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.
The Long Beach Island Coastal Storm Damage Reduction project was only partially completed when Hurricane Sandy hit the New Jersey shore. The Army Corps completed the initial construction of the project at Surf City in 2006; Harvey Cedars in 2010; and Brant Beach between 31st and 57th Streets in Long Beach Township in 2012. The Army Corps repaired beaches in Surf City and Harvey Cedars in 2012 after Hurricane Irene, and fully restored the beaches within all three communities after Hurricane Sandy in 2013. The restoration and repair work was funded 100 percent through the Army Corps’ Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies program. On December 5, 2014 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers awarded a contract to the Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company, for $128 million to complete initial construction of the Long Beach Island project. This project is a joint effort of the Army Corps and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
The current construction is funded entirely by the federal government through the 2013 Disaster Relief Appropriations Act (PL113-2), commonly known as the Hurricane Sandy Relief Bill. Following the completion of initial construction, the project is eligible for continued periodic nourishment.