ed Earth Day 2025 at Liberty State Park, inviting community members to celebrate the collective power of residents, organizations, and the NJ Department of Environmental Protection to drive positive change for our planet. DEP’s annual Earth Day event is meant to encourage local action and stewardship of the environment. This year, the event incorporated various art elements into Earth Day activities to involve and inform the public about environmental issues. OCR staff attended and provided guided walking tours to the MyCoast photo station to teach attendees about the MyCoast NJ application.
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The City of Lambertville in the Delaware River floodplain sits at the intersection of three watersheds. In 2021, Hurricane Ida caused massive flooding that dramatically impacted the community. They recently completed a Municipal Resilience Action Plan (MRAP) as part of the DEP Resilient NJ Municipal Assistance Program (MAP) to develop a road map for navigating climate change challenges.
This process built on significant prior efforts by the City and involved extensive community engagement. Data collection, analysis of existing conditions, and projected impacts from climate change were assessed to determine what is vulnerable. Not only do hurricanes and flooding present challenges, but extreme heat, drought, and wildfires are also identified as concerns.
Multiple critical assets in Lambertville (such as schools, grocery stores, and emergency services) are vulnerable. A buildout analysis revealed that based on the current zone plan, there could be 206 new dwelling units and up to 228,646 square feet of commercial space impacted (see inset map). The actions in the City’s MRAP are comprehensive and include strategies such as a regional focus on stormwater management and developing a “cloud burst” master plan to handle sudden heavy rain events.
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In response to heavy winter flooding in January 2024, Blue Acres partnered with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to conduct voluntary buyouts in Cranford, East Hanover, and South Plainfield. While the first round of buyouts has been underway for several months in Cranford, Blue Acres and NRCS are now beginning implementation for the second round in East Hanover and South Plainfield. With $2.5 million provided by NRCS via their Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program, Blue Acres will acquire and restore 2.8 acres of floodplain in the Rockaway and Raritan River watersheds.
A flooded East Hanover Garage in 2024. Photo courtesy of J. Hudson.
In addition to moving forward with the selected homeowners, Blue Acres plans to host community engagement meetings for neighbors of the impacted properties. Along with NRCS and local government representatives, these meetings aim to inform community members of ongoing flood mitigation efforts in their area (including voluntary buyouts) and solicit input on post-buyout land use. Including the Cranford properties, partnering with NRCS will allow Blue Acres to purchase 11 properties, safeguarding homeowners and neighbors from future flood impacts.
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On the heels of summer 2024 ranking third hottest on record, Governor Murphy has recognized the need to increase public awareness of climate-driven extreme heat in New Jersey by declaring June 2 – 6, 2025 NJ Extreme Heat Awareness Week. As extreme heat events increasingly jeopardize the citizens and resources of New Jersey, Extreme Heat Awareness Week emphasizes understanding and preparing for rising temperatures. A variety of resources to increase heat preparedness for individuals and communities have been shared throughout the week.
Understand Extreme Heat: The National Weather Service defines a heat wave as a period of 3+ consecutive days with temperatures of 90 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. Learn about extreme heat in New Jersey by visiting heathub.nj.gov and view “Has it always been this hot in NJ?”.
Know the Risks: Heat waves are the deadliest natural disaster. Learn the symptoms of heat illness and where to find cooling centers. Be aware of vulnerable populations, such as children and the elderly, who are at greater risk from heat-related illnesses.
Be Prepared: Download the heat preparedness checklist to keep yourself and your family cool and safe during heat waves. You can help keep your community safe by checking on neighbors, sharing resources like Chill Out NJ, and assisting those with special needs to pre-register for help at NJ Register Ready.
Working together, New Jerseyans can beat the heat!
With Memorial Day Weekend marking the unofficial start of the summer season, the New Jersey Interagency Council on Climate Resilience (IAC) has taken all the necessary preparations to better educate New Jerseyans about the dangers of climate-driven extreme heat, ways to prepare and keep safe, and available programs and support materials to protect heat vulnerable communities.
Heat Hub NJ—the State’s go-to online resource for all things heat-related in New Jersey—now boasts two new videos emphasizing the impacts extreme heat can have on children and the elderly (particularly those living in urban heat islands) and has a new section focusing on heat impacts to homeless populations. Please visit the website to learn about the impacts of extreme heat and how to stay informed during extreme heat emergencies.
Continuing the the IAC hosted two additional webinars in April and May focusing on heat wave preparedness and extreme heat impacts on built infrastructure, respectively. Two additional webinars focusing on heat & environmental justice and heat & the natural world are
The Cape May Point Arts and Science Center invites you to the inaugural Climate Summit taking place June 20th-22nd, 2025. This first-ever event will bring together leading climate scientists, policymakers, and community leaders to discuss climate science, coastal climate impacts, and real-world solutions to protect people and our planet. OCR's own Deputy Chief Climate Resilience Officer, Nathaly Agosto Filión, is a scheduled speaker!
This event is free and open to the public. Space is limited, so register today: https://bit.ly/registerclimatesummit.
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