The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has launched a website and interactive mapping tool to support efforts to protect coastal wetlands from accelerating sea-level rise, which is occurring in the state at twice the global average. The tool provides science-based insights to help communities, stakeholders, and decision-makers plan wetland restoration and enhancement projects that improve climate resilience. Data from the tool show that 61% of the state’s coastal wetlands may be at risk of loss because marsh elevations are not increasing quickly enough to keep pace with sea-level rise. These wetlands provide critical habitat, support biodiversity, and offer natural protection to coastal communities from storms and flooding.
The tool was developed by the New Jersey Tidal Wetland Monitoring Network, a group of more than 15 research institutions, and it is led by DEP scientists. Based on long-term monitoring data collected at sites throughout the state, the tool allows users to explore site-specific trends in marsh elevation change, sedimentation, and sea-level rise, and compare these trends to identify areas of concern. Wetlands that are not keeping pace with sea-level rise risk converting to open water or mudflats, which would mean the loss of valuable habitat and natural flood defenses.
The mapping tool is designed to work in conjunction with other DEP resources, such as the New Jersey Restoration Organization Suite (NJ ResTOrs), and includes access to a database of relevant ecological and elevation metrics. By identifying where wetlands are most vulnerable, the tool enables targeted adaptation and restoration strategies that can strengthen the resilience of New Jersey’s natural systems and communities.
