WASHINGTON, D.C. –  Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) applauded the passage of the Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (WRDA 2024) through the U.S. Senate. Reauthorizing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Civil Works Program to conduct studies, construct projects and research activities to improve the nation’s waterways, WRDA 2024 is vital to flood and coastal storm risk management, ecosystem restoration programs, and local sustainability and climate resiliency efforts. 

“As Senator, it is my priority to ensure federal funding reaches communities across New Jersey. With this year’s Water Resources Development Act, I’m proud to have secured additional resources for the Garden State,” said Senator Booker. “This year’s legislation includes a number of priorities for which I fought, including a $40 million authorization for the reconstruction of the Cape May Desalination Plan and the continued development of coastal storm risk management in the New York-New Jersey Harbor. These investments will yield tangible improvements to vital public infrastructure and help safeguard communities from the effects of climate change.” 

The bipartisan Water Resources Development Act of 2024 authorizes much-needed investments in projects and programs of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) across the country. This legislation continues the recent two-year cycle for Water Resources Development Acts, ensuring timely Congressional authorization of Corps studies and projects, including projects in New Jersey. It also includes key policy reforms to bolster the Army Corps’ work and better direct federal resources to increase resiliency, mitigate flooding, restore habitats, and protect vulnerable communities. 

Funding highlights include:

Reconstruction of the Cape May Desalination Plant

  1. Senator Booker secured a full $40,000,000 authorization under WRDA’s Environmental Infrastructure Program for the reconstruction of the Cape May Desalination Plant.
  2. The provision provides for environmental infrastructure upgrades, including water and wastewater infrastructure (including water supply, desalination, and facilities for withdrawal, treatment, and distribution) in Cape May, New Jersey. This will provide a funding opportunity for the ongoing efforts to replace the Cape May Desalination plant to provide critical safe drinking water to Cape May County residents.  
  3. The 25+ year old plant is nearing the end of its life cycle. Senator Booker has been advocating for years to provide funding to this project, and has secured partial funds in the past several rounds of Congressionally Directed Spending.  

New York-New Jersey Harbor and Tributaries Coastal Storm Risk Management Feasibility Study

  1. Senator Booker secured investments to advance construction of measures to manage flood risk, protect the ecosystem, and support the resilience of the New York- New Jersey Harbor.
  1. This funding will allow the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to move forward on interim steps that can be taken to reduce coastal storm risks in the near future—implementing initial features as soon as possible is critical for the region; the longer we wait to build this infrastructure, the larger the risk of serious and severe storm damage.

Increased Federal Share of Funding for critical Navigation and Harbor Deepening Efforts in Port of New York New Jersey

  1. Senator Booker advocated for and secured additional resources for the Port of New York New Jersey deepening project.
  2. The NY & NJ Harbor Deepening Channel Improvement Project will deepen the pathways to Elizabeth – Port Authority Marine Terminal and Port Jersey – Port Authority Marine Terminal by 5 feet to a maintained depth of 55 feet improving safety and efficiency at the port. The project is also expected to create approximately 88,000 full-time jobs.

Additionally, the following feasibility studies are included in the Expedited Completion of Studies section of WRDA: 

  1. Project for flood risk management, Rahway, New Jersey, authorized by section 336 of the Water Resources Development Act of 2020 (134 23 Stat. 2712)
  2. Project for coastal storm risk management, Sea Bright to Manasquan, New Jersey.
  3. Project for coastal storm risk management, Raritan Bay and Sandy Hook Bay, New Jersey.