DESCRIPTION: The project area consists of the Atlantic Coast of NYC between East Rockaway Inlet and Rockaway Inlet, and the water and lands within and surrounding Jamaica Bay, New York. The project area also includes the low lying Coney Island section of Brooklyn, which can be overtopped by floodwaters that flood the Brooklyn neighborhoods surrounding Jamaica Bay. More than 850,000 residents, 48,000 residential and commercial structures, and scores of critical infrastructure features such as hospitals, nursing homes, wastewater treatment facilities, subway, railroad, and schools are within the study area. Analyses conducted to date support the need of construction for a composite seawall and associated beach restoration with increased renourishment at the Atlantic Ocean shorefront along the Rockaway peninsula. The structure crest elevation is +17 feet (NAVD88), the dune elevation is +18 feet (NAVD88), and the design berm width is 60 feet. Construction will begin in the summer of 2022. The back bay portion of the Rockaways (Jamaica Bay) contains Multiple Storm Surge Barrier alignments and tie-in scenarios available for the recommended Storm Surge Barrier Plan. Final design and selection of the Storm Surge Barrier alignment and associated tie-ins are under review and additional analyses and design refinements can are being conducted. Final Storm Surge Barrier design will be made in the future based on responses from public, policy, and technical reviews of this Draft HSGRR/EIS and additional investigations conducted for that purpose. Furthermore, any plan for coastal storm risk management within the boundary of the Gateway National Recreation Area must be mutually acceptable with the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of the Army.
AUTHORIZATION: There is a long history of sediment placement in the study area
After initial construction in 1977 and subsequent beach fill placement along the Rockaway peninsula. Renourishment activities in the project area occurred in 1975, 1976, 1977,1978, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2013, and 2014. A Reformulation was authorized by Congress in 1997 to ensure that the appropriate long-term solution was recommended. The Reformulation Effort for East Rockaway Inlet to Rockaway Inlet and Jamaica Bay was authorized by the House of Representatives, dated 27 September 1997, In partial fulfillment of the requirements detailed Public Law 113-2 (29 Jan 13), The Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013, USACE produced a report assessing “authorized Corps projects for reducing flooding and storm risks in the affected area that have been constructed or are under construction”.
CURRENT STATUS: Construction of the groins are ongoing. Construction of the reinforced dune system commenced on 05 July 2022. The contract for such work has been awarded to Michels Corp; this is a four-year contract. Draft HFFR for Jamaica Bay is currently being reviewed by project sponsors. All comments will be reviewed, and further consultation/analysis may be required.
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS: NY-05, NY-08, NY-09
AUTHORIZED PROJECT COST: Total First Cost $3,800,000,000 (subject to revisions)
CONTACT:
Mr. Michael Oseback
Project Manager
P: 917-790-8536
Email: Michael.J.Oseback@usace.army.mil
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – NY District
Programs and Project Management Division