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Beaches from Lewes to Ocean City, Md., were severely eroded during last week’s visit by Ernesto, and high tides from Hurricane Florence are threatening more damage. The sudden disappearance of local beaches raises new questions about the $18 million spent on the Rehoboth-Dewey replenishment project and an upcoming $27 million project in Bethany Beach and Fenwick Island expected to be started this winter.
Among those concerned is Rep. Mike Castle, who toured the area Friday, Sept. 8, with Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) Secretary John Hughes and Tony Pratt, DNREC shoreline administrator, who said that in time the missing sand would reappear.
In Rehoboth Beach, the congressman saw damage and erosion, particularly along the north end of the Boardwalk. He also saw severe erosion in Bethany Beach, which is targeted for replenishment that may begin this winter.
Officials said the beach in Bethany is in a precarious condition for this time of year.
“My concern is that replenishment is a lot of money and that we are not throwing it all away,” said Castle as he looked over the beach.
A section of the dune was destroyed in north Rehoboth. “This was the pinch point of the project, and we thought we might see some dune damage done there,” said Pratt.
Repairs will be made to the north end of dune area, Hughes said.
Castle was also concerned about the loss of dry beach area. “We experienced about a 10 to 15 percent sand loss because of the storm, and that isn’t great, but the beach is rebuilding,” Hughes said.
The problem arises when factors interrupt the natural progression of beach building, Pratt explained. Each year during the spring and summer, small, steady waves bring in sand and build up the beach to its fullest size. During the late fall and winter, with larger, stronger waves, the beach is eroded and reduced to its smallest size.
With two storms coming back-to-back, the natural beach-rebuilding process has been disturbed.
“There is a lot more sand to come in. The sand is being pushed back in by the wave action. It takes it away in a matter of a tide or two, and it will take a couple of weeks to fully restore itself. Every wave brings in a little more sand and layers it in,” said Pratt.
“It’s a continuing process of moving of the sand back up on the beach by calm wave action over the next several weeks should we not have big wave activity.”
High seas caused by Florence interrupted that process early in the week.
The 50-year replenishment project calls for more sand to be pumped on the Rehoboth and Dewey beaches in 2008, Pratt said.
As Castle listened to the DNREC officials and asked questions, he said he gained a better understanding of the beach-building process. “I feel a lot better now. Their explanations have been helpful,” said Castle.
Bethany replenishment concerns
The Bethany replenishment project is next on the docket for DNREC. During their stop in Bethany on Friday, officials expressed apprehension about the project.
“It’s sooner rather than later as far as Bethany is concerned,” said Castle. “We are concerned with the immediacy of this project and doing as much as we can.”
Ex-mayor Jack Walsh said he has never seen the beach so narrow at this point in the year. Walsh, who was mayor at the time of the Castle visit, resigned from the Bethany Beach Council following Saturday’s election. During the annual reorganization meeting following the election, Carol Olmstead was voted in as mayor.
“The exposure that Bethany and South Bethany have now is way below our comfort level,” said Pratt.
Total funding for the project, $27 million, has not been secured. Pratt said $12 to $14 million is available for the start of the project with another $3 million in federal funds possible this year.
“We will use as much federal money as possible and approach the possibility of fronting the additional portion of the federal share to be reimbursed by them in the future,” said Pratt.
He said officials are serious about getting a project under way as early as this winter and possibly piggybacking on a beach replenishment maintenance project under way in Ocean City.
“A lot of factors have to play out between now and then, but we are committed to getting something done this winter.”
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