Battered by Sandy, New Jersey plans against sea level rise

MANTOLOKING, N.J. (AP) -- New Jersey is working on a plan to better protect its coast and inland waterways from the effects of sea level rise and severe storms.

The state Department of Environmental Protection says it will seek input from residents, businesses and coastal sciences over the next year. The resulting plan will become a blueprint for protecting lives and property by guiding state policies, regulations, resources and funding with sea level rise in mind.

It comes as pockets of the shoreline still have not fully recovered from Superstorm Sandy six years ago.

The plan includes grants of up to $200,000 each for four regional planning teams to identify and implement solutions to coastal and river flooding in Jersey City, Middlesex County, Long Beach Island, and the Atlantic City area.