Hammered by Hurricane Sandy, New Jersey and New York top the list of 11 Eastern states that will share $100 million in federal grants to protect against future storms.
The US Department of the Interior’s Hurricane Sandy Coastal Resilience Grant Program will fund a variety of projects to protect communities at risk. The money comes from a Sandy relief bill passed by Congress.
New Jersey has the largest number of approved projects, at 13, including restoration of beaches, salt marshes and urban areas including Hoboken.
New York has 11 projects, including an oyster colony in Jamaica Bay, flood mitigation in Coney Island and wetlands restoration in Suffolk County. Other projects will restore the Bronx River shoreline at Starlight Park; better protect Sunken Meadow State Park; improve Harlem River water quality and resiliency; and reconnect 10 land-locked areas to the Allegheny Reservoir in Cattaraugus County.
Competition for the grants began last year on the anniversary of Sandy, which pummeled the East Coast in October 2012. Recipients must put up matching funds for part of the work.