New Jersey Coastline Sandstorm Emergency Response: Temporary Project underway for Severely Eroded Beach

A persistent sandstorm at New Jersey’s coastline may soon come to an end as emergency measures are being taken in response. The state is set to carry out a replenishment project for one severely eroded beach, which has been the subject of legal disputes between North Wildwood and authorities over years. In January, parts of dunes at this location reached only ankle level due to sea encroachment as locals waited fruitlessly for similar measures provided to almost all other beaches in New Jersey’s coastline. The U.S Army Corps of Engineers and the state Department of Environmental Protection are expected to begin pumping sand onto North Wildwood’s critically eroded shores, but this may take another two years before it is completed fully. In light of this situation, an emergency project has been agreed upon by both parties to prevent storm surges and flooding in interim. The New Jersey Department of Transportation will carry out the work at a cost that remains unknown as yet; however, North Wildwood may be required to contribute towards it. This agreement could potentially end over ten years’ worth of legal wrangling between authorities concerning erosion in this region popular among Philadelphia-based tourists. The state has fined North Wildwood $12 million for unauthorized beach repairs that officials claim worsen the situation, while the city is suing to recover its expenses on trucking sand onto the site over a decade ago due to lack of replenishment programs. Rosenello hopes this agreement could lead both parties towards dismissal of their legal actions against each other; however, further discussions are necessary before such an outcome can be reached. North Wildwood has also demanded special clearance for erecting a steel barrier alongside heavily-eroded shores — already put up at two other places nearby due to previous circumstances of extreme sea levels encroachment. However, the state Department of Environmental Protection is against this as hard structures often accelerate and worsen erosion by encouraging sand scouring around them. The agency prefers larger-scale measures adopted earlier through federal funds under programs sponsored over a stretch running roughly two centuries along New Jersey’s coastline that pump massive amounts of offshore sand onto beaches to provide natural shielding from rough waves. Rosenello also voiced hopes the arrangement may allow North Wildwood, known as ‘the Island,’ which spans approximately half-a square mile, and its neighbor Wildwood to return back into New Jersey’s federal disaster program after being excluded for over a decade due to lack of replenishment programs in this area. The temporary project is expected to be completed by July 4th, according to Rosenello; “hopefully by the holiday,” he added, North Wildwood would boast healthy and expansive shores with happy beachgoers.”