LBI Beachfill

The Army Corps of Engineers plans to dredge and fill all or most beaches on Long Beach Island, NJ. Our goal is for a smaller modified project so they do not adversely affect the environment, as well as surfing and other recreational resources. Building beaches our 200-300 feet often covers sandbars and rock jetties which impacts the fishing and surfing, and a steep slope at the water’s edge can make swimming more hazardous. All these things happened in the Monmouth County beachfill which impacted recreational activities.

History - The Jersey Shore Chapter did a petition online saying we were not against the project, but we wanted the plans modified to reduce the negative effects seem elsewhere. It was presented to LBI elected officials in 2005 and it had over 3000 names.

Chapter volunteers used Surfrider’s program Beachscape on LBI to determine current beach conditions and characteristics and to determine where we want modifications. The NJDEP met with Chapter leaders to discuss how to spare the surf. The DEP and Army Corps said here would be absolutely no impact on the surf at all. Their only offer was to build even bigger beaches in 2-3 places in the hopes of enhancing the surf. The Chapter rejected that offer because we are not simply a surfing organization. The environment and impacts on other recreation are also our concerns.

Chapter leaders and volunteers also attended town council meetings in several towns to encourage elected officials to ask the Army Corps for modifications.

In the meantime, many oceanfront owners have not signed their easements giving the State permanent access to their land. Some are concerned with the possibility of a bad project, some are concerned about losing their views and therefore property values, and a few just don’t want the project because they will have to open their beaches to the public.

Result – About 20 blocks in Surf City were replenished. Five oceanfront homeowners in Surf City held out and did not sign their easements. The state tried to sue those owners. They lost but the state is appealing. Several groups have formed on the Island, some with lawyers, some with concerned residents who don’t want the project, and some who want the project.

The latest news in March 2007 is that unexploded ordnance from World War II was found in the beachfill. They were bomb fuses to be exact and they still had powder in them. The beaches are closed, possibly until Memorial Day, 2007.

Take Action: Public participation is extremely important before any beachfill project can go forward. A bill in the NJ Assembly would make that a law. Please visit http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/NJ_Beachfill_Public_Hearings
to send a message to your Assembly members and to sign up for Surfrider Foundation’s Action Network.