Beach replenishment will
proceed as scheduled

U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-6) recently announced beach replenishment projects scheduled for the Monmouth County shore this year will proceed as scheduled. He made the announcement at Sea Bright public beach, where sand renourishment is set to begin in the next few weeks.

According to Pallone, 2.14 million cubic yards of sand will be used for scheduled replenishment of beaches in Sea Bright, Spring Lake and Monmouth Beach. The beaches are part of a 21-mile beach erosion control project stretching from Sea Bright to Manasquan Inlet, last replenished in 1998.

Pallone also explained feasibility studies will continue this year at the Port Monmouth and Leonardo sections of Middletown, Union Beach, Highlands and Keyport. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers moves beach nourishment extensions at Raritan Bay and Sandy Hook Bay to the preconstruction and design phase, which is one step away from the construction phase.

Pallone also announced his funding requests for projects for fiscal year 2002 and made his official request to members of the House Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee. The requests include:

• Sandy Hook to Manasquan Inlet — $4.4 million to begin construction of periodic renourishment of beaches between Asbury Park and Manasquan. (The president requested $4.4 million.)

• Raritan Bay and Sandy Hook Bay — $1 million to begin construction of the beach replenishment project. The Corps previously constructed levees in the areas of Old Bridge Township, Keansburg, and North Middletown.

Erosion of the beach fill placed by the Corps many years ago in these areas, however, has increased the potential for flooding due to coastal storm inundation. The new beach nourishment will alleviate the flooding problem and effectively extend the economic life of the project. (The president requested $1 million.)

• Port Monmouth — $250,000 to move this project to the preconstruction, engineering and design phase. The feasibility study for Port Monmouth is nearing completion, and a draft feasibility report has been prepared and is under review (the president requested $100,000).

• Union Beach — $100,000 to move the project to the PED phase. (The president requested $100,000.)

• Leonardo — $400,000 to continue the feasibility study. (The president requested $200,000.)

• Highlands — $300,000 to continue the feasibility study. (The president requested $100,000.)

• Keyport — $300,000 to continue the feasibility study. (The president requested $100,000.)