Twenty-seven current beach replenishment and storm damage reduction projects are in progress, or scheduled to start this year, in New Jersey, according to the state Department of Environmental Protection. Many of the projects include replenishment and nourishment by adding tons of sand.
$26 million dollar project in Monmouth County
Four of the 27 are in Monmouth County. They include Sea Bright and Monmouth Beach; Monmouth Beach to Northern Long Branch; Long Branch to Loch Arbour; Asbury Park to Manasquan Inlet.
The four projects, collectively known as Sea Bright to Manasquan, covers 21 miles of state shoreline and is the largest beach nourishment project ever undertaken by the Corps of Engineers, a federal website connected to the project said. It is also the largest beachfill project, in terms of volume, in the world, according to the website.
The project provides beach erosion control with 100-foot-wide beach berms.
The most recent work for the project in Deal, Allenhurst and Loch Arbour was completed in March 2022 with 912,000 cubic yards of material. The cycle began in December 2022 in Elberon and is scheduled for completion this month, according to the Corps of Engineers’ website.
The federal government pays for 65% of the work and state and local governments pick up the remainder. State funds for this work have been set at $25 million for years but a recent push officials may seek to double the funding. All of the federally-funded work is done by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers.
Multiple projects in Cape May County
Eleven of the projects are located in Cape May County.
The towns include Avalon, Cape May City, Cape May Point, Lower Township, Middle Township, Ocean City, Strathmere, Sea Isle City, Stone Harbor, North Wildwood, Wildwood, Wildwood Crest. The work also includes flood and storm damage reduction, and ecosystem restoration.
But North Wildwood is not satisfied with the pace and scope of the work and has launched some projects of its own, including a steel bulkhead. The state sued the city in an attempt to stop the work and levied $12.8 million in fines for past unauthorized beach replenishment work and pier renovations.
The city countersued the state to recoup $21 million in beach replenishment costs as part of ongoing litigation.
“The area of the beach that has been susceptible to erosion recently … have lost a tremendous amount of sand volume this winter,” North Wildwood Mayor Patrick Rosenello stated this week. “Were it not for the steel bulkhead the City installed … the destruction to public and private property would have been catastrophic at this point.”
State DEP spokesman Larry Hajna declined to comment about North Wildwood on Tuesday, citing pending litigation.
Beach projects continue in these 5 counties
Other beach nourishment and coastal storm projects around the state include work in Atlantic, Cumberland, Monmouth, Ocean and Salem counties.
Atlantic County projects include work in Absecon Island and Brigantine Island.
Work areas in Cumberland include Downe. Monmouth includes Raritan Bay and Sandy Hook Bay, and the Sandy Hook to Barnegat Inlet projects.
In Ocean County, the work area includes Manasquan Inlet to Barnegat Inlet, and Barnegat Inlet to Little Egg Inlet.
Work in Salem County Elsinboro is focused on Oakwood Beach.
Bill Duhart may be reached at bduhart@njadvancemedia.com.
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