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A recent protest held at the site of the Deal Lake flume house against an upcoming beach replenishment project has earned protesters the ear of the Army Corps of Engineers.

The Corps prolonged the public comment period for the upcoming Loch Arbour to Elberon replenishment project, effectively allowing citizens more time to express their opinions, Councilman John Moor said at the March 26 City Council meeting.

“The deadline to submit concerns to the Army Corps of Engineers was today,” Councilman John Moor said at Wednesday’s City Council meeting. “Because of that rally, the deadline has been extended 15 days.”

Fishermen, surfers, environmentalists and concerned residents that live along Deal Lake gathered on Ocean Ave in front of the Deal Lake flume house [shown above] one week ago to rally against the upcoming Elberon to Loch Arbour beach replenishment project.

[Click here to more photos of the demonstration.]

The roughly 3.5 mile proposed Elberon to Loch Arbour project calls for the placement of about 4.5 million cubic yards of sand and the modification of six groins to allow for the movement of sediment, as well as modifications to 16 outfalls to ensure their continued operation after the beach berm is created, according to a news release from the Army Corps.

Protestors said notching the groins will ruin recreational fishing in ‘Jetty Country’ and poses potential hazards to fisherman and swimmers. Members of the Deal Lake Commission also fear adding more sand to the area around the Deal Lake flume will dam it up. The flume runs underneath the Eighth Avenue jetty. It allows water to exchange between the ocean and the easternmost portion of the lake.

“When they put sand on the beach [during the Asbury Park replenishment project] they also put sand on the jetty, and right in front of the flume, so at this point, we cannot open the flume to lower the lake if a storm comes.” said Councilwoman Sue Henderson, who also sits on the Deal Lake Commission.

The Army Corps is supposed to come back and address that, but they have not yet, she said.

Public comments can be submitted by e-mail to Project Biologist Howard Ruben [Howard.Ruben@usace.army.mil] and Project Manager Jenifer E. Thalhauser [Jenifer.E.Thalhauser@usace.army.mil].

Letters can be mailed to:

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District
Planning Division-Environmental Branch (ATTN: Mr. Howard Ruben)
26 Federal Plaza, New York, New York 10278-0090

The deadline for submission is April 10.

Members of the public can also reach out to Congressman Frank Pallone with their concerns, Moor said.

“He says he is behind us, hopefully he is,” Moor said.

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