Adaptation-based Recommendations for Sea Level Rise in the NJ Meadowlands

*My full results & methods: doi.org/10.31223/X5RD8D

We can no longer overlook the looming threat that our coastal wetlands will be submerged within the coming decades. By the end of this century, over 90% of the world's salt marshes are likely to be underwater. As the sea encroaches, plant life will suffocate, and ecosystems will collapse. These wetlands serve as nature's frontline defense against environmental threats, yet we are standing by as they are progressively cornered and drowned by the impacts of climate change.

Just three miles from New York City lie the New Jersey Meadowlands, one of the Northeast's largest contiguous open spaces. As a New Jersey resident living near the Meadowlands, I feel a deep connection to this land. In conducting a study on the socioeconomic effects of sea level rise, the importance of protecting salt marshes became increasingly clear.

According to existing literature, sea level rise in the Meadowlands will likely reach 2 feet by 2100. If no preparation or changes are made before this happens, the transportation systems and infrastructure in the region will be devastated. The existing trend is difficult to change in the near future. Mitigation is a possibility, but even if we stop all greenhouse gas emissions today, the global sea level will continue to rise over the next few centuries. 

Through multi-stepped modeling on QGIS using the most recent and complete elevation, land use, and parcel data of the Meadowlands region, my research concluded that projected at-risk real estate ranges between $1.7 – 4.3 billion between the years 2050 and 2130 if changes are not made to accommodate. Many properties would be partially inundated or be at significant risk of flooding throughout the year. 

To prevent this, the Meadowlands region needs to strengthen the stormwater infrastructure that is vulnerable to changes in storm surge intensity. Updating building codes to account for higher water levels, education on flood preparedness, and land use planning will help keep the Meadowlands resilient. Transportation such as railroad tracks, roads, and local airports need to be reevaluated based on their flooding risk. The local ecosystem and biodiversity are at risk of disappearing; therefore, facilitating marsh migration, research, managing coastal development, etc., is vital for maintaining ecosystem health and services. 

In 2022, the Meadowlands Conservation Trust was allocated $1.5 million from the state budget, according to their annual report. I urge the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee to prioritize funding for marsh protection efforts. The Meadowlands should stand as a model for how salt marshes can be preserved globally. This requires facilitating their migration to higher ground and considering direct interventions such as sediment augmentation. Continued support for conservation organizations and restricting further development that stresses these ecosystems is essential. 

Sea level rise is an urgent issue–the effects of natural disasters such as Superstorm Sandy can be magnified significantly. My research shows current projections, which may change depending on climate progress in the next few decades. Nonetheless, they paint a fairly accurate picture of the world ahead. Due to the urgency of this issue, a white paper on the implications of my research and my knowledge from discussions with researchers, including those I met at the American Geophysical Union Conference, will be shared with decision-making bureaus to inform policy decisions. 

We cannot allow history to repeat itself. The scars of the Meadowlands—garbage dumping, winding roads, and intrusive infrastructure—are evident amid the remaining greenery. Witnessing such degradation is distressing and underscores the urgency of reducing emissions to mitigate the destruction of these vital ecosystems.

The time to act is now—for our wetlands, for our communities, and for future generations.