, and legislative authorization, e.g. WRDA, ISTEA, CWA/NEP, CZMA, etc.)

Project alternatives currently being formulated. Legislative authority for study from WRDA 1986.

4. Goals/Benefits (quantify where possible using measures of success list) Was a cost-benefit study conducted for this project? yes/no If yes, provide a summary of findings.

Still in planning stages, but will probably exceed 150 acres of restored freshwater wetland habitat which also should include Phragmites managment.

An incremental cost-benefit analysis will be performed.

5. Partners (include each participant's responsibilities - funding, permitting, etc.)

6. Funding/Contributions (organization and amount)

7. Legislative authorities used by each participant

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8. Value added by Coastal America Partnership including Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) goals achieved through this collaboration (500 words or less)

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9. Project Status

Initiation date April 1994 (start of study)
Completion date May 1998 (completion of feasibility study)
Current stage currently in planning stage

10. Contacts

11. Any additional information/comments

Reconnaissance Study completed August 1994. Construction of project around the year 2000.

This page was last updated on Saturday, 24-Jun-2000 11:48:47 EDT
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