Posted on June 8, 2026
By Bill Barlow
A third summertime beach replenishment project is expected this year, with the award of a $15.8 million contract to add sand to beaches in Avalon and Stone Harbor.
The Philadelphia District of the Army Corps of Engineers announced the contract with Norfolk Dredging Co. on Friday, June 5, with the project to draw sand from Hereford Inlet and Townsend Inlet to pump onto beaches.
“The project is a joint effort between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the boroughs of Avalon and Stone Harbor,” reads a statement from Army Corps spokesman Steve Rochette.
About 941,000 cubic yards of sand will be added to Avalon beaches between Ninth Street and 96th Street, and 538,867 cubic yards are planned for Stone Harbor from 98th Street to 114th Street, and from 130th Street to the jetty at the south end of the borough. According to Rochette, more sand could be added to Stone Harbor beaches based on pre-construction surveys.
The project is set to begin this summer after Norfolk completes beach work in Sea Isle City and the Strathmere section of Upper Township under a separate contract. That work is set to start soon in Sea Isle City and work its way north.
More detail about the timing of the Avalon and Stone Harbor work is expected to be shared in the coming weeks, according to the Army Corps.
Earlier in the week, the Army Corps announced a $19.5 million dredging contract to Lakes Dredge and Dock Co. of Houston for rebuilding beaches in Ocean City, another project set to take place this summer.
No federal money went into beach replenishment projects in 2025, which meant no projects last winter and increasing worry in some Shore communities. Earlier this year, Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-2) announced $99 million in beach projects for this year.
The Avalon and Stone Harbor project is part of a long-term federal commitment to maintain the beaches and dunes, according to the Army Corps.
Sand will be dredged from the inlets and pumped through a series of pipes, placed on beaches, and graded into an engineered dune and berm template, which Army Corps officials say is designed to reduce damage from coastal storms.
“Dunes and access paths will be repaired in certain areas; however, most of the work includes widening the beach between the toe of the dune and the water line,” reads the Friday statement from the Army Corps.
