The projects will cost nearly $298 million and are designed to protect some of the region's most vulnerable communities. Both projects were formulated by the group Rebuild By Design, which was initiated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in 2013, and New Jersey environmental officials. It calls for building 9,000 linear feet (about 1.7 miles or 2.7 kilometers) of flood walls, installation of flood gates and construction of berms and levees. They include planting more grass, trees and vegetation in urban areas to absorb rainfall and allow less runoff to flood streets and storm sewers. And as big as they are, the two projects starting Wednesday pale in comparison to huge flood control efforts being contemplated by the federal government.

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