Dune damage was significant in the north end and downtown areas of Ocean City following a powerful storm in October.
South Jersey Congressman Jeff Van Drew announced a long-range plan Tuesday to provide a reliable source of federal funding for beach replenishment projects and other coastal protection measures.
The proposed legislation comes amid growing concerns that federal funding would not be available in the future for beach replenishment projects, dune protection, bulkheads, seawalls and jetties at the Jersey Shore and other coastal areas.
“My bipartisan Coastal Trust Fund Act sets up a permanent and reliable funding stream for coastal storm risk management projects like beach nourishment,” Van Drew said in a statement.
Click here to read the text of the Coastal Trust Fund Act.
Van Drew, a Republican whose 2nd Congressional District includes the coastal towns in Atlantic and Cape May counties and part of Ocean County, introduced the bipartisan legislation with New York Democratic Congresswoman Laura Gillen.
“We must secure dedicated funding for projects that protect our waterfront communities and preserve our shoreline, said Gillen, a lifelong Long Island resident familiar with storm damage to coastal areas.
Van Drew characterized the funding legislation as “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. This legislation changes the status quo by investing $1 billion a year into the Army Corps of Engineers' coastal storm management projects,” he said.
Van Drew explained that funding for the Coastal Trust Fund Act would come from existing offshore energy lease revenues, meaning there would be no new fees or taxes imposed on anyone.
He said the bill was developed through months of collaboration with top coastal experts in the country and represents “one of the most serious efforts in history to protect the coastlines of the United States.”
Congressman Jeff Van Drew has introduced legislation to provide permanent and reliable federal funding for beach replenishment projects.Van Drew’s announcement included remarks from a series of coastal and construction groups expressing their support for the beach funding legislation.
“The bill ensures long-term, reliable, federal investment to protect lives, property, and vital infrastructure in America's coastal communities. The bill not only safeguards our environment, but also fuels economic growth by indirectly bolstering tourism, jobs, and local businesses,” said Nicole Elko, executive director of the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association.
Dan Ginolfi, executive director of the American Coastal Coalition, said the legislation “fixes” the shortages in federal funding for beach replenishment projects.
“Delays and shortages in federal funding for beaches have severe economic impacts for non-federal sponsors,” Ginolfi said.
Alex Etchen, vice president of government relations for the Associated General Contractors of America, said the legislation ensures that vital coastal projects would continue without interruption.
“By creating a predictable way to pay for these projects, the measure will enable contractors to safeguard the nation's coastal systems for years to come,” Etchen said.
Federal funding for beach replenishment projects at the Jersey Shore became a hot topic following extensive damage to the shoreline caused by Hurricane Erin last August and other storms that followed.
Ocean City is one of the coastal towns waiting for full-fledged beach replenishment projects by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers if federal funding can be found.
Following beach damage inflicted by a powerful storm in October, City Council declared a local state of emergency in Ocean City in hopes of securing state and federal funding to replenish the beaches and dunes from First to 13th streets as soon as possible.
Parts of Atlantic City, Ocean City, Strathmere, North Wildwood, Avalon, Holgate and Beach Haven have suffered significant beach and dune damage in the past year, according to surveys conducted by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
Dune erosion caused by Hurricane Erin last August is evident behind a lifeguard stand at Vincent Avenue in Strathmere.As funding concerns grew, Van Drew met with the mayors and other representatives of local shore towns to assure them that he was working on legislation to provide a permanent source of federal money for beach replenishment.
Sea Isle City Mayor Leonard Desiderio, who also serves as the director of the Cape May County Board of Commissioners, said his town will be ready for the next round of beach replenishment with the help of federal funding.
“I know there’s been concerns regarding the future of federal funding for these projects, but we’re confident from discussions with Congressman Van Drew that we will be receiving the necessary funds to accomplish our next scheduled project,” Desiderio said during his annual State of the City address in Sea Isle on Tuesday.
Desiderio noted that Sea Isle has received a series of beach replenishment projects since 2015 and each one has been critical in protecting Sea Isle’s shoreline from storm damage. He emphasized that Sea Isle has suffered only minimal beach erosion in the last two years because of those projects.
“Through our efforts with our state and federal partners, we’ve been able to maximize the extent of each project, ensuring that we get as much sand as possible within our area of need,” he said.
