Politics & Government

Manasquan Pushing for Federal Beach Replenishment

Officials met with state DEP to discuss recent federal legislation to replenish Manasquan Beaches.

How to replenish Manasquan's beachfront is a question that may be answered with the help of the Army Corps of Engineers.

After the widespread damage of Hurricane Sandy, Manasquan officials have been pushing hard for assistance to build up its beachfront to levels last seen in the 1990s, when the Army Corps of Engineers replenished the beach.

Manasquan officials met recently with New Jersey Department of Environmental
Protection to discuss recent federal legislation, to replenish
Manasquan beaches, and expressed optimism at the meetings.

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The NJ DEP said the Army Corps of Engineers plans to bid out replenishment work, that would restore Manasquan beaches specifically, councilmen said.

The project would result in wider beaches for Manasquan, said Councilman Steve Bossone.

Find out what's happening in Manasquan-Belmarwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“Basically our beach will be bigger, wider and cleaner than before,” said Bossone, who is also the beach committee chairman. 

According to the borough, NJDEP confirmed that the Army Corps of Engineers will be putting out to bid the beach replenishment program that will restore the
beachfront in Manasquan to the 1996 Army Corps engineered specification levels.

That year, the Army Corps of Engineers began engineering Manasquan’s beaches. Now, after Hurricane Sandy, the borough is working with the state and federal agencies to see how a dune replenishment program might fit into the plans. The Borough is waiting for direction from the NJDEP on the state’s proposed dune regulations.

Borough Administrator Joe DeIorio said the project would likely qualify for 100 percent federal reimbursement for the costs, which have not been determined.

In addition to the program's parameters, the government agencies also need to decide when to have public outreach meetings "to inform residents
about the Army Corps of Engineer’s beach replenishment program," announced the borough.

Bossone said the replenishment program will still allow Manasquan beaches to
stay open during the summer.


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