Beach replenishment has begun in Rehoboth Beach

More than a million cubic yards of sand coming to Delaware over the next few months

Beach replenishment has begun in Rehoboth Beach, beginning with the area in front of the One Virginia Avenue condominiums. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO

In Rehoboth, the project is slated to bring about 300,000 cubic yards of sand from the Deauville Beach area south to Delaware Avenue. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO

As seen from the roof of the Boardwalk Plaza, it takes a lot of equipment to make it work. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO

These Prius-sized cages catch any unwanted munitions that might get sucked up and pumped ashore. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO

In a couple of weeks, probably in time for Memorial Day, all this equipment will be gone and there will be a new beach. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO

Like a group of clydesdales getting ready to work, these tractors wait for the next shipment of sand to arrive. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO

The Boardwalk Plaza Hotel has made a sign to inform guests what’s going on. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO

In addition to the normal wear and tear on equipment, the saltwater adds another level. KEITH MISENER PHOTO

The contractor’s dredge brings about 2,000 cubic yards of sand to the beach each trip and it takes 60 to 90 minutes to unload. KEITH MISENER PHOTO

Constant wave action can make progress slow. KEITH MISENER PHOTO

Chris Flood

April 21, 2023

Event Date:

Wed, 04/19/2023 - 01:45 pm

Beach replenishment has begun in Rehoboth Beach, beginning with the area in front of the One Virginia Avenue condominiums. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO

In Rehoboth, the project is slated to bring about 300,000 cubic yards of sand from the Deauville Beach area south to Delaware Avenue. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO

As seen from the roof of the Boardwalk Plaza, it takes a lot of equipment to make it work. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO

These Prius-sized cages catch any unwanted munitions that might get sucked up and pumped ashore. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO

In a couple of weeks, probably in time for Memorial Day, all this equipment will be gone and there will be a new beach. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO

Like a group of clydesdales getting ready to work, these tractors wait for the next shipment of sand to arrive. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO

The Boardwalk Plaza Hotel has made a sign to inform guests what’s going on. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO

In addition to the normal wear and tear on equipment, the saltwater adds another level. KEITH MISENER PHOTO

The contractor’s dredge brings about 2,000 cubic yards of sand to the beach each trip and it takes 60 to 90 minutes to unload. KEITH MISENER PHOTO

Constant wave action can make progress slow. KEITH MISENER PHOTO

Story Location

Olive Avenue
Boardwalk
Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971
United States

After weather- and equipment-related delays, beach replenishment has begun in Rehoboth Beach.

New Jersey-based Weeks Marine began staging equipment a few weeks ago, with sand starting to be pumped earlier this week.

Rehoboth is slated to receive nearly 300,000 cubic yards of sand and dune fencing repair from the Deauville Beach area south to Delaware Avenue. According to a post on the city’s Facebook page, the dredge brings about 2,000 cubic yards of sand to the beach each trip and it takes 60 to 90 minutes to unload.

After Rehoboth, work will move to Dewey Beach, which will receive about 195,000 cubic yards of sand. Dewey’s sand will be placed on the beach from Saulsbury Street south to Beach Avenue.

The $23.8 million contract between the Army Corps of Engineers and Weeks Marine also calls for about 245,000 cubic yards in Bethany Beach, 287,000 cubic yards in South Bethany and 207,000 cubic yards in Fenwick Island. The sequence of work will be north to south. It’s estimated the 24-hours-per-day, seven-days-per-week project will take at least two weeks in each community.