Beach replenishment projects are back on at parts of the Jersey Shore in 2026, just weeks away from peak beach season.
U.S. Rep Jeff Van Drew secured $99 million dollars from the Army Corps this week for beach replenishment.
Here’s what it is, and what it isn’t.
The $99 million is for beach replenishment projects that were slated to occur, but were discontinued after the congressionally directed spending ended in 2025. This money will come from “disaster funding”. $5 million in funding has already gone toward projects on the Maurice River, Cold Spring Inlet, Intracoastal Waterway and more.
The $99 million covers the projects in Rep. Van Drew’s 2nd district. At the Jersey Shore, that’s Cape May, Atlantic, Cumberland and Ocean county as far north as Berkeley Township.
Beaches in Stone Harbor, Avalon, Sea Isle, Strathmere and Ocean City will get the sand they need to keep the houses and roads safer from tidal flooding this year. However, when it’ll happen is still to be determined.
Photos and videos from Strathmere in particular has gone viral for the massive cliffs, or scarping, of beach that took places over the nor’easter season.
Rep. Van Drew says that he’s looking to secure $70 million in 2027 to complete beach fills in Long Beach Island, Atlantic City, Ventnor, Margate and Longport.
Van Drew also introduced the Coastal Trust Fund Act. If it passed, it redirects exists offshore energy lease` money already collected by the federal money and puts it into a trust fund for beach replenishment.
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