Politics & Government

At Last a Date for South End Sand: March 2014

The state announces the Army Corps of Engineers schedule for beach replenishment.

Ocean City Mayor Jay Gillian announced Thursday evening that the Army Corps of Engineers has set a firm date for a project to rebuild beaches and dunes at the severely eroded south end of Ocean City. The project will go out to bid in December 2013 and start in March 2014.

Ocean City learned of the news in a letter from New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Army Corps of Engineers Brigadier General Kent Savre.

The confirmation of a start date has been long-awaited by property owners on the south end of Ocean City who saw their beach disappear at high tides even before Superstorm Sandy struck in October 2012. The record storm surge of Sandy flattened dunes at the south end and pushed much of the beach onto streets and properties.

Find out what's happening in Ocean Citywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The securing of a federal Army Corps of Engineers project has been seen as a best-case scenario. The federal government will pick up the full cost of the initial project, which will include Strathmere (Upper Township) and Sea Isle City. The cost of the Ocean City portion alone had been estimated at $20 million. The project area would then be part of a three-year maintenance cycle with the Army Corps of Engineers returning to restore the beaches to the initial project dimensions.

The federal government pays for 65 percent of the program, while the state Department of Environmental Protection picks up the other 35 percent. Of the state's portion, Ocean City is required to contribute 25 percent. That leaves Ocean City responsible for only 8.75 percent of the total cost for subsequent projects.

Find out what's happening in Ocean Citywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

In a related update, Ocean City Business Administrator Mike Dattilo said City Solicitor Dorothy McCrosson now needs only 18 easements to complete pre-project requirements to secure rights from beachfront property owners. He said she expects to pick up another handful in the coming days.

The Christie Administration on Thursday announced the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers schedule for beach and dune construction projects across 44 miles of New Jersey coastline.

“Superstorm Sandy proved that beaches and dunes built to Army Corps’ design and construction standards did their job — they protected lives and property,” Christie said in a news release. “These new projects will fill in the critical gaps, providing protection to areas that were vulnerable when Sandy hit.” 

“Governor Christie and I are grateful to the Army Corps for working closely with the State to move these projects forward on an accelerated schedule,” said Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Bob Martin. “It is vital to begin these projects as quickly as possible.”

Noting that schedules depend on many preparatory and regulatory steps, the state released the following schedule:

  • Port Monmouth portion of Raritan Bay and Sandy Hook Bay project area
    • Project agreement: November 2013
    • Projected construction start: March 2014
  • Southern Ocean City, Upper Township, and Sea Isle City portions of the Great Egg Harbor Inlet to Townsends Inlet project area
    • Project agreement: December 2013
    • Projected construction start: March 2014
  • Longport and Margate portions of Absecon Island within the Brigantine Inlet to Cape May Inlet project area
    • Project agreement: January 2014
    • Projected construction start: April 2014
  • Beach Haven, Long Beach Township and Ship Bottom on the Long Beach Island portion of the Little Egg Inlet project area
    • Project agreement: January 2014
    • Projected construction start: April 2014
  • Bay Head, Berkeley, Brick, Lavallette, Mantoloking, Point Pleasant Beach, Toms River, Seaside Heights and Seaside Park within the Manasquan Inlet to Barnegat Inlet project area
    • Project agreement: March 2014
    • Projected construction start: June 2014
  • Allenhurst, Deal, Loch Arbour and the Elberon section of Long Branch within the Sandy Hook to Barnegat Inlet Section I project area
    • Project agreement: May 2014
    • Projected construction start: August 2014
  • The Union Beach section of the Raritan Bay and Sandy Hook Bay project area
    • Project agreement: October 2014
    • Projected construction start: February 2015

Projects in these areas were previously designed and authorized but not constructed due to a need to secure funding, a lack of easements, or both. Congress has appropriated $1 billion for these and additional flood protection projects for New Jersey as part of the comprehensive Hurricane Sandy Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2013. 

Governor Christie has taken aggressive action to secure outstanding easements required for all of the projects, signing an Executive Order under the authority of the state’s Disaster Control Act that authorizes the state to secure remaining easements, not provided voluntarily, through eminent domain.

“These holdouts should by now realize there is no windfall waiting for them,” Christie said. “After Sandy, there can be no justifiable argument for anyone to avoid doing what is right. Now is the time for all remaining beachfront property owners to step up and do the right thing for their neighbors, for their communities, and, for their own protection.”

In July, the New Jersey Supreme Court overturned a lower court ruling that awarded a Harvey Cedars couple $375,000 for an easement that was taken by eminent domain. Following the Supreme Court ruling, the couple, who had argued the dune would block their ocean view, conveyed an easement to the borough allowing construction of an elevation 22-foot dune – in return for $1. 

Beyond the coastline, the Army Corps is conducting a comprehensive study to evaluate flood-prone regions in New Jersey. The Christie Administration last month announced a collaboration of six New Jersey colleges and universities to develop flood mitigation strategies for areas of the state that were heavily impacted by Superstorm Sandy and may be vulnerable to future flooding.  It is expected that the analyses will help inform the Army Corps comprehensive study, among other things.

For information on the university studies, visit: http://www.nj.gov/dep/newsrel/2013/13_0091.htm 

For a map of upcoming Army Corps project areas, visit: http://www.nj.gov/dep/docs/nj-fed-coastal.pdf

For Sandy project information from the Army Corps of Engineers, visit the New York District’s Sandy website atwww.nan.usace.army.mil/sandy and the Philadelphia District’s website at:http://www.nap.usace.army.mil/About/HurricaneSandy.aspx


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