Federal, State and Local Partnership to Restore Beaches in Maryland

The Board of Public Works yesterday unanimously approved $4.6 million in funding for regularly-scheduled beach and berm nourishment and repairs in Ocean City.

The Ocean City Beach Replenishment Project will be managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in close cooperation with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Worcester County and Town of Ocean City.

“Replacing and restoring the beaches and berms is essential to the economic health and future of Ocean City,” Maryland Natural Resources Secretary Mark Belton said.

Belton added that the partnership between federal, state and local agencies demonstrates the importance of this project to the Eastern Shore, and the millions of tourists and visitors who flock to the sandy beaches of Ocean City each and every year.

The repair project will include pumping approximately 371,000 cubic yards of sand onto the beach to replace and restore sand lost during the January 2016 winter storm (Jonas) and bringing the berm up to the minimum design template. Additionally, up to another 512,000 cubic yards of sand will be placed to replenish the beach and berm to bring the project up to full design template.

The sand for the project will be pumped from a borrow area located approximately 3 miles offshore of Ocean City in federal waters.

Work is expected to start after Labor Day and be completed in late winter 2017.

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