Delaware Coastal Storm Risk Management

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US Army Corps of Engineers

Philadelphia District & Marine Design Center Website

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Delaware Coastal Storm Risk Management Program

The Fenwick Island Coastal project was initially constructed in 2005. The project is designed to reduce storm damages.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Philadelphia District restored the north shore of the Indian River Inlet by pumping more than half a million cubic yards of sand from the inlet onto the beach and constructing a dune. Hurricane Sandy caused overwash and flooding on the north shore, forcing Route 1 and the Indian River Inlet Bridge to close for several days.

The Rehoboth and Dewey Coastal project was inititally constructed in 2006. The project is designed to reduce damages from coastal storms.

In 2015, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Philadelphia District conducted dredging operations in the Delaware River to deepen the channel and then beneficially used the material to build a dune and berm in Broadkill Beach, DE and reduce the risk of coastal storms for the community.

Project Index Map for Roosevelt Lewes Project

Bethany & South Bethany Project Index Map

The Fenwick Island project includes a 200-foot wide berm with an elevation of +7.7 feet NAVD, and a dune with an elevation of +17.7 feet NAVD over a total project length of 6,500 feet.

The Rehoboth Beach/Dewey Beach project consists of a continuous beachfill from the northern end of Rehoboth Beach to the southern border of Dewey Beach, a distance of 13,500 linear feet.

The plan for the Broadkill Beach project for the purposes of flood and coastal storm damage reduction is the construction of a dune and berm over a total project length of 14,600 feet.

The plan proposed in the final feasibility report for the purpose of flood and coastal storm damage reduction and ecosystem restoration at Port Mahon consists of a 5,200 foot long beachfill with periodic nourishment to provide for horseshoe crab and shorebird habitat. It also includes raising State Road 89 for a distance of 7,500 feet and placing riprap along a 1,200 foot length of the road to protect wetlands, and restoring 21.4 acres of degraded wetland habitat west of the road.

South Bethany Beach:
- Sand placement completed on 7/17/2023
- Sand was placed from North 5th Street (beachfill taper starts further north at Sea Side Drive area) south to North end of Fenwick Island State Park.
Bethany Beach
- Sand placement completed on 7/19/2023
- Sand was placed from Third Street (beachfill taper starts further north at Ocean View Park) south to Wellington Park (beachfill taper ends further south at Oakwood Street).

Fenwick Island:
- Sand placement activities concluded on 6/16/2023
- Sand was placed from approximately James Street (beachfill taper starts further north at King St) south to Lighthouse Road

Delaware Coastal Storm Risk Management Program Background

For more than 20 years, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Philadelphia District has worked in partnership with the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) on coastal storm risk management projects. 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 are designed and built to reduce storm damages to infrastructure. Projects involve dredging sand from approved offshore borrow sites and pumping through a series of pipes onto the beach. The sand is then graded into a dune and berm design. Projects are periodically nourished with additional sand pending available funding.

Broadkill Beach: initial construction in coordination with the Delaware River Deepening completed in 2016. Design includes 100 foot berm backed by a dune at elevation +16 feet.
Lewes-Roosevelt Inlet: initial construction completed in 2004 with several nourishment/repair projects in subsequent years. Design includes a 100-foot berm backed by a dune at elevation +14 over a total project length of 1,400 feet at the northern/eastern end of Lewes.
Rehoboth & Dewey: initial construction completed in 2006 with several nourishments/repair projects in subsequent years. Design includes 150-foot berm back by a dune at elevation +13.2 feet.
Indian River Inlet Sand Bypass: The purpose of this project provides for construction of a sand bypassing beach plant, and operation of the plant for periodic nourishment of a feeder beach.
Bethany & South Bethany: initial construction completed in 2008 with several nourishments/repair projects in subsequent years. Design includes 150-foot berm back by a dune at elevation +16 feet.
Fenwick Island: initial construction completed in 2005 with several nourishments/repair projects in subsequent years. Design includes 200-foot berm back by a dune at elevation +17.7 feet.
Port Mahon: project was authorized by Congress in 1999, but has not been constructed.

Dune System Animation During Potential Storm Event

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USACE Philadelphia District
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Philadelphia, PA
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Delaware Coastal Storm Risk Management Program

2023 Beachfill Construction Details

Delaware Coastal Storm Risk Management Program Background

Dune System Animation During Potential Storm Event

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