CONGRESSIONAL DISTRCITS: NJ-2
APPROPRIATION / PHASE: Construction, General
BUSINESS PROGRAM: Flood and Coastal Storm Damage Reduction
AUTHORITY: The Oakwood Beach, NJ project was authorized for construction by Title I, Section 101 (b) (5) of WRDA 1999.
LOCATION: The project area is located at Oakwood Beach, Elsinboro Township, Salem County, New Jersey in upper Delaware Bay. The project area consists of approximately 2 miles along the Delaware Bay Coastline at Oakwood Beach.
DESCRIPTION: The plan for flood and coastal storm damage reduction at Oakwood Beach is a 50-foot wide berm at an elevation of +6.0 feet NAVD over a project length of 9,500 lineal feet. The plan includes suitable advance beach fill and periodic nourishment every eight years to ensure the integrity of the design. The source of sand for the initial construction and periodic nourishment is the Delaware River Main channel. This project is not a component of the Delaware River Main Channel Deepening project.
PROJECT GOALS: The purpose of this project provides hurricane and coastal storm damage reduction at Oakwood Beach, which includes a suitable advance beach fill and periodic nourishment every eight years.
STATUS: Between October 27 & 30, 2012, Hurricane Sandy caused damage to the Delaware coast from Lewes Beach to Fenwick Island and up the Delaware Bay. In response, the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013 was passed by Congress and signed into law by the President on January 29, 2013 as Public Law 113-2 (Act). The legislation provided supplemental appropriations to address damages caused by Hurricane Sandy and to reduce future flood risk in ways that will support the long-term sustainability of the coastal ecosystem and communities, and reduce the economic costs and risks associated with large-scale flood and storm events. This project was determined to be eligible for P.L. 113-2 2013 Disaster Relief Appropriations Act (Hurricane Sandy) funds as an "Authorized but Unconstructed project." The term “authorized but unconstructed project” refers to previously authorized projects for which no physical construction has occurred as well as projects that contain elements where construction has not been completed. Initial construction was completed in May of 2015.
The project is eligible for future periodic nourishment pending adequate funding. Periodic nourishment is expected to take place in 2023-2024.
USACE is moving forward to conduct periodic nourishment with funding received in Fiscal Year 2022.
SPONSOR: New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
DATE OF PROJECT AGREEMENT: 6 May 2014
TARGET COMPLETION DATE: Ongoing construction through 2064