The Army Corps plans to begin a targeted shoreline-stabilization project in Delran in spring 2027, reinforcing an eroding stretch of Rancocas Creek bank from North Chester Avenue north to the township’s sewer plant. The work is about a quarter mile from where the creek empties into the Delaware River and is intended to protect public infrastructure, according to South Jersey Media.
Army Corps representatives laid out the plan at a town meeting at the Delran Municipal Complex, according to South Jersey Media, which first reported on the project. The agency has also released a draft report and environmental assessment for what it calls the Delran Township Emergency Shoreline Protection Project, and is now accepting public comments on the proposal, the outlet reported. The proposal is known as the Delran Township Emergency Shoreline Protection Project.
The project is intended to slow shoreline erosion and protect the Delran Sewerage Authority wastewater treatment plant.
A Targeted Fix After Years of Advocacy
Delran officials have sought federal help for this stretch of shoreline for years, following storm damage dating back to Superstorm Sandy. Riverside Park has also faced heavy flooding after major storms, according to South Jersey Media.
At the meeting, Mayor Barnes Hutchins described the shoreline work as a sign of federal investment following the township’s advocacy, according to South Jersey Media’s account. Hutchins said the project would protect public infrastructure, including the area around the wastewater treatment plant. He also said Delran would continue seeking support for its broader flooding problems, which involve the township, Burlington County and other federal agencies.
January's Storm Still Looms Large for Riverside Park
The project comes amid continuing concern about flooding in Riverside Park. During the storm of Jan. 9 and 10, 2024, floodwaters inundated the neighborhood from River Drive inward more than three blocks, destroyed four homes and forced residents to evacuate, according to South Jersey Media. The storm affected about 50 homes across Delran and prompted emergency crews to rescue 17 residents — 10 adults and seven children — and nine dogs from rising water, CBS News reported CBS News.
Jodi Klein, who had lived at 71 Alden Ave. for 25 years, said she was displaced indefinitely after the storm, according to South Jersey Media. The Army Corps proposal addresses shoreline erosion near public infrastructure; it is not a broad solution to the flooding that has reached Riverside Park homes.
Stormwater Drainage Is a Separate Flooding Challenge
Delran Township’s presentation distinguishes stormwater drainage problems from streambank erosion, noting that high-tide water levels can rise above outfalls and prevent stormwater from draining into the river. Burlington County’s 2019 hazard mitigation plan separately listed pump stations and system improvements as a potential mitigation initiative. Those drainage measures address a different problem from the Army Corps’ shoreline work, according to Delran Township and the Burlington County hazard mitigation plan.
Local Funding and Other Infrastructure Needs
Delran is also contributing local funding. South Jersey Media reported that a township drainage and stormwater bond ordinance valued at $387,550 included $132,550 for permanent stabilization of the Rancocas Creek streambank South Jersey Media.
The township has faced other infrastructure pressures as well. In April 2025, it awarded a $1.96 million emergency contract for sewer repairs along Leon Avenue, according to Citizen Portal.
Planned Shoreline Protections
The planned spring 2027 construction will use gabion baskets, rock revetments, riprap and sheet pile bulkheads to stabilize the streambank, according to South Jersey Media. The work is designed to protect stormwater infrastructure along River Drive and limit further erosion near the township’s sewer plant.
Mayor Hutchins has encouraged residents to take part while the Army Corps accepts comments on its draft proposal.
