USA: Ocean City Sand Replenishment Begins

Ocean City will receive a Valentine’s gift from the Army Corps of Engineers.

The Corps ‘periodic sand replenishment program will begin at the mentioned location on or about February 16 th depending on the weather. A 309 ft. Dredge operated by the Great Lake Dredge and Dock Company of Oak Brook, Illinois will operate 24 hours a day. The dredge will be located in the ocean off the north end of the island with no noise impacts to residents.

It will be replacing a total of 1.8 million cubic yards of sand and be pumping 19,050 cubic yards a day. It should take less than five days to replenish an average Ocean City block.

Dredging will begin at Beach Rd. in the North end of the City and proceed north to Seaspray Beach then proceed south to 14thSt. with all beaches in the area replenished. The current limit of the project is 14thSt. although the City is negotiating to extend the project south. The beach fill operation as it now stands is expected to take 95 days to complete.

The cost for the original project prior to Super Storm Sandy was $10,320,000 of which the Federal Government was responsible for 65 per cent, NJDEP 26.25 per cent and the City 8.75 percent. It is estimated that supplemental Sandy funds will add about $5.5 Million to the contract to buy sand lost to the storm at 100 per cent Federal cost.

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Press Release, February 14, 2013