News
Mayor: No Sand For SB This Year
By Ryan Fennell
SEA BRIGHT - Sea Bright's beaches took a beating this winter as they were pounded by storm after storm and northeasterly winds that reclaimed the sand dunes and wiped out the dune grasses.
Despite the devastation, Sea Bright is not on the list to receive any sand replenishment this year.
Mayor Maria Fernandes recently told members of the governing body that she and Councilwoman Dina Long met with U.S. Representative Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ-6) earlier this week and he informed them of their absence from the list of municipalities that would be receiving sand replenishment at the end of this summer season.
"Unfortunately, he told us that we are not on the list for sand replenishment," Fernandes said. "Sea Bright might be able to get on the list for the next fiscal season."
According to Fernandes the beaches in neighboring Monmouth Beach and northern Long Branch would be receiving sand replenishment at the end of this season.
"(Pallone) was very upset (sand) was not included as a budget item nor was it included in the stimulus package," Fernandes said. "In New Jersey it's vitally important to our economy." Fernandes said that the idea of constructing an artificial reef was floated during the conversation with the congressman.
"He was receptive to that idea," Fernandes said.
"I fight every year to try to get funding for beach replenishment because there is no funding in the President's budget for it," Pallone said. "So, I have to fight every year to try to add it to the budget. Obviously I'm going to continue to fight to get as much money as I can this year. Once we get funding, then we'll know which projects we'll be able to do."
Pallone said that no replenishment project has been definitively planned; however, if funding becomes available the Army Corp of Engineers would resume replenishment at the point where it left off.
"Based on the loss of sand, the Army Corps is telling me that their priority is to continue North of where they left off," Pallone said.
The most recent replenishment project stopped just South of Pier Village in Long Branch.
"Whatever money they get they'll simply continue and continue north," Pallone said.
As for the construction of an artificial reef in Sea Bright, Pallone said that he would be looking into the possibility.
"We're going to talk to the state to see if they would consider doing it in Sea Bright."
To address the immediate need to replace the ravaged sand dunes and loss of dune grasses, the council has coordinated an all-volunteer effort to repair the devastating damage done to the beaches in the onslaught of winter storms.
The council has declared Sunday, April 25 as Dunes Day in Sea Bright.
Anyone interested in helping to repair the borough's beaches can meet at the public beach any time between dawn and dusk to help re-plant and re-fence the dunes.
Additionally, dune grass plants and snow fencing supplies are available to residents who would like to work on their own beaches. To register or for more information residents can email sbdunesday@gmail.com or speak with Councilwoman Dina Long, Chairwoman of Sea Bright's Beach Committee.
