US Army Corps of Engineers
Philadelphia District & Marine Design Center Website

Project Photos

Hurricane Sandy breached the Barnegat Peninsula in October of 2012. In 2018, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed the dune and berm system in the same location. Work is designed to reduce the risk of damages from future coastal storms.
The Shallow Draft Dredge MURDEN clears shoaling from Barnegat Inlet, N.J. in April of 2014. The vessel was designed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Marine Design Center in Philadelphia and is based out of Wilmington, N.C. Barnegat Inlet requires dredging to provide reliable maritime navigation for the U.S. Coast Guard and a large fishing fleet consisting of full-time commercial, charter and recreational vessels.
In 2017, USACE completed periodic nourishment of the Cape May to Lower Township project (Photo from February of 2017).
Long Beach Island Coastal Restoration
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.
Long Beach Island Coastal Restoration
Long Beach Island Coastal Restoration
Long Beach Island Coastal Restoration
Long Beach Island Coastal Restoration
Absecon Island Coastal Storm Damage Reduction
Brant Beach Sand
Aerial LBT
Coastal Storm Damage Reduction
Coastal Storm Damage Reduction
Pipe
Aerial LBT
Bulldozer

Coastal Storm Risk Management Program

The New Jersey Atlantic Ocean coastline extends from Sandy Hook to Cape May, New Jersey, covering a range of approximately 130 miles.  The New Jersey coastline from Manasquan Inlet south to Cape May Point lies within the boundaries of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Philadelphia District while from Manasquan Inlet north is under the jurisdiction of the New York District. 

Ten federally authorized coastal storm risk management projects have been constructed along the Philadelphia District’s New Jersey coastline (including Oakwood Beach located along the Delaware Bay coastline). The Philadelphia District oversees the entire coastline in the state of Delaware as well. The District has constructed six coastal storm risk management projects along the coastline of Delaware (including Broadkill Beach on the Delaware Bay coastline). These projects typically involve the construction of dune and berm systems and are designed and built to reduce the risk of storm damages to infrastructure. New Jersey and Delaware projects and their respective statuses are listed below. 

Project Details

New Jersey Projects

Design Details

Length

Construction Status

Nourishment Interval

Manasquan Inlet to Barnegat Inlet (includes municipalities of Point Pleasant Beach; Bay Head; Mantoloking; Brick Township; Toms River Township; Lavallette; Seaside Heights; Seaside Park; and Berkeley Township)

Main section – dune built to elevation +22 feet with 75 foot berm;

northern Point Pleasant Beach, Seaside Heights – dune built to elevation +18 feet with 100 foot berm

14 miles

Initial construction sand placement completed in the summer of 2019

4 years pending funding (Fiscal Year 2022)

Barnegat Inlet to Little Egg Inlet (Long Beach Island, NJ)

Dune built to elevation +22 feet with 125 foot berm

15 miles

Initial construction completed in 2016; repair/renourishment completed in 2018

7 years pending funding (Fiscal Year 2022)

Brigantine Island

Dune built to elevation +10 feet with 100 foot berm

1.8 miles

Initial construction completed in 2006; repair/nourishment completed in Spring of 2018

6 years pending funding (Fiscal Year 2023)

Absecon Island (includes municipalities of Atlantic City, Ventnor, Margate, and Longport) (also includes Absecon Inlet Seawall)

Atlantic City - dune built to elevation + 14.75 feet with 100 foot berm

Ventnor, Margate, Longport – dune built to elevation 12.75 feet with 200 foot berm

8.1 miles

Initial beachfill construction completed in 2004 in Atlantic City and Ventnor; initial construction (includes Margate drainage system) completed in Margate and Longport in Spring 2019. Absecon Inlet seawall completed in Spring 2018. Periodic nourishment scheduled for fall/winter 2020.

3 years pending funding (Fiscal Year 2020)

Great Egg Harbor Inlet to Peck Beach (Ocean City N. of 34th St.)

100 foot berm

4.5 miles

Initial construction completed in 1992; Periodic nourishment completed in summer 2020 (Combined contract with Great Egg Harbor Inlet to Townsends Inlet project).

