Weeks Marine Inc. completed dredging operations in Harvey Cedars, Ocean County, NJ, earlier this month, meaning that the replenishment work on all of Long Beach Island is, for now, wrapped up.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Philadelphia District had awarded this contract to the Cranford, NJ based marine construction and dredging company to repair and renourish the three sections of the LBI project constructed prior to Superstorm Sandy: Harvey Cedars, Surf City and a section of Brant Beach, in Long Beach Township.
“The contract called for the dredging, pumping and placement of sand as well as dune repairs; crossovers and sand fencing repairs; and dune grass plantings, ” USACE said in its latest announcement. “ Beaches were widened in front of the dune system.”
Weeks Marine wrapped up restoration in Brant Beach at the end of May, and completed the work in Surf City in early August. Operations continued in Harvey Cedars for longer than the borough had hoped, ending on October 2.
Project background
Long Beach Island is an 18-mile barrier island in southern Ocean County, New Jersey. The area regularly suffers damages from coastal storms, hurricanes and nor’easters.
The Barnegat Inlet to Little Egg Inlet Coastal Storm Risk Management project, also known as the Long Beach Island beachfill or beach nourishment program, is designed to reduce erosion and property damages associated with these events. It is a joint effort of the Army Corps and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
A Feasibility Report Completed in September of 1999 recommended beachfill with periodic nourishment to reduce potential hurricane and storm damages for the island.
The project involves the construction of a dune with a top elevation 22 feet above sea level with a 300-400 foot wide berm, depending on the location of the beach on the island, at an elevation of 8 feet above sea level.