Posted on January 17, 2017
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has received notice that supplemental federal appropriations are available to apply to several rehabilitation projects throughout the country, including a portion of the Long Beach Island project: Harvey Cedars, Surf City and from 31st to 57th Street in Long Beach Township’s Brant Beach section. According to USACE Public Affairs Officer Steve Rochette, the Corps is currently “working on engineering and design and hopes to have construction funding in the near future.”
The Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies appropriations were provided by Congress through Public Law 114-254 (Further Continuing and Security Assistance Appropriations Act 2017).
Contractor Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Co. completed beach restoration operations in Holgate in late November, marking the conclusion of initial construction of LBI’s dune and berm system. Dune grass planting is in progress, with completion anticipated by mid-February.
“The entire project area,” Rochette explained, “is now eligible for the Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies program. The way this works: After a significant storm event, we conduct a damage assessment and determine whether the project is eligible based on certain criteria. This program is national and funds repairs to projects across the country, so if the project has been approved and if there’s adequate funding available, we would move forward to repair the project or portions of the project.”
Following storms in October 2015 and January 2016, Harvey Cedars, Surf City and part of Brant Beach were deemed eligible for restoration; however, there were not adequate funds in the Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies program at the time.
Harvey Cedars Mayor Jonathan Oldham said if this funding now comes to pass, the borough would seek reimbursement for the $600,000 it spent last fall to fix its beaches damaged by Winter Storm Jonas the previous January. Because there were no available funds as of last year, the borough went ahead with replenishment via cost share. According to Oldham, the borough wanted to take advantage of the dredges while Great Lakes was still working locally, which was less of an expense than mobilizing a dredge elsewhere in the country to undertake the project.
In addition to any upcoming repair work in the designated sections, the entirety of the project area will continue to be surveyed on a routine basis (as well as being evaluated following significant storm events). “The portions that were recently completed would be eligible for periodic nourishment in 2023,” as per the seven-year cycle, said Rochette.
Source: The SandPaper.Net
