U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS COMPLETES JETTY REPAIR AND
RESILIENCE PROJECT AT ISLAND BEACH STATE PARK

(14/P120) TRENTON – A major repair project of the north jetty at Barnegat Inlet, which creates a more resilient navigational channel and safeguards the southern tip of state-owned Island Beach State Park in Ocean County, is now complete, Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Bob Martin announced today.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) Philadelphia District awarded a $7.6 million contract for the project earlier this year and work began in May. The completed work, performed by Agate Construction Company of Clermont in Cape May County, stabilized approximately 740 feet of jetty stones on the north side of the inlet, which was battered by Superstorm Sandy.

In addition to having a restored jetty, the State Park Service has re-opened the site for fishing.

“Completion of this important project to deal with severe damage caused by Superstorm Sandy has created a resilient shoreline to better protect the inlet from future storms,” said Commissioner Martin. “We thank the Army Corps of Engineers for moving as quickly as possible to get this massive job done and to get the inlet fully reopened to our residents and visitors.’’
                                                           
“Despite working in difficult conditions in Barnegat Inlet, our contractor was able to complete the project on schedule,” said USACE Project Engineer Gavin Kaiser.

Superstorm Sandy caused the displacement of jetty stones along the north jetty that borders Island Beach State Park’s shoreline. The storm-created openings between the jetty stones, allowing an intruding flow of sand and water which, if unabated, could have caused future shoaling in Barnegat Inlet and erosion at the southern-most beach area of Island Beach State Park.

The repair project, funded through the Sandy Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013, involved rebuilding the cross-section of the jetty, using existing capstone, supplemented with additional capstone, corestone and stone-filled mattresses.

With the completion of the project, fishing access to the Barnegat Inlet jetty is now permitted. A line of dune fence has been installed parallel to the jetty, with access openings every 50 feet to allow easy and equitable access for all visitors.

With the completion of the project, Island Beach State Park staff is now allowing access to the Barnegat Inlet jetty. A line of dune fence has been installed parallel to the jetty, with access openings every 50 feet to allow easy and equitable access for all visitors.

However, vehicles are not permitted along the eastern end of the fence to protect the structural integrity of the base of the jetty, which begins under the sand.

“Parking and walking the short, 35-foot distance from the jetty affords all users the ability to access and move freely throughout the length of the jetty, while protecting the base of the jetty,” said Island Beach State Park manager Ray Bukowski. “We thank our park users and mobile sport fishing permit holders for their patience, and welcome them back to a favorite fishing spot.”

Recent overhead digital images of the project for media to download are available at http://bit.ly/10QTEr8. A recent video of the work is also available at: http://vimeo.com/108946153. Media utilizing these photos or video should credit Bob Alberding/ RemoteControlAerialProductions.com.

The Barnegat Inlet north jetty was first constructed in 1940 and raised in elevation in 1974. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dredged the inlet last July. The inlet requires dredging to provide a safe and reliable navigation channel for the U.S. Coast Guard and a large fishing fleet consisting of full-time commercial, charter and recreational vessels. 

Shaped by storms and tides, Island Beach State Park is a narrow barrier island stretching for 10 miles between the ocean and Barnegat Bay. It is one of New Jersey's last significant remnants of a barrier island ecosystem and is one of the few remaining undeveloped barrier beaches on the north Atlantic coast.

For more on Island Beach State Park, visit: http://www.nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/parks/island.html

For more information on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Philadelphia District, visit: http://www.nap.usace.army.mil/