Sea Bright, Monmouth Beach Could Benefit From Major Beach Replenishment Project

Sea Bright and Monmouth Beach are among the Monmouth County beach towns that could be part of an upcoming large-scale beach replenishment project, according to Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06).

The Sandy relief package passed by Congress in January would fund the beach replenishment project and others Pallone said he expects to be completed to restore damage to the Jersey Shore caused by Superstorm Sandy.

"Based on his interpretation of the Sandy aid bill, Pallone pointed to these projects in Monmouth County that he expects the Army Corps of Engineers to move forward with as part of the relief plan," a release from Pallone's office stated. "Pallone stressed that these projects only represent a preliminary list and that other projects may be forthcoming."

The beach replenishment project would cover 21 miles of beaches from Sandy Hook to the Barnegat Inlet, and would be the largest beach nourishment project ever undertaken by the Army Corps of Engineers and the world’s biggest beach-fill project, in terms of sand volume.

"The work will include the restoration of most of the beaches from Sea Bright to the Manasquan Inlet in Monmouth County," the release states.

However, specific beaches that will be included in the project have not been finalized at this time, but the areas chosen will include those that suffered the most damage from Sandy.

A portion of Monmouth Beach and Sea Bright beaches was also included in an $8.5 million beach replenishment allocation awarded prior to Sandy.

"The planned work would not only restore the region to pre-storm conditions, but would make massive improvements totaling well in excess of $100 million to replenish beaches and prevent future erosion damage," the release states.

“The Jersey Shore is a treasure of our state,” Pallone said in the release.  “The shore sustained such severe damage from Sandy, which if unaddressed, would continue to wash away our beaches and make much of the region uninhabitable.  That’s why I have been insistent that restoring our coast, beaches and waterways must be a top priority for the funding from the Sandy relief package.”

Other large scale projects noted by Pallone include flood prevention for Port Monmouth and Keansburg.

“I have fought for these projects for years because I know how important they are to protect some of our most fragile waterway infrastructure,” Pallone said in the release.  “Sadly, Sandy made some of the areas already in need of work go from bad to worse.  Now, the work that must be done will not only help us rebuild from the storm, but will make improvements that we have needed for years.”