The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), the USACE’s Norfolk District and the City of Virginia Beach, VA, have signed an agreement authorizing the use of up to 2.2 million cubic yards of sand from federal waters to renourish Sandbridge beach and dunes.
The project, using sand from Sandbridge Shoal located on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), will renourish approximately five miles of beach.
Dredging work is expected to begin later in 2019.
“As a coastal community, Sandbridge is vulnerable to storm events and longer-term erosion. At the same time, its beaches and dunes attract tourists and local businesses that depend upon the local infrastructure,” said Renee Orr, BOEM’s Chief of the Office of Strategic Resources. “By helping the city to renourish coastal areas periodically, BOEM is playing an important role in protecting public infrastructure from severe storms.”
“Along with our many partner organizations – like BOEM and the City of Virginia Beach – we are proud to build critical infrastructure that has a tremendous impact at the local, state, and national level. This project will reduce the risk of damage from future storms,” added Col. Patrick Kinsman, USACE Norfolk District Commander.
The most recent Sandbridge Beach renourishment was completed in 2013, and the area has withstood impacts from other hurricanes and nor’easters since then.