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Scientists from Rutgers University recently explored the options available to respond to expected sea-level rise. As reported in the Asbury Park Press (May 15, 2007) they stressed the vulnerability of the Jersey shore, and the need to build natural defenses, not walls, against the rising seas.

"About 30 percent of New Jersey's bayshore can't retreat naturally before rising waters without running into manmade barriers such as roads or buildings, said Michael Kennish, a Rutgers research professor.

'There's going to be an increase in sea level that will topple over into the bays,' and soon begin to outrace the marshlands' natural buildup of organic material that keeps them above water, Kennish said. Along the Delaware Bay shore, some marshes are already retreating at a rate of 2 to 3 meters (6 to 9 feet) a year, he said.

Erosion is slower along Barnegat Bay, but population growth there means less space for retreat in northern Ocean County, Kennish said. In southern Ocean, the woods and wetlands of the Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge will offer some buffer between towns and a slowly migrating bay, he said.

Ultimately, what happens to the Jersey Shore is just a skirmish before the bigger fight, Pilkey said.

'In a generation or two, we are going to be worrying more about Manhattan and Miami and Charleston than we will about Sea Bright and Monmouth Beach,' he said. 'My fear is beach nourishment will become less of a public priority than building seawalls (to protect cities). I'd look at nourished beaches as a way to buy time.'"

You can read the whole article here:
Scientists: Sea level may rise more than expected

See also the Report from CRSSA at Rutgers University:Vulnerability of New Jersey's Coastal Habitats to Sea Level Rise
Overview:
"Sea level rise is a well documented physical reality that is impacting New Jersey’s coastline. The recent historical levels of sea level rise along the New Jersey coast is generally thought to be about 3-4 mm/yr, while predicted future rates are expected to increase to 6 mm/yr (Cooper et al., 2005; Psuty and Ofiara, 2002). The hazards posed by sea level rise and severe coastal storms has instigated a number of studies examining the issue here in New Jersey as well as elsewhere in the Mid-Atlantic region (Cooper et al., 2005; Psuty and Ofiara, 2002; Gornitz et al., 2002; Rosenwieg and Solecki, 2001; Field et al., 2000; Najjar et al., 2000). The developed nature of New Jersey’s coastline makes it vulnerable to flooding and inundation and cause for concern by both government officials and the public alike.

In this report, we revisit the issue of sea level rise and its potential impact to New Jerseys’ coastal development and ecosystems. Increasingly it is being recognized that engineered shoreline stabilization (sometimes labeled “hard” approaches) is expensive and ultimately only a short term solution. Instead, flexible adaptation strategies (sometimes labeled “soft” approaches) that recognize and plan for the dynamic nature of our coastlines are being promoted (Psuty and Ofiara, 2002; Field, 2000). In this light, we undertook a geographic information system-based approach to identify vulnerable development and where this development is constricting the natural dynamics of coastline migration. This study was part of a broader assessment of New Jersey’s coastal environmental resources conducted by the Walton Center for Remote Sensing & Spatial Analysis (CRSSA) of Rutgers University and the American Littoral Society. The objective of the New Jersey Coastal Assessment was to compile and synthesize a diversity of mapped information to provide a fuller picture of New Jersey’s coastal resources and habitats to assist in land and conservation planning. "