Stafford Mayor develops plan to protect our back bays from future storms

Superstorm Sandy's impact has had a lingering effect in which many shore towns are still recovering from, especially in protecting the oceanfront from future storms. Stafford Mayor John Spodofora may have the solution in the works to help.

Mayor Spodofora has a viable solution to the issues surrounding back bay flooding by adding 'geo-tubes' which would create man made berms.

He says the purpose it will serve if completed is a vital part of our economy and future storm protection.

"We have to build something to reduce the impact of waves," said Spodofora. "Pumping the material out of the lagoons, which has no adverse impact on the bay bottom, and putting in a wall of geo-tubes will help us mitigate wave damage."

He says a plan to have funding for this kind of project would be applying for a varying portion of grants.

His solution to boost back bay flooding from being destroyed from future storms is obtaining nearly $20-million dollars in funding for the geo-tubes to build berms.

It's important, he adds, to be more proactive in protection of the oceanfront and bay for future storms at the shore.

"The damage is done, we can't go backwards, we need to move forward and say 'what can we do now to fix the mistakes we made in the past?'," said Spodofora.

His solution to increase berms across the back bays is a vital solution he says.

"I'm a firm believer that if we can build some of these berms, still the water, build a siltation backup, get the water out of the lagoons so we have better flushing action and use those berms to create habitat for the nesting birds and such, we can accomplish a number of things at the same time," said Spodofora.

He says it would also help clean out the lagoons.

Spodofora says he has growing support for this project including from Barnegat Bay Partnership Director Stan Hales.

"He's actually obtained some grant money to move forward with some studies I'm trying to do," said Spodofora.

He continues to seek funding in other areas as well.

"The funding I believe is available through various grants," said Spodofora. "Sandy mitigation grants are out there and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers also has a number of grants for doing these type of projects."

He adds there's also growing support from legislators and environmental groups on this plan as well.

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