PETERSBURG — Township Committee is taking steps to try to shore up its coastline on both sides of the island of Strathmere.
Severe erosion in the north has washed away beach paths, preventing pedestrian and vehicular traffic to that part of the island.
On the bay side, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has approved a grant to fund a living shoreline.
Deputy Mayor Victor Nappen II said during a meeting April 28 that the township has been in contract with officials to try to resolve the beach erosion issue.
Interim Administrator Joe Verruni said the Department of Public Works and engineer Ryan MacNeill are investigating to determine what can be done locally to resolve the issues.
He said the Department of Environmental Protection has been a good partner but noted short of a replenishment project or permanent structure, “it’s going to be really difficult to correct the problem.”
The beaches were replenished a year ago as part of a larger project, so another replenishment is unlikely to solve the problem in the short term.
“Because of the beach elevation and lack of sand, anything we may do will simply wash away at high tide,” Verruni said during a previous meeting. “The beach template Upper Township was left with after the last replenishment was not sufficient to withstand the erosion process.”
Verruni said in March that Chris Constantino of the DEP spoke about actions the township may be able to take to help the situation but none of them is a short-term solution.
He said Constantino addressed several longer-term actions the township could take, such as beginning the process to request a replenishment from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which he called “probably a two- or three-year process,” and requesting a more permanent barrier such as a bulkhead or stone embankment, which is a much longer process.
“The hardscape of a stone wall or some sort of bulkheading is going to be a longer-term project,” Verruni said April 28.
The good news, he said, is the DEP has approved all permits and necessary documentation so the township can move forward “to do what’s best for that whole area so you can get people safely on the beach and enjoying the beach.”
He admitted “this summer is going to be a bit of a challenge.” In addition, he said the township has been in contract with the Joint Insurance Fund to help with wording on signage.
“We know people are going to be on the beach, but I think we have to tell them that some of the conditions are a little rough down there,” he said. “The Joint Insurance Fund is doing what they can to give us some guidance on that and I think we’ll have some as early as tomorrow perhaps.”
In the meantime, Strathmere residents are going to have to deal with the situation.
“We will have probably the northern end of the island closed. I don’t see a feasible way to open any of that, so it’s going to take some adjusting to get used to, just like it was two years ago,” Mayor Curtis Corson said in March.
Living shoreline
MacNeill provided an update on the living shoreline project that aims to alleviate erosion south of the boat ramp on Bayview Drive, noting the Strathmere Environmental and Fishing Club received the grant it was seeking from the NOAA and has agreed to allocate $915,000 to facilitate the construction.
MacNeill said the township is awaiting permits from the DEP and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and anticipating securing them in June.
He said that would allow the township to seek bids in the end of June and start the project as early as August or September, “which is two years before we thought this project would be in place.”
MacNeill said the project has been in the works for several years.
“It’s becoming a great partnership,” he said. “Now we can work together to bring a great project to the bay.”
A science teacher, Nappen said it is a really eco-friendly process in which natural materials such as oyster shells and old Christmas trees are used to shore up the coast.
Cleanup is Saturday
In other news, Nappen, who filled in for Corson, who was absent, said the Great Egg Harbor River Council is seeking volunteers for a cleanup from 9 a.m. to noon May 10.
The Great Egg Harbor Watershed Association, Boy Scout Troop 79, Upper Township Rescue and the Department of Public Works all are taking part.
Organizers also are looking for boat owners to pick up trash and transport it to Mosquito Landing.
Tryouts for the Strathmere Beach Patrol are scheduled for 11 a.m. June 14. Location to be determined.
– By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff