Posted on February 18, 2026
By Chris Lundy
BERKELEY – With all the snow still on the ground, it’s tough to imagine that in only a few months, it will be spring. Berkeley Shores residents want to make sure the lagoons and beach are ready for warmer weather.
The co-president of the Berkeley Shores Civic Association spoke about dredging and beach replenishment at Amherst Beach. A lot of sand blew into the inlet, he said at a recent Township Council meeting.
This is a common problem in lagoon properties, as the sand is pushed around by tides and storms. The lagoons were manmade, and require frequent maintenance.
The annual Blessing of the Fleet is coming up on Memorial Day, he noted, hoping that the waterways are shipshape long before then.
Also relating to shore homeowners, officials are watching regulations on rebuilding after flooding.
Although Superstorm Sandy was 14 years ago, there are some people who still have not fully rebuilt, Councilman James Byrnes said. There is still money in the Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, Elevation and Mitigation Program (RREM) to be granted out.
This led into a conversation about the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection REAL rules, which stands for Resilient Environments And Landscapes. Any new construction or reconstruction must adhere to new rules so that the buildings will withstand climate change, such as rising sea level. They can be found at dep.nj.gov/njreal
Township Planner James Oris explained that certain older regulations will still be in place, and updated the council on base flood elevations.
In other news, the Township Council approved an application for a $15,000 grant from the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank. This is available to towns to perform infrastructure improvements.
Business Administrator Jay Delaney said the money will be used for stormwater maintenance equipment.
Township Engineer John LeCompte explained that cleaning areas where stormwater drains has an environmental impact since the drains lead to the Barnegat Bay.
