Millions in federal funding approved for beach replenishment projects

Storm-damaged beaches at the Jersey Shore will be replenished with fresh sand with the help of nearly $100 million in federal funding announced by U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew.

Van Drew, a Republican whose 2nd Congressional District represents shore towns in Atlantic and Cape May counties and part of Ocean County, said the funding will come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the federal agency that oversees beach replenishment projects.

"I have been working closely with the Army Corps to make sure South Jersey is a priority, and today we are seeing that pay off in a massive way," Van Drew said in a statement announcing the funding.

Altogether, the plan calls for $99 million in funding for beach replenishment in the shore communities of Ocean City, Strathmere, Sea Isle City, Avalon and Stone Harbor.

“This is a huge investment for our shoreline, one of the largest we have ever seen, and it is going to make a real difference. Our beaches are so important to South Jersey, and this level of investment means stronger protection, more stability, and peace of mind for our shore communities,” Van Drew said.

Some shore towns have been struggling with severe erosion to their beaches and dunes caused by a series of offshore hurricanes and coastal storms in recent months.

In February, Van Drew gave Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Army for Civil Works Adam Telle a tour of eroded beaches in Cape May County while lobbying for federal funding for replenishment projects. Telle assured Van Drew and local mayors at that time that federal funding was on the way.

“I want to thank Secretary Adam Telle for coming down to the shore and seeing these needs firsthand and helping make sure this got done,” Van Drew said.

    Congressman Jeff Van Drew, center, greets Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Army for Civil Works Adam Telle in Ocean City during a tour of eroded beaches in February.
  

Van Drew promised in February that Ocean City would be first in line for beach replenishment once the funding was secured.

Ocean City Mayor Jay Gillian said the funding is the “first and most important step” in a process that will lead to a full replenishment of the eroded north-end and downtown beaches.

“We will work closely with our partners to make sure this important project can be completed as quickly as possible,” Gillian said in a statement.

While waiting for the full-fledged replenishment project to begin, Ocean City will continue to move stockpiled sand onto the beaches that need it most to help with erosion, Gillian noted.

“We’re looking forward to another great summer season in America’s Greatest Family Resort,” he said, referring to Ocean City’s tourism slogan.

This will be Ocean City’s 11th replenishment project for the north-end beaches since a 50-year agreement was signed in the early 1990s. The city was able to secure a separate 50-year agreement for its south-end beaches about 10 years ago.

“Across Ocean City’s eight miles of beaches, the program has been an overwhelming success in building dunes and protecting lives and property,” Gillian said.

Gillian expressed his thanks to Van Drew, the Army Corps of Engineers, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the contractors for their partnership that has helped to replenish Ocean City’s beaches and dunes.

“We’ve been working closely with Congressman Van Drew and all of our elected officials from both sides of the aisle to secure this funding, and I want to thank them for their commitment to protecting our coastline,” he said.

    Strathmere's beaches have been hit hard by erosion. (Photo courtesy of Strathmere Improvement Association)
  

Although it has not yet been announced how much funding each town will receive, the shore communities of Sea Isle City, Strathmere, Avalon and Stone Harbor will also be in the mix.

“Obviously, the beach is our biggest attraction, and maintaining a strong, healthy shoreline is very important to every beach community – and Sea Isle City is certainly no exception,” city spokeswoman Katherine Custer said in a statement.

“We are grateful that here will be funding dedicated to the maintenance of Sea Isle City’s beaches, and we look forward to working with the Army Corps of Engineers and the NJDEP as this project comes to fruition,” Custer added.

On top of the $99 million in federal funding for beach replenishment, South Jersey is also seeing investments in dredging projects to help protect rivers and other waterways, Van Drew said.

More than $5 million will go toward projects on the Salem River, Maurice River, Cold Spring Inlet and the New Jersey Intracoastal Waterway, along with continued work to deepen the Salem and Maurice rivers, he said.

Van Drew noted that he is also lining up support to complete the redesign of a delayed beach project in the Wildwoods to use sand from Hereford Inlet to replenish North Wildwood.

In the meantime, Van Drew said he is continuing to push for $70 million in federal funding he has requested in the fiscal 2027 appropriations process for beach projects in Long Beach Island and Absecon Island, which includes Atlantic City, Ventnor, Margate and Longport.

He has also requested funding to begin the process of extending the seawall in North Brigantine as part of ongoing work to protect that area.

    Ocean City has been stockpiling sand to help restore the eroded beaches after the stormy winter and early-spring seasons are over.
  

Van Drew’s announcement about the $99 million in funding follows growing concerns that federal money would not be available in the future for beach replenishment projects, dune protection, bulkheads, seawalls and jetties at the Jersey Shore and other coastal areas.

As a long-range solution, he has proposed bipartisan legislation called the Coastal Trust Fund Act, which would establish a $1 billion source of funding each year for beach replenishment projects by using revenue from existing offshore oil and gas drilling leases – avoiding the need for new taxes or fees to pay for it.

“In the long term, I am working on solutions like the Coastal Trust Fund Act to create a more reliable, permanent stream of funding for these kinds of projects. But today, this is a historic investment in South Jersey, and I am proud to have gotten it done," Van Drew said.