Beach Replenishment News Archives

April 27, 2023

April 19, 2023

Beach Fill is Underway in Avalon

On Monday morning, April 17, the first grains of sand were taken from the Townsend’s Inlet borrow site and placed on the northern beaches of Avalon. The contractor, Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company (GLDD) is making steady progress in Avalon and is expected to complete their portion of the contract by May 9th. This will allow for beach fill operations in Stone Harbor to begin on the scheduled date of May 12th.

Over the next few weeks, we can anticipate the mobilization of pipes along Stone Harbor beaches, and a survey team will assess pre-fill conditions and make any necessary adjustments to the template. After the survey, discussions will take place to determine where the sand from the contract options will be placed. Currently, the project is on schedule, and Avalon’s progress will be closely monitored.

April 13, 2023

WEEKLY BEACH FILL UPDATE:

GLDD’s dredge, Texas, is scheduled to depart from New York on April 14th and arrive on April 15th. Dredging operations are planned to commence on April 17th. The water side mobilization of Stone Harbor is slated to begin this week offshore. Prior to landing the pipe on our beach, GLDD’s team will notify the Borough. The timeline from last week has remained unchanged.

February 17, 2023

Below is a copy of the letter being sent to all property owners in Stone Harbor and Avalon providing information on the Structure Monitoring Program that will take place during the Beachfill construction.

****NJ – TOWNSENDS INLET – BEACH NOURISHMENT – AVALON TO STONE HARBOR****
Great Lakes Dredge and Dock will begin beach nourishment from Townsends Inlet to Cape May Inlet. Beach fill will start from Avalon 9th Street to 32nd
Street Avalon, NJ and Stone Harbor 91th Street to 122th Street, Stone Harbor, NJ. The Cutter Suction Dredge (CSD) Texas will dredge material from
the Townsends Inlet Borrow Area, located approximately 5,000 feet offshore, northeast of the project location, west of the Townsends Inlet. The material
will pump through one subline extending from the borrow
area to the placement beach. GLDD has secured two waterside staging areas on the Cape May Inlet where rafted pipeline and equipment will be stored
when not in use. The survey vessel and crew transfer vessel (CTV) Saginaw River will traverse between the work areas and Avalon Marina throughout
the duration of the project. All vessels will monitor VHF – FM 16 & 13. Dredging will be conducted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and is expected to be
completed June 30, 2023.
Chart 12318 LNM 04/23

The LNM (Local Notice to Mariners) can be found online at: https://www.navcen.uscg.gov
Local Notice to Mariners, District 5, January, 04/23 Weekly Edition

February 8, 2023

Pre-construction surveys are underway for the 2023 Beachfill Project. GBA (survey sub-contractor for Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company) has started preconstruction surveys and will be driving on the beaches of both Stone Harbor and Avalon over the next 5-6 days.  Their vehicles will be marked with the GBA logo and they will also be using vessels, which will be coming near shore.  They are aware of the access restrictions and impediments in both boroughs and will be driving with caution.

January 27, 2023

On January 25, a pre-construction meeting for the upcoming 2023 Beach Fill project for Avalon and Stone Harbor beaches was held at Stone Harbor Borough Hall. Participants in the meeting included representatives from the US Army Corps of Engineers, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, the Borough of Stone Harbor and Avalon, and the Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company of Illinois.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Philadelphia District has awarded a contract to Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company of Oak Brook, IL for $28.8 million to conduct the beachfill project in Avalon and Stone Harbor. The project is a joint effort between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and the boroughs of Avalon and Stone Harbor.

The contract calls for dredging sand from the Townsends Inlet borrow site. Sand is then pumped through a series of pipes, placed on beaches, and graded into an engineered dune and berm template, which is designed to reduce damages from coastal storm events. The contract includes the following work:

• Avalon: Sand will be placed from 9^th Street to 18^th The contract currently calls for 231,000 cubic yards of sand to be placed; however, the contract includes options to place additional sand. (Note – the beachfill placement area could be extended if contract options are awarded)
• Stone Harbor: Sand will be placed from 90^thto 123^rd The contract currently calls for placing 464,000 cubic yards of sand; however, the contract includes options to place additional sand. (Note – the beachfill placement area could be extended if contract options are awarded)

The beach nourishment project will start at the north end of Avalon, working south down to Stone Harbor. It is important to note that start and end dates of the project may also be affected by weather conditions and mechanical maintenance issues.

While residents may observe mobilization work starting in late February, the beach fill in Avalon is anticipated to start on or around March 20, starting at Townsends Inlet groin and build south. Work in Avalon is anticipated to be completed between March 30 – April 16, depending upon how many additional options are approved by the Army Corps. Once work is complete in Avalon, it will take approximately 2 days to mobilize the equipment to Stone Harbor.

Stone Harbor beach fill will then begin at the northernmost fill section and build south, between April 1 – April 17. Depending upon how many additional options are approved by the Army Corps, work will be completed in Stone Harbor approximately 32 days after the start, for base work only. The end date will vary from May 3 (if Avalon receives no additional options); May 19 (if Avalon receives all options); or June 9 (if both Avalon and Stone Harbor receive all options).