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As the year winds down, the last stretch of beach replenishment along the Monmouth County shoreline moves into its final phase.

Headed by the US Army Corps of Engineers, this final replenishment project covers the beach area from Lake Takanassee in Elberon to Philips Avenue in Deal.

“The completion of this project will not only replenish, protect and maintain our beaches, it will be an encouraging marker of our ongoing efforts to rebuild our coastline stronger and more resilient than before Sandy hit,” said Rep. Frank Pallone Jr, D-6th District, in a written news statement. [Pallone is shown at right with  Col. David Caldwell, Commander of the New York District of the Army Corps of Engineers].

The $86.7 million project is part of a Superstorm Sandy aid package that included beach nourishment along the 21-mile long shore.

This project will place 3 million cubic yards of sand on the beach, lengthen 10 existing storm water outfalls and notch a groin [jetty] at Phillips Avenue.

But, local anglers, surfers, environmentalists, and concerned citizens have opposed notching, which involves the removal of an entire section of rocks [jetty. Asbury Park Fishing Club, Deal Lake Commission and American Littoral Society members have said the practice could do irreparably harm.

“Notching prevents access to the groin during high tides and creates rip tides and causes hazardous swimming conditions,” Asbury Park Fishing Club President Joe Pallotto has said.

These jetties (known to locals as “Jetty Country”) which the ACOE is either burying under nine feet of sand, or destroyed via notching, have provided important fish habitat and excellent recreational fishing and diving opportunities for decades,” Stone Harbor resident Bill Dougherty has said. “Additionally, the jetties serve as very popular surfing locations.  After notching and beach replenishment, fishing, diving, and surfing are generally ruined, or at least severely impacted.  The beach replenishment project is changing a way of life for those that frequent this area and know it best.”

Originally, the Army Corps had planned to notch six groins between Elberon and Loch Arbour but after they and Pallone met with the concerned citizens and the groups, the Army Corps agreed to notch only three groins within the larger project area. In addition to Phillips Avenue, groins were notched at Deal Casino and Marine Place.

After Hurricane Sandy, the Monmouth County shoreline lost roughly 5 million cubic yards of sand, according to the Army Corps project plan by project manager Jenifer Thalhauser. They set about bringing the shoreline back to pre-Sandy conditions by placing over 8 million cubic yards of sand on the 21-mile long beaches from Sea Bright to Manasquan, completed in 2014.

It was the largest beach nourishment project ever undertaken by the Army Corps and the world’s biggest beach-fill project, in terms of sand volume, according to a May 2014 release from Senator Frank Pallone’s office.

While beach replenishment dates back to 1994, the shoreline between Loch Arbour and Elberon had remained untouched. The project began in April and is expected to complete by early next year. A total 1.4 million cubic yards of sand will be used to reconstruct the shore line.

“After a hard fight in Congress for the Sandy relief funding New Jersey deserves, I am glad to see this important beach replenishment project poised for completion,” Pallone has said. “Beaches are a fundamental part of life for residents and the tourist economy, and they must be protected and maintained.  I will continue to fight for replenishment projects to help protect our homes and businesses along the Jersey Shore.”

[Beach replenishment photos courtesy of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers]

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