Comprehensive Back Bay Adaptive Management Plan Ocean City Cape May County, New Jersey Comprehensive Back Bay Adaptive Management Plan For The City of Ocean City Cape May County, New Jersey Prepared By: August 28, 2020 Comprehensive Back Bay Adaptive Management Plan for Ocean City, NJ Versions: Final: August 28, 2020 Final Draft Delivered to the City: July 15, 2020 Revision 2: February 2019 Revision 1: February 2018 Initial Plan Drafted: August 2017 Authors: City of Ocean City, NJ The Honorable Jay A. Gillian and City Council 861 Asbury Avenue Ocean City, NJ 08226 ACT Engineers, Inc 1 Washington Boulevard, Suite 3 Robbinsville, NJ 08691 320 S. Shore Road, Suite D Marmora, NJ 08223 Anchor QEA 755 Business Center Drive, Suite 220 Horsham, PA 19044 i Comprehensive Back Bay Adaptive Management Plan for Ocean City, NJ TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE Executive Summary I. Introduction & Background ............................................................................................................... 1 A. Purpose ............................................................................................................................................. 1 B. Risks and Vulnerabilities ................................................................................................................... 2 C. Needs, Opportunities & Constraints ............................................................................................... 10 1. Needs .......................................................................................................................................... 13 2. Opportunities .............................................................................................................................. 13 3. Constraints .................................................................................................................................. 14 II. City of Ocean City Physical Setting and Bay Features ..................................................................... 17 A. Overview ......................................................................................................................................... 17 B. Back Bay Management Area Features ............................................................................................ 17 1. Waterways .................................................................................................................................. 20 2. Islands / Marshes / Wetlands ..................................................................................................... 22 3. Mosquito Ditches ........................................................................................................................ 31 4. Bayfront Development/Private Boat Slips .................................................................................. 32 5. Stormwater Infrastructure .......................................................................................................... 32 6. Former Railroad Berm ................................................................................................................. 36 C. Back Bay Sediment System ............................................................................................................. 38 1. Sources of Sediment ................................................................................................................... 38 2. Outfalls ........................................................................................................................................ 39 3. Hydrodynamic Modeling ............................................................................................................. 41 4. Sediment Budget ......................................................................................................................... 42 III. Back Bay Adaptive Management ..................................................................................................... 46 A. A. Back Bay Adaptive Management Approach ............................................................................... 47 1. Planning and Considerations ...................................................................................................... 47 a. Goals and Needs ..................................................................................................................... 47 b. Coastal Risks and Vulnerability ............................................................................................... 48 c. Data Collection and Management .......................................................................................... 50 2. Do – Project Selection & Implementation .................................................................................. 50 a. Evaluate Data and Identify Data Gaps .................................................................................... 50 ii Comprehensive Back Bay Adaptive Management Plan for Ocean City, NJ b. Agency Roles, Responsibilities and Authorities ...................................................................... 51 c. Available Resources ................................................................................................................ 54 d. Monitoring and Adaptive Management ................................................................................. 55 (1) Bathymetric Surveying .................................................................................................... 55 (2) Aerial Mapping / Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) .................................................. 55 (3) Material Management .................................................................................................... 56 (a) Dredge Material Containment Facilities (DMCF) ........................................................ 56 (b) Alternative Use Determination (AUD) ........................................................................ 56 e. Decision Matrices .................................................................................................................... 57 (1) Triggers for Action ........................................................................................................... 60 (a) Navigation ................................................................................................................... 60 (b) Recreation ................................................................................................................... 61 (c) Ecological / Fish & Wildlife .......................................................................................... 61 (d) Flooding ....................................................................................................................... 62 f. Mitigation / Implementation Goals ........................................................................................ 63 (1) Non-Structural Strategies................................................................................................ 64 (2) Structural Strategies........................................................................................................ 65 (3) Natural and Nature-based Strategies – (NNB) ................................................................ 66 3. LEARN: Assessment & Adaptation .............................................................................................. 73 a. Assessment of Projects ........................................................................................................... 73 b. Lessons Learned, Trends and Predictions, Evaluation ............................................................ 74 B. Historical Back Bay Management ................................................................................................... 74 C. Current Adaptive Management Efforts .......................................................................................... 76 IV. Future Back Bay Management (2020-2050) .................................................................................... 80 A. Immediate / Short-Term Need Actions ........................................................................................... 80 B. Routine or Interim Actions .............................................................................................................. 80 C. Long-Term Actions .......................................................................................................................... 80 D. Considerations and Goals ............................................................................................................... 81 V. Conclusions and Back Bay Management Plan Updates................................................................... 82 VI. References ....................................................................................................................................... 85 iii Comprehensive Back Bay Adaptive Management Plan for Ocean City, NJ Executive Summary The network of tidal waterways and wetlands surrounding Ocean City is an essential component of the local economy, commercial and recreational lifestyle, and environment. The need to keep Ocean City’s waters navigable, provide flood resiliency and protect the unique and valuable natural resources requires a comprehensive and adaptable management plan for the back bay ecosystem. A multi-faceted approach, with numerous and varied management activities and implemented projects, is required, and must comply with all applicable regulatory requirements, in consultation with Federal and