FIRST PHASE OF INDIAN RIVER INLET BEACH NOURISHMENT PROJECT NEAR COMPLETION
The Indian River Inlet Beach Nourishment Project in Delaware is heading towards completion of its first phase, according to the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC).
The state agency's phase of the emergency dredging and beach nourishment endeavour, launched in late November, is on track to wrap up by the middle of February. The project is adding nearly 500,000 cubic yards of sand to the beach and dunes, serving a twofold purpose: restoring a severely eroded beach and safeguarding critical transportation infrastructure.
The progress update was announced following DNREC's newly introduced Field Trip Friday, an initiative by Secretary Greg Patterson. This program aims to promote engagement among colleagues, elected officials, and stakeholders, providing ground-level insights into key DNREC projects.
On the recent site visit, Secretary Patterson, his deputy, Dayna Cobb, and other DNREC specialists were joined by staff from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and state and U.S. Senators. They reviewed the beach restoration's progress and discussed the subsequent steps of the project.
Secretary Patterson lauded this project as a testament to the impressive teamwork across the department in working towards strengthening Delaware's coastal resilience. Notably, this restoration initiative will be handed over to the USACE for the execution of the next phase after DNREC completes its part.
The project involves pumping and placing 480,000 cubic yards of sand to restore the severely eroded beach and dune, crucial for protecting State Route 1. This is in addition to the emergency measures taken last summer when a dune breach necessitated months of trucking in sand.
The restoration aims to fortify the dune against storm damage while reshaping the beach to mitigate erosion. The project has already restored the dune to a width of 25 feet at its crest, with a relative beach elevation height of 6 to 8 feet. The reinvigorated beach now extends at least 150 feet wide along over 5,000 linear feet of shoreline.
While DNREC is wrapping up its task on the inlet's north side, USACE is gearing up to start a complementary phase of the project later this year, targeting an overall addition of 800,000 cubic yards of sand between the two phases. The two agencies are collaborating to ensure the prolonged stability of the beach, dune, and adjoining infrastructure.
DNREC anticipates that the Field Trip Fridays initiative will foster stronger relations between leadership, staff, and community partners throughout the year. Above all, the goal is to highlight the agency's environmental work in Delaware and facilitate constructive discussions on the state's ecological future.
Photo Credit: DNREC
The state agency's phase of the emergency dredging and beach nourishment endeavour, launched in late November, is on track to wrap up by the middle of February. The project is adding nearly 500,000 cubic yards of sand to the beach and dunes, serving a twofold purpose: restoring a severely eroded beach and safeguarding critical transportation infrastructure.
The progress update was announced following DNREC's newly introduced Field Trip Friday, an initiative by Secretary Greg Patterson. This program aims to promote engagement among colleagues, elected officials, and stakeholders, providing ground-level insights into key DNREC projects.
On the recent site visit, Secretary Patterson, his deputy, Dayna Cobb, and other DNREC specialists were joined by staff from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and state and U.S. Senators. They reviewed the beach restoration's progress and discussed the subsequent steps of the project.
Secretary Patterson lauded this project as a testament to the impressive teamwork across the department in working towards strengthening Delaware's coastal resilience. Notably, this restoration initiative will be handed over to the USACE for the execution of the next phase after DNREC completes its part.
The project involves pumping and placing 480,000 cubic yards of sand to restore the severely eroded beach and dune, crucial for protecting State Route 1. This is in addition to the emergency measures taken last summer when a dune breach necessitated months of trucking in sand.
The restoration aims to fortify the dune against storm damage while reshaping the beach to mitigate erosion. The project has already restored the dune to a width of 25 feet at its crest, with a relative beach elevation height of 6 to 8 feet. The reinvigorated beach now extends at least 150 feet wide along over 5,000 linear feet of shoreline.
While DNREC is wrapping up its task on the inlet's north side, USACE is gearing up to start a complementary phase of the project later this year, targeting an overall addition of 800,000 cubic yards of sand between the two phases. The two agencies are collaborating to ensure the prolonged stability of the beach, dune, and adjoining infrastructure.
DNREC anticipates that the Field Trip Fridays initiative will foster stronger relations between leadership, staff, and community partners throughout the year. Above all, the goal is to highlight the agency's environmental work in Delaware and facilitate constructive discussions on the state's ecological future.
Photo Credit: DNREC
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