Monday, April 15, 2013

04.15.13 Deal and Loch Arbor sign on for beach replenishment.....



Loch Arbor beach 4/03/13
     Well, it's finally here. Beach replenishment, oh wait, nourishment, it's one of the things I hate most when you cross Mother Nature and "smart" humans. Well "Jetty Country" may not be spared the bulldozers and dump trucks and pump ships and pipes any longer. What Sandy did, or didn't do, it has given the Army Corp of Engineers, the NJ DEP, and now the municipalities all the reasons why re-building the beaches now makes sense.



     At 7pm tonight in Loch Arbor was the public hearing and vote on the Resolution # 2013-63, "Authorizing Right of Way to the New Jersey, Department of Environmental Protection for beach replenishment in the Village of Loch Arbor." During the meeting we learned Deal has already signed on board.
     In the 1990's Elberon, Deal, Allenhurst, and Loch Arbor said no to beach replenishment. Over the last 20 years beaches have been filled, emptied, refilled, emptied, and refilled, and groins constructed, notched, reconstructed.....and inlets also. But "Jetty Country" remained intact. Well maybe not during Phase 1 of the next round of sand pumping, but in a later phase, re-nourishment will happen from the 8th Avenue jetty to Elberon, or to West End. The Army Corp has told Loch Arbor that they are looking to bring the Village back to pre-Sandy beach profile....yeah right. I hope they aren't going to tell Allenhurst that Wednesday, or already sold that island to Deal.
     So beaches will be bigger, drops off more severe, no dunes...because people don't like them, and the famous jetties will be filled in, and yes, trust me, notched. Look at Bradley, Spring Lake and Long Branch, and Belmar too.
     I have to say I was disappointed with the turnout from the fishing community tonight. The surfers had some good numbers and good speakers. Former Mayor Bill Rosenblatt talked at length about the 1990's when Loch Arbor and the other towns said no. Capt Paul Eidman from the Anglers Conservation Network spoke as well. In the end the four commissioners all voted "yes". Let the nightmare begin.

Allenhurst hasn't voted on this yet but keep looking as they will be having an upcoming public meeting sometime in the near future.

Bill Rosenblatt
Loch Arbor Mayor Fernicola
Loch Arbor Engineer Peter Avakian