Dunes before replenishment With winter finally here (remember those beautiful 60 degree days just a few weeks ago), we expect the typical onslaught of winter storms. To surfers these are the saviors that bring us waves and warm our souls during an otherwise bleak season. But to beach front property owners, each storm brings worries of shrinking dunes and potential devastation to their property. As a part time resident of Surf City, New Jersey on Long Beach Island, this worry has become ever present in recent years, not only by the size of the beaches or dunes, but by the always whispered talk of a replenishment project.
New Slope of the dunes After numerous protests by some, joyous reception by others, and even a lawsuit brought by the New Jersey’s Attorney General against 5 beach-front homeowners, the project was cleared to move on. This summer it was decided that Surf City would be the first to receive the aid from the US Army Corps of Engineers. On October 17th a ceremony was held with New Jersey politicians and Surf City’s Mayor to kick off the beginning of the project, and on November 30th work began to pump sand onto the 9th Street areas of the beach. Despite protests by the Surfrider Foundation and other surf related organizations no consideration was taken to protect the breaks found in Surf City.
Keep Off! My family has owned a house in Surf City since I was born, and my father has been surfing in LBI since he was my age. Long Beach Island, more specifically Surf City, is an integral part of our lives, and it is hard to see something we love so much changing. My biggest concern that this is going to affect my job. I am a member of the Surf City Beach Patrol, and as a 3rd year Life Guard, I know that we’re going to have some big issues to deal with. Dragging our stands so far to and from the water (guess I better start lifting some weights), moving our life down to the water, the possibility of dangerous flash rips due to the lack of jetties, and finally what fun is it going to be not having to ask people to not walk on the jetties.
Changed but workin’ With the projected and already executed parts of this plan, it is easy to see that major changes that loom on the horizon. We might end up with, wider beaches, more exposure to different swell directions, and more protection for the beachfront property owners. We might also end up with fewer jetties to surf, no large sand bars with troughs in the middle, and a greater chance for the relatively quiet beaches of Long Beach Island, to become even more crowded.
It will be interesting to see what the future holds for not only Surf City, Long Beach Island and the rest of our coastal communities.
Have an opinion on the ACOE’s LBI replenishment project? Email Kyle »