Council reviews beach erosion work and federal push for dedicated nourishment funding

Council members discussed coastal erosion and federal coordination at the Sept. 3 meeting, reporting recent talks with Congressman Van Drew and Army Corps engineers and outlining next steps to seek dedicated federal funding for beach nourishment.

The mayor (name not stated) reviewed a recent multijurisdictional meeting that included Southshore engineers and a deputy Army Corps representative. "They want to take a look at that," the mayor said of possible hard structures such as low-profile jetties (groins), adding that the Army Corps will conduct a year-long study covering Brigantine and other East Coast barrier islands to evaluate whether such structures help retain sand and what unintended consequences might arise.

The mayor described federal funding for replenishment as complex and drawn from multiple sources, saying it currently comes from earmarks, 'Sandy' relief funds and the transportation infrastructure bill, and that those streams are running down. He said Congressman Van Drew is pushing legislation to create a specific federal line item for beach nourishment so money would be consistently available. "If we can have dedicated funding...you might have more companies start up because then there's a better opportunity at making succeed," the mayor said, arguing that more competition could help reduce costs.

Officials also discussed trade-offs and local effects. The mayor warned that a jetty placed at one location could cause sand accretion on one side and erosion on the other, citing local examples and past structures. He said discussions emphasized cost-benefit analysis and careful study: "They really don't know why" some hard structures have worked in some places and failed in others, he said.

What happens next: Council said it will continue coordination with federal agencies and with Congressman Van Drew's office while Army Corps studies proceed. The mayor said he would share photos and project information with the deputy corps representative and follow up with local stakeholders to press for clearer timelines and funding commitments.

For accuracy: the transcript alternates spelling variants and contains colloquial references; readers should consult the Army Corps, congressional communications and published study materials for technical details and final engineering recommendations.