Resilient Stafford Action Plan

Stafford Township is proud to announce the completion of the Resilient Stafford Action Plan - a comprehensive framework designed to strengthen the Township’s ability to prepare for and respond to flooding, storm surge, and sea level rise. Developed through the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) Resilient NJ program, this plan evaluates current and future risks and outlines practical actions Stafford can pursue over the short-, mid-, and long-term to protect residents, infrastructure, and natural resources.

Resiliency work in Stafford is not one-size-fits-all. It includes data-driven planning, public engagement, and project development, from addressing tidal flooding in vulnerable neighborhoods like Mud City to advancing marsh restoration concepts in and around the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge.

Use the sections below to explore Stafford’s key resiliency planning efforts, view presentations, and access supporting materials.

Featured Resiliency Initiatives


1) Resilient Stafford Action Plan (December 2023)

The Action Plan serves as Stafford’s roadmap to climate resilience. It summarizes existing conditions, identifies vulnerabilities, and provides recommended resilience actions—organized around four goals:

  • Preservation of Natural Resources
  • Resilient Infrastructure Design
  • Civic Empowerment and Preparedness
  • Economic Development Initiatives

It also includes flood mapping and planning tools to help Stafford make informed decisions as climate risks increase over time.

Documents & Resources

2) Mud City Study: Climate Resilience & Ecological Enhancement (December 2023)

The Mud City Study was identified in the Action Plan and funded under NJDEP’s Resilient NJ program to provide neighborhood-scale detail for one of Stafford’s most flood-prone areas. 

The study area spans from Stafford Avenue to Mallard Island Yacht Club, with focus on persistent tidal flooding, stormwater issues, and ecological opportunities tied to surrounding marsh habitat.

It emphasizes practical, coordinated solutions—such as stormwater upgrades, backflow prevention, shoreline stabilization/living shorelines, and strategies to support homeowner protection and long-term resilience planning. 

Documents & Resources

3) Forsythe Marsh Restoration Conceptual Design (January 2026)

In 2025, Stafford received additional funding from NJDEP to help advance select projects from the Action Plan toward implementation, including conceptual design work.

This effort focuses on a portion of the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge within Stafford Township and proposes marsh restoration concepts such as thin-layer placement, mosquito ditch filling, and a marsh sill approach to improve storm surge attenuation and long-term marsh resilience.

It also includes an added component: a framework for ongoing community outreach—recognizing that resiliency projects work best when residents can follow progress and understand benefits.

Documents & Resources

How This Work Was Built: Process Overview

Stafford’s Resilient Stafford planning followed a structured, transparent process that combined technical analysis with community input:

Step 1: Understanding Stafford’s Risks & Existing Conditions

The Action Plan begins with Stafford’s coastal context and highlights how future conditions—like increased storm intensity, storm surge, and sea level rise—may affect neighborhoods, infrastructure, and natural resources

Step 2: Community & Stakeholder Engagement

Public workshops and stakeholder meetings helped identify problem areas, refine priorities, and build better projects. The Action Plan documents multiple public workshops, including an initial meeting in summer 2022, followed by additional workshops in spring 2023, and a Mud City-focused virtual meeting in September 2023.

Step 3: Vulnerability & Flood Mapping Analysis

The Action Plan includes flood mapping and a vulnerability assessment approach designed to help Stafford evaluate near-, mid-, and long-term exposure and plan accordingly.

Step 4: Recommended Actions + Moving Projects Forward

The Action Plan identifies recommended actions spanning planning, policy, and capital projects—many of which are designed to layer benefits over time (nature-based, infrastructure upgrades, preparedness, etc.). 

From there, Stafford pursued deeper, project-specific work like the Mud City Study and the Forsythe Marsh conceptual design to move priority concepts closer to implementation.

What’s Next

Resiliency planning is meant to lead to action. Stafford will continue to:

  • Pursue grant opportunities to implement priority projects,
  • Coordinate with regional/state/federal partners,
  • Share updates as projects are initiated and completed. 

Stay Connected

Questions or feedback?
Contact: Administration
Phone: 609-597-1000 ext. 8559