Background

After incurring extensive damages associated with Hurricane Sandy, Downe Township, located in Cumberland County, N.J., sent a letter requesting USACE assistance in evaluating hurricane, coastal storm and flood risk management projects. After meeting with USACE, the township asked USACE to focus its efforts on the bay front communities of Fortescue and Gandys Beach.

USACE completed an initial Federal Interest Determination in November of 2014. The report examined existing conditions, economic factors, and environmental considerations and determined there are opportunities to reduce storm damage by a combination of structural and non-structural measures. 

The report concluded it is in the Federal interest to pursue a feasibility study for flood risk management along the Delaware Bay shorelines of Fortescue and Gandys Beach in Downe Township, NJ. Downe Township and the State of New Jersey, the potential non-Federal sponsors, support further investigation into preliminary alternatives developed for flood risk management improvements on the Delaware Bay shoreline.

Status 

The study will be conducted under the Army Corps' CAP Section 205 Authority and involve engineering, environmental and economic analyses of various alternatives in order to develop a recommended plan for flood risk management for the developed Delaware Bay shoreline areas of Downe Township. The study, which is funded by a 50/50 cost share of federal and non-federal funds, is anticipated to cost $760,000 and be completed in approximately eighteen months.