The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District, is conducting a study in partnership with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to evaluate potential coastal storm risk management measures for the tidally-influenced and surge-prone areas in the lower Passaic and Hackensack Rivers, and Newark Bay, New Jersey that were included in the authorized Passaic Main Stem project. It includes portions of the city of Newark (Essex County), and its suburbs of Harrison and Kearny (Hudson County). The Passaic Tidal Protection Area (Passaic Tidal) project is an authorized but unconstructed (ABU) project, as identified in the May 2013 Post-Hurricane Sandy Second Interim Report to Congress.
Passaic Tidal Study Area
The purpose of the general reevaluation study is to determine if the Passaic Tidal project remains economically justifiable, technically feasible, and environmentally acceptable. A 1987 General Design Memorandum (GDM) and 1995 GDM presented preliminary designs for the project. In the 20 years since the 1995 GDM was drafted, study area conditions have changed, and engineering standards and criteria have been updated based on lessons learned from major storm events. Changes in study area conditions, post-hurricane resiliency work, updated economic forecasting, and new engineering analyses will inform the study team’s analysis.
*** February 2016 Project Update
Existing conditions data have been collected for the study area. Preliminary risk reduction design alternative formulation and evaluation has occurred. The study team’s next step will be to use this information to screen alternatives and recommend a plan for design and construction.
The study investigations, plan alternatives, and recommended plan will be presented in a draft general reevaluation report. The draft report will be circulated to the public for review and comment. It will provide a recommendation for Federal participation in a coastal storm risk management project that is be economically justified and environmentally acceptable. The report is scheduled for public release in summer 2016.
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For more information about this study, please refer to the Fact Sheet or contact the Project Manager.