Van Drew, Gillian announce Ocean City, Strathmere, Sea Isle City to get protection funds
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Ocean City and other area shore towns hit hard by storm-charged erosion will get some relief to the tune of $99 million.
U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew announced April 6 that southern New Jersey would receive the federal funding from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to replenish and protect key beaches in the region.
According to a news release, it is the biggest investment in New Jersey beach projects in a year without major hurricane damage.
“I have been working closely with the Army Corps to make sure South Jersey is a priority, and today we are seeing that pay off in a massive way,” Van Drew stated in the release. “This announcement delivers $99 million for beach replenishment across Ocean City, Strathmere, Sea Isle City, Avalon and Stone Harbor.”
Van Drew called it a huge investment for the shoreline.
“Our beaches are so important to South Jersey, and this level of investment means stronger protection, more stability and peace of mind for our shore communities,” he stated.
On Feb. 10, Van Drew and U.S. Rep. Laura Gillen (D-N.Y.) introduced the Coastal Trust Fund Act, which would create a reliable, long-term funding source for coastal protection projects nationwide.
The legislation sets up a permanent and reliable funding stream for coastal storm risk management projects like beach nourishment
“This is a big deal, not just for New Jersey, but for the whole country. The American coastal economy contributes to 46 percent of national GDP, but too often the government does not deliver coastal protection until after a disaster strikes,” Van Drew stated. “This legislation changes the status quo by investing $1 billion a year into the Army Corps of Engineers’ coastal storm management projects.”
Three days laters, Van Drew held a series of news conferences to announce his plans for delivering “tens of millions” of dollars in federal funding for beach replenishment before summer.
“We’re going to bring money into the district for beach nourishment, for these emergency areas, for these worst areas of erosion,” Van Drew said on the boardwalk. “And when I say money, I mean significant amounts of money — not a half a million dollars, but it’s going to be in the tens of millions.”
Van Drew and Adam Telle, assistant secretary of the Army for Civil Works, evaluated the conditions Feb. 13 at Fifth Street in Ocean City, which has suffered extreme erosion since its last federally funded sand replenishment in 2022.
They later moved south to Strathmere in Upper Township, Avalon and North Wildwood, speaking of options for funding, the need for more competition in dredging along with the expanded use of dredge materials and longer-term options such as hard structures where needed and deemed appropriate.
“Those of us that know the shore and have lived here many, many years know that we have a cycle of life, and unfortunately sometimes it’s not an easy one — it’s a roller coaster ride,” Van Drew said.
In addition to beach projects, the funds will pay for projects on the Salem River, Maurice River, Cold Spring Inlet and the Intracoastal Waterway, along with continued work to deepen the Salem and Maurice rivers, as well as the redesign of the Wildwoods project.
“In the meantime, I am continuing to push for additional resources, including the $70 million in earmarks I have requested through the Fiscal Year 2027 appropriations process for beach projects in Long Beach Island and Atlantic City,” Van Drew stated. “That includes funding to design erosion mitigation structures through my hotspot erosion law, so these communities are better protected moving forward.”
Van Drew thanked Telle, who oversees the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, for his efforts to bring the money to his district.
“We’re going to be delivering relief here to the citizens of South Jersey, the communities here in South Jersey, thanks to the leadership of Jeff Van Drew,” Telle said Feb. 13.
The assistant secretary said that on Feb. 23, Army Civil Works would unveil its biggest reform since 1986.
“It’s going to deliver more dredging, more flood-risk mitigation, more navigation for the country — and it’s all going to be called Building Infrastructure, Not Paperwork,” Telle said. “Our goal here is to get away from endless loops of government paperwork and get back to doing things like restoring the beaches here in New Jersey.”
Telle said the funding and equipment should be in place to put sand on beaches before summer.
“We’re optimistic that we can have the resources made available within a matter of a month or two, and the actual work and mobilization begins shortly thereafter,” he said.
– By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
