Delaware North Side IRI Sand Pumping

I'm glad I don't live in DE. I'd hate having to deal with all that shore pound garbage.

Good luck!

 

I wished I knew you were there, would have said "Hi"

If you don't mind I would like to add some further informational points

The 2005 replenishment seems to have used medium grain to course grain size (5-8 millimeter) with small gravel. The Army Corp has preferred this size of sand as not acceptable to wind loss on beach profiles. As constant wave action on the beach this heavier grain size tends to create deeper drop offs "beach breaks" over the finer sand material that tends to create a flatter slope ideal for sand bars and surfing.

This project is a Federal project by Army Corp Phila District funded by Sandy Relief Approbations by Congress last year and DNREC is a partner. The project will pump 500,000 cubic yards of fine sand from the shoal south across from the Coast Guard Station via barge and lay pipes under the Bridge to Northside and down the Beach. So new bern's will be constructed 16" high to protect the Bridge and Route 1. The beach width will be increased some 50 feet to 1984 beach contour surveys 3500 feet south of the Northside Jetty. Their are several holes in the Northside Jetty that does transport sand from Northside through the Jetty into the Inlet tidal prism. Those repairs will "band aide" loss of replenish sand and will contribute to NS stability to retain sand in the long term. The finer sand should be a welcome by the surfing community over previous replenishments. Although timing and funding of this project is long over due by the Army Corp this by no means will resolve other problems with Northside in the long term to restore this vital and historicial surf spot.

Although we just began this journey, we had a great turn out last night but going forward the paricipation with Delaware Surfrider Chapter by locals as well as day "trippers" is so vital to our success either attending our meetings or gathering further information off the Facebook page.

I deeply appreciate Surfrider National with the assistance of SR Regional Director and Delaware Chapter of Surfrider wrapping themselves around this endeavor to retore this valuable historic surf spot.

 

Well for once it seems like the state is actually taking some actual science info into account. It was always just dump the sand and spread it out. Its good to see them actual considering the grain size, which is important for sandbars AND near shore aquatic animals. I've heard the larger particles really hurt sand fleas populations and thus any beach or inlet fishing.

Thanks for showing your support guys, I wish I could have made it out there. Lets get those bars back! Enough spinal injuries!

 

I second that. Not just spinal, but broken collar bones, concussions ect. Needless injuries.

 

This beach replenishment is just a start to fixing the long term problems at the North Side.

A longer term solution will be studied and (hopefully) implemented by DNREC. Patching the existing jetty is one idea to be studied (an most likely implemented once studies are completed). Lengthening the jetty back to its original 600 foot (I think) length is another idea. This would be a very expensive option. IMHO making the jetty longer is necessary for the longer term stability of sand at the NSIRI.
At least one elected official representing this area would like to see a breakwater or seawall put at the Northside to save the road at all costs.
Herring Point was going to be a T-shaped jetty until Surfrider stepped up and worked with DNREC for a better solution for all involved parties.

 

All true....the breakwater idea at northside IRI even got some newspaper coverage a couple of times....a terrible idea, which is supported by at least a couple elected officials in the area.

At Herring Point the range of options to protect the historic resources and beach included breakwaters and/or t- shaped groins both of which would ended surfing at that location. The Delaware Chapter of the surfrider foundation played a key role in preventing those awful concepts from ever seeing the light of day at Herring Point.

Micah,
Nice seeing you last night....thanks for getting the word out on this important issue.

 

True, Micah, there was no long term plan mentioned other than performing studies of the area. There is talk of a study group forming comprised of local elected officials, ACoE and DNREC. Surfrider, surf fishermen, etc. should also be included in this group.

The thing to remember with all replenishment and hard structure projects is that one size does not fit all. Every project needs to be studied closely because the dynamics are unique to each location.

Ocean City, MD replenishment has had no long term negative effects on surfing in OC. Rehoboth and Dewey? Catastrophic destruction of surf breaks in town and north/south of these areas. Sand quality is but one factor as to why this is happening.

 

Wish i could have made it...thank you to all of you who went.

 

Beach replenishment is done wrong in Delaware. They have been doing this for years and every year the beach is worse then the year before. Also no one ever talks about the lives ruined by the replenishment. They dump the sand on the beach with creates a steep beach. These beaches paralyze and even kill people every year. They need to stop pumping sand and create an artificial reef. An artificial reef would create a safe (non-shore brake) shore, it would be great for the marine life, and would bring money to the towns from surfers and fisherman's. These reefs can be designed as a great surf brakes too.

 

The matter at hand comes down to the $$$$. Artificial reef projects costs millions of dollars, years of planning & research, & have little hopes of ever being created. The representative from DNREC stated that the state is more interested is soft solutions (sand, dune structure, etc.) then they are on hard structures (jetty & groins). They do however understand the integral part they can play & have worked to try to maintain the existing structures as they are.

The reason Rehoboth & Dewey were destroyed was due to the sand quality used in 2004/2005. They used a coarse sand that had a lot of gravel in it. The beaches are still taking awhile to recover from this. In OC they use a finer grain sand which only ruins that break for a couple months before the sand sorts itself out & becomes surfable again. I personally have surfed Rehoboth over the years, mostly during bigger swells, it does break just not consistently.

The other issue facing surfers is the battle between DNREC & The Army Corps. At Indian River the Jetties