Strathmere’s North-end Beaches Badly Eroded

PETERSBURG – Upper Township Committee discussed a recent Stockton University Coastal Research Center survey that outlines worsening erosion at the north end of Strathmere, the resort neighborhood which is part of the municipality.
According to municipal Engineer Paul Dietrich’s summary Sept. 10, “The erosional pattern of the north end even over the last few weeks is losing significant amounts of sand.
“Our initial beach fill done by the Army Corps of Engineers (ACE) has really been impacted by erosion, all the way to dry sand. There are significant drop-offs now at Seaview Avenue where we’ve had to close beach access.
“We have a problem with the channel at the north end although the north end of every inlet along the Jersey Shore has become a problem.”
The center’s report, based on a survey completed June 8, compares seasonal shoreline and sand volume changes, current beach conditions and engineered beach performance year-over-year with data from March 2018 and December 2017.
Data were collected at six oceanfront beach profile locations covering beaches from Seaview Avenue to First Street.
The content of the report addresses changes at engineered beaches done by the ACE in Strathmere but not changes which occurred on state property at Corson’s Inlet State Park, which is faring well as a result of influxes of sand from the channel.
Mayor Richard Palombo concluded, “I am really concerned about this situation. With the new moon coming, tidal surges and flooding are not going to go away. And that’s without taking into account whatever effects we’ll be getting from (Hurricane) Florence or other hurricanes and storms this season. We must stay on top of this.”
Palombo asked Dietrich to closely monitor what is happening, and Dietrich said he would be inspecting those locations in Strathmere every other day.
To contact Camille Sailer, email csailer@cmcherald.com.