New Jersey Shore Protection, Cape May Inlet to Lower Township

Cape May Coastal Storm Risk Management

USACE Philadelphia District
Published Feb. 7, 2024
In 2017, USACE completed periodic nourishment of the Cape May to Lower Township project (Photo from February of 2017).

In 2017, USACE completed periodic nourishment of the Cape May to Lower Township project (Photo from February of 2017).

Wilmington Avenue Before and After - initial construction of an elevated 25 to 180-foot wide berm was completed in 1991 as part of the Cape May to Lower Township project. Cape May City beaches were often in a severely eroded state prior to the initial construction and periodic nourishments in subsequent years.

Wilmington Avenue Before and After - initial construction of an elevated 25 to 180-foot wide berm was completed in 1991 as part of the Cape May to Lower Township project. Cape May City beaches were often in a severely eroded state prior to the initial construction and periodic nourishments in subsequent years.

Gurney Avenue Before and After - initial construction of an elevated 25 to 180-foot wide berm was completed in 1991 as part of the Cape May to Lower Township project. Cape May City beaches were often in a severely eroded state prior to the initial construction and periodic nourishments in subsequent years.

Gurney Avenue Before and After - initial construction of an elevated 25 to 180-foot wide berm was completed in 1991 as part of the Cape May to Lower Township project. Cape May City beaches were often in a severely eroded state prior to the initial construction and periodic nourishments in subsequent years.

Before & After at Baltimore Avenue - USACE completed initial construction of an elevated 25 to 180-foot wide berm at Cape May in 1991. Cape May City beaches were in a severely eroded state prior to the initial construction and subsequent periodic nourishments.

Before & After at Baltimore Avenue - USACE completed initial construction of an elevated 25 to 180-foot wide berm at Cape May in 1991. Cape May City beaches were in a severely eroded state prior to the initial construction and subsequent periodic nourishments.

Construction equipment pushes sand into an engineered beach template as part of the 2017 periodic nourishment of the Cape May to Lower Township project.

Construction equipment pushes sand into an engineered beach template as part of the 2017 periodic nourishment of the Cape May to Lower Township project.

In 2017, USACE completed periodic nourishment of the Cape May Inlet to Lower Township project (Photo from May of 2017).

In 2017, USACE completed periodic nourishment of the Cape May Inlet to Lower Township project (Photo from May of 2017).

In 2017, USACE completed periodic nourishment of the Cape May to Lower Township project (During Construction Photo from January of 2017).

In 2017, USACE completed periodic nourishment of the Cape May to Lower Township project (During Construction Photo from January of 2017).

In 2017, USACE completed periodic nourishment of the Cape May to Lower Township project (Photo from February of 2017).

In 2017, USACE completed periodic nourishment of the Cape May to Lower Township project (Photo from February of 2017).

In 2017, USACE completed periodic nourishment of the Cape May to Lower Township project (Photo from February of 2017).

In 2017, USACE completed periodic nourishment of the Cape May to Lower Township project (Photo from February of 2017).

In 2017, USACE completed periodic nourishment of the Cape May to Lower Township project (photo from February of 2017).
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In 2017, USACE completed periodic nourishment of the Cape May to Lower Township project (photo from February of 2017).

In 2017, USACE completed periodic nourishment of the Cape May to Lower Township project. Before and after photos of an area on U.S. Coast Guard property shows significant erosion prior to sand placement.
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In 2017, USACE completed periodic nourishment of the Cape May to Lower Township project. Before and after photos of an area on U.S. Coast Guard property shows significant erosion prior to sand placement.

In 2013, USACE completed periodic nourishment of the Cape May to Lower Township project. Sand is pumped through a basket on the beach as part of a screening system.
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In 2013, USACE completed periodic nourishment of the Cape May to Lower Township project. Sand is pumped through a basket on the beach as part of a screening system.

In 2007, USACE completed periodic nourishment of the Cape May Inlet to Lower Township project. The hopper dredge Atchafalaya, owned by Cashman Dredging, can be seen in Cold Spring Inlet.
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In 2007, USACE completed periodic nourishment of the Cape May Inlet to Lower Township project. The hopper dredge Atchafalaya, owned by Cashman Dredging, can be seen in Cold Spring Inlet.

In 2011-2012, USACE completed a periodic nourishment of the Cape May Inlet to Lower Township project (Photo from November of 2011).
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In 2011-2012, USACE completed a periodic nourishment of the Cape May Inlet to Lower Township project (Photo from November of 2011).

The hydraulic cutterhead dredge Texas, owned and operated by Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company, dredges off of Cape May as part of a periodic nourishment of the Cape May to Lower Township project in January of 2012.
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The hydraulic cutterhead dredge Texas, owned and operated by Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company, dredges off of Cape May as part of a periodic nourishment of the Cape May to Lower Township project in January of 2012.

Before and After U.S. Coast Guard Property 2011 and 2012 - USACE completed a periodic nourishment of the Cape May to Lower Township project in 2011-2012. The graphic shows the severely eroded condition prior to nourishment along a section of beach on U.S. Coast Guard Training Center property.
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Before and After U.S. Coast Guard Property 2011 and 2012 - USACE completed a periodic nourishment of the Cape May to Lower Township project in 2011-2012. The graphic shows the severely eroded condition prior to nourishment along a section of beach on U.S. Coast Guard Training Center property.

The Cape May Inlet to Lower Township project is located on the Atlantic coast of New Jersey, extending from the southwest jetty of Cape May Inlet to 3rd Ave. in Cape May City.  It includes the communities of the City of Cape May and Lower Township, and the US Coast Guard Training Center, all located in Cape May County.
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The Cape May Inlet to Lower Township project is located on the Atlantic coast of New Jersey, extending from the southwest jetty of Cape May Inlet to 3rd Ave. in Cape May City. It includes the communities of the City of Cape May and Lower Township, and the US Coast Guard Training Center, all located in Cape May County.

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS: NJ-2

APPROPRIATION / PHASE: Construction, General (Continuing Construction, Periodic Nourishment)

BUSINESS PROGRAM: Flood and Coastal Storm Damage Reduction (with Mitigation of  Federal Navigation Project)

AUTHORITY:  Rivers and Harbor Act of 1907 (PL 168,) and the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 (PL 99-662).

LOCATION:  The project is located on the Atlantic coast of New Jersey, extending from the southwest jetty of Cape May Inlet to 3rd Ave. in Cape May City.  It includes the communities of the City of Cape May and Lower Township, and the US Coast Guard Training Center, all located in Cape May County.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The project provides flood and coastal storm damage reduction to the above-mentioned communities and USCG Training Center. The project consists of initial beachfill (25 to 180-foot wide berm at elevation +8 feet NGVD) with periodic nourishment on a 2-year cycle, extension of 17 storm water outfalls, reconstruction of  7 groins and construction of two new groins, and a shoreline monitoring program for the project area. Construction of a 2,560-foot rubble mound weir-breakwater is deferred pending demonstration of need.

PROJECT GOALS: The purpose of this project provides hurricane and coastal storm damage reduction to the communities and USCG Training center.

PROJECT STATUS:  The project was initially constructed in the early 1990s and has been periodically nourished numerous times since. The most recent periodic nourishment was completed in January 2024. 

SPONSOR: New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection

DATE OF PROJECT PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT: July 1991

TARGET COMPLETION DATE: Ongoing construction through 2039

PROJECT MANAGER: Carmen Zappile