New Jersey coastal sand replenishment protects homes after nor'easter

A recent nor'easter has washed away millions of dollars worth of newly replenished sand along the New Jersey coast, specifically impacting areas in Cape May County. Earlier this summer, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers executed major contracts to pump millions of cubic yards of sand into Strathmere, Sea Isle City, and Ocean City to bolster dune systems.

Despite the loss of sand, local officials and the Army Corps of Engineers suggest the replenishment projects functioned as intended. The Army Corps described the dunes and beaches as “sacrificial in nature,” meaning the sand is designed to absorb the impact of storm surges to protect inland infrastructure.

In Atlantic City, the storm created cliffs between 8 and 10 feet high, while Ocean City Mayor Jay Gillian noted that the replenishment project prevented the ocean from breaching the dune system.