Posted on March 29, 2023
(The Delaware Congressional Delegation announced $25 million from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will be used for renourishment projects for Delaware’s bay beaches.
“I’ve long worked to provide Delaware with the resources needed to restore and maintain our bay beaches,” said Sen. Tom Carper, chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. “Beach nourishment protects the homes, businesses and livelihoods of those living in our bay communities and restores critical habitats that the beaches provide for many species. Today’s announcement will help several projects get across the finish line at a cost share that is much more affordable for the participating communities.”
The projects, which come via the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2020, will help restore several of Delaware’s bay beaches. This includes Pickering Beach, Kitts Hummock, Bowers Beach, South Bowers Beach, Slaughter Beach, Prime Hook Beach and Lewes Beach.
Through the Water Resources Development Act of 2022, the Delaware delegation also helped make shoreline protection projects more affordable for the bay beaches.
WRDA 2022 reduced the non-federal share for shore protection projects to 10 percent of the total project cost. In addition, the law provided the Army Corps with temporary construction authority to nourish the Bay Beaches through individual placements of dredged material from nearby navigation channels.
