Posted on April 6, 2026
By Bill Shull
A bulldozer pushed sand through a man-made river on the north side of the Indian River Inlet.
It’s one of the most visible parts of a sand bypass system, a complex collection of pumps, pipes and a big crane that shifts sand from the south side of the inlet to the north side to counteract beach erosion and protect Coastal Highway and the Charles W. Cullen Bridge from rising sea levels.
The bypass system was just turned on again in mid-March, with more-efficient electric motors. It has been in place for 35 years, but had not operated since COVID.
The project is a joint effort between the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The bypass moves 500 to 750 cubic yards of sand per hour, according to Kathleen Bergin, field operation program manager in DNREC’s Shoreline and Waterways Management Section.
Congresswoman Sarah McBride toured the operation April 2, highlighting the $600,000 in Community Project Funding she was able to secure to keep the sand pumping.
“This sand bypass plant is doing vital work around the Indian River Inlet to protect Sussex County, to protect one of the most cherished natural resources we have here in Delaware,” McBride said. “I’m excited for the communities in eastern Sussex that benefit from this vital work.”
The money for the sand bypass system is one of 15 Delaware projects, totaling $19 million, that McBride was able to get funded in Fiscal Year 2026.
McBride said Delaware’s congressional delegation was able to secure $10 million for beach replenishment in Sussex and Kent counties.
She said knowing what the priorities should be starts with listening to local leaders.
“I have a regular lunch with coastal mayors to talk about how the congressional delegation can support them,” McBride said. “What I have consistently heard from the mayors and from the neighbors here is that these projects are top of mind for them, how important this funding is and and how important these projects are.”
Slurry pours from a pipe on the north side of the inlet, creating a manmade river in the sand. The buildup of sand helps counteract beach erosion and protects Coastal Highway and the Charles W. Cullen Bridge.
A bulldozer moves sand on the north side of the Indian River Inlet, as DNREC Secretary Greg Patterson, left, and Kathleen Bergin, field operation program manager, explain how the sand bypass works to Congresswoman Sarah McBride.
The April tour was an opportunity for DNREC leaders to thank Congresswoman Sarah McBride for securing federal money for the sand bypass project. Shown are (l-r) Kathleen Bergin, DNREC field operation program manager; McBride; DNREC Secretary Greg Patterson; Steve Williams, DNREC director of watershed stewardship; and Josh Lippert, DNREC Shoreline and Waterways Program administrator.
