Pallone Announces South Amboy Will Receive $2.8 Million to Support Coastal Resilience

Washington, DC - Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) today announced that South Amboy will receive $2,869,668 to bolster coastal resilience and protect wildlife habitats. The funding is distributed through the 2022 National Coastal Resilience Fund (NCRF), which is administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF). This year's awards included funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

The City of South Amboy will use the funding to restore 20 acres of former industrial land along 1.5 miles of coastline through marsh and living shoreline construction to enhance nesting habitat for osprey, little blue herons, and snowy egrets. The project will revitalize the coastal ecosystem to improve resilience to flood hazards and provide the community with safe access to the waterfront.

"I'm thrilled that South Amboy is receiving federal funding to restore its coastal ecosystem and improve flood protection. Living shorelines projects are proven natural infrastructure solutions that will protect our coastal communities from the effects of climate change, including more flooding from sea level rise and stronger hurricanes. They also improve and protect wildlife habitats," Pallone said. "Since Superstorm Sandy, New Jersey has invested hundreds of millions of dollars to make our state more resilient against the effects of climate change, and this funding is another step in the right direction to build on this progress."

"It gives me great satisfaction to know that our federal partners understand and endorse our efforts to restore our waterfront. The Raritan Bay has historically been a nexus of commerce, recreation, and beauty for many generations," Mayor Fred Henry said. "Our efforts to restore a living shoreline in South Amboy would have only been a dream without the steadfast support of Congressman Pallone. We are grateful for his unstoppable support and tireless advocacy for us in Washington, DC."

Pallone has been a longtime advocate for living shoreline projects in New Jersey. These infrastructure projects use natural materials and systems, including dunes, wetlands, and oyster reefs to support the natural flood resilience of healthy shoreline ecosystems. Natural infrastructure is cost-effective and adaptable to changing environmental conditions. It also enhances ecosystem functions which can improve water quality and wildlife habitat protection. Certain types of living shorelines can support carbon mitigation. They are also affordable and create jobs. Last month, Pallone wrote to the Biden Administration urging NOAA to quickly implement investments in living shoreline projects from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act.