New Jersey’s flood mapping system was more than 20 years out of date, so the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has adopted new rules to account for current and future levels of precipitation in New Jersey.
“As New Jersey’s residents face threats from the devastating impacts of extreme rainfall events, which are expected to continue to intensify in their frequency and severity, DEP must continue to protect public safety,” the agency said in introducing its updated Inland Flood Protection Rule in June.
In adopting the rule, the DEP acknowledged that:
• It was previously relying on rainfall and flood information from 1999 or earlier.
• Previous DEP rules did not account for precipitation increases anticipated from climate change.
“The rules ensure the use of current precipitation data and reliable climate science to aid New Jersey communities in better preparing to confront climate change–induced increases in the intensity of precipitation events and the resulting effects of additional stormwater runoff on stormwater management systems and flood elevations in fluvial [non-tidal] areas,” the DEP said.
The updated standards will require buildings be located a few feet higher in elevation in some areas, among other things.
Resource
https://dep.nj.gov/wp-content/uploads/rules/adoptions/adopt-20230717a.pdf