3 years pending funding (Fiscal Year 2022)

Great Egg Harbor Inlet to Townsends Inlet  (Ocean City S. of 34th St, Strathmere, Sea Isle City)

Ocean City – dune built to elevation +12.8 feet with 100 foot berm

Sea Isle, Strathmere - Dune built to elevation +14.8 feet with 50 foot berm

2.6 miles

Initial construction completed in 2016; periodic nourishment completed in summer 2020 (Combined contract with Great Egg Harbor Inlet to Peck Beach)

3 years pending funding (Fiscal Year 2022)

Townsends Inlet to Cape May Inlet (Avalon & Stone Harbor; also includes seawall construction)

Dune built to elevation +14.75 feet with 150 foot berm

4.3 miles of beachfill; 2.2 miles of seawall)

Beachfill initial construction completed in 2002; seawalls completed in 2009; periodic nourishment completed in fall 2019; Hereford Inlet seawall repairs ongoing

3 years pending funding (Fiscal Year 2021 - moves from FY 2022 due to Stone Harbor)

Hereford Inlet to Cape May Inlet (Wildwoods)

Dune built to elevation +16 feet with 75 foot berm

4.5 miles

Project is currently in the design phase. Awaiting real estate acquisition schedule from the sponsor. It is anticipated that construction will begin in 2021; however, this could be subject to change, 

4 years pending funding 

Cape May Inlet to Lower Township (Cape May City)

25-180 foot berm

3.5 miles

Initial construction completed in 1991; periodic nourishment completed in Sept. 2019. 

2 years pending funding (Fiscal Year 2021)

Lower Cape May Meadows – Cape May Point

Dune built to elevation + 16.7 feet with 20 + foot berm

2.5 miles

Initial construction completed in 2007; periodic nourishment scheduled for fall/winter of 2020. 

4 years pending funding (Fiscal Year 2020)

Oakwood Beach (Salem County, NJ)

50 foot berm

1.8 miles

Initial construction completed in 2015

8 years pending funding (Fiscal Year 2021)

Delaware Projects

Design Details

Length

Construction Status

Nourishment Interval

Broadkill Beach 

Design includes 100 foot berm backed by a dune at elevation +16 feet. 

2.7 miles

Initial construction completed in 2016

5 years pending funding and executed Project Partnership Agreement (Fiscal Year 2021)

Lewes-Roosevelt Inlet

Design includes a 100-foot berm backed by a dune at elevation +14

1400 feet at north/east end of Lewes

Initial construction completed in 2004. Periodic nourishment completed in 2017. 

6 years pending funding (Fiscal Year 2023)

Rehoboth & Dewey

Design includes 150-foot berm back by a dune at elevation +13.2 feet. 

2.5 miles

Initial construction completed in 2006. Periodic nourishment completed in fall of 2019.

3 years pending funding (Fiscal Year 2022)

Indian River Inlet Sand Bypass Operation  Provides for  operation of the plant for periodic nourishment of a feeder beach.   .66 miles The plant has the capacity to bypass approximately 100,000 cubic yards of sand per year.  N/A

Bethany & South Bethany

Design includes 150-foot berm back by a dune at elevation +16 feet.

2 miles

Initial construction completed in 2008. Periodic nourishment scheduled for fall 2020. 

3 years pending funding (Fiscal Year 2020)

Fenwick Island

Design includes 200-foot berm back by a dune at elevation +17.7 feet

1.2 miles

Initial construction completed in 2005; periodic nourishment completed in the summer of 2018

4 years pending funding (Fiscal Year 2021)

 Port Mahon  Beachfill and ecosystem restoration  1.4 miles  Project was authorized by Congress in 1999, but has not been constructed  7 years pending funding (TBD)

Dune System Animation During Potential Storm Event

Latest News

Army Corps awards contract for periodic nourishment of Bethany, South Bethany beaches
9/21/2020
PHILADELPHIA (Sept. 21, 2020) – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Philadelphia District has awarded a contract to Weeks Marine, Inc. for $11.1 million to conduct the periodic nourishment of the...
Army Corps awards contract for Absecon Island beach nourishment
8/3/2020
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Philadelphia District awarded a contract to Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company of Oak Brook, Illinois for $23.8 million to complete periodic nourishment of the Absecon...

How Beachfill Works (Brochure)