New Jersey will receive $161.5 million in federal funding during 2011 for beach replenishment, flood mitigation and harbor maintenance projects. The appropriations were included in the fiscal year 2011 budget continuing resolution, which Congress passed in April. The Army Corps of Engineers will administer the funding.

For beach replenishment, $7.5 million will go to Monmouth Beach; $7.6 million will go to Long Beach Island; $11.9 million will go to Atlantic City and Ventnor; $10.3 million will go to Cape May and Lower Township; and $300,000 will go to the Long-Term Beach Nourishment Study to evaluate methods to manage New Jersey’s coastal projects on a regional basis in order to increase the benefits from federal investments.

An additional $73 million will go toward continued deepening of the New York and New Jersey Harbor in order to ensure that large cargo ships will be able to pass through the port.

For flood mitigation and water infrastructure projects, $566,000 will go to operating a flood monitoring and flood response system in the Passaic River Basin; $129,000 will go to planning flood damage initiatives; $1 million will go to begin flood mitigation construction at the Raritan River Basin and the Green Brook Sub-Basin in Middlesex Borough; $250,000 will go to preparing for flood mitigation construction at the Raritan River Basin; and $350,000 will go toward creating a flood reduction plan at Rahway River Basin.

An additional $1 million will go to the Hudson-Raritan Estuary project, which will help develop a comprehensive ecosystem restoration and management plan for the New York and New Jersey Harbor.

“This federal funding will boost New Jersey’s economy, help prevent flooding in our communities and protect our beaches,” said U.S. Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D) in a statement.

Lautenberg fought proposed budget cuts for the Army Corps of Engineers; he worked in the Senate to provide $84 million more than was original proposed for these projects.