Avalon and Stone Harbor Beach Replenishment Underway

Back in January, The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Philadelphia District was awarded a contract worth $28.8 million to the Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company, headquartered in Oak Brook, IL, to undertake periodic nourishment of the dune and beach fill project stretching from Townsends Inlet to Cape May Inlet, encompassing the boroughs of Avalon and Stone Harbor.

This project is a collaborative effort among the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and the boroughs of Avalon and Stone Harbor.

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The contracted work involves dredging sand from the Townsends Inlet borrow site, which will then be pumped through a network of pipes, placed on the beaches, and graded into an engineered dune and berm template.

This template is specifically designed to mitigate damages caused by coastal storm events, which are prevalent in the region. The contract entails two main areas of work:

Avalon: Sand will be placed along the stretch from 9th Street to 18th Street, with an initial requirement of 231,000 cubic yards of sand. However, the contract includes options to place additional sand, which could potentially extend the beach fill placement area (subject to contract options being awarded).

Stone Harbor: Sand will be placed from 90th to 123rd Streets, with an initial requirement of 464,000 cubic yards of sand. Similar to Avalon, the contract includes options to place additional sand, and the beach fill placement area could be extended (subject to contract options being awarded).

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Just this Monday, the “Texas” dredge has arrived at Townsend’s Inlet to start on the project. The project is in full swing now, operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, until it reaches 28th Street.

It’s important to note that the beach is now an active construction zone and will remain so for the next few weeks.

The project is cost-shared among multiple entities, including the Federal government, the State of New Jersey, and the boroughs of Avalon and Stone Harbor.

This collaborative effort emphasizes the significance of protecting and preserving the dunes and beaches, which serve as vital natural resources for the region.

By undertaking this nourishment project, the aim is to reduce damages caused by coastal storms, safeguarding the communities and promoting sustainable coastal management practices.