Dune grass plantings mark official end of beach replenishment

All of the heavy equipment has been gone for months, but a beach replenishment project in Rehoboth Beach technically finished earlier this month.

During the city manager’s report of a Dec. 15 commissioner meeting, Interim City Manager Evan Miller said the planting of dune grass as part of the project had recently been completed.

Following the meeting, Steve Rochette, Army Corps of Engineers spokesman, said Rehoboth had 1,231 grass plants installed.

Bethany Beach and South Bethany also received sand and new grass plants. Rochette said 2,805 grass plants were added in Bethany Beach, with 4,786 grass plants installed in South Bethany. There were no plantings in Fenwick Island or Dewey Beach, he said.

The cost of the project – a total of $23.8 million for all the communities – was split between the federal government and the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control – 65% federal, 35% state. The project, designed to reduce storm damage to infrastructure, has been done five times before – 2009, 2011, 2013, 2016 and 2019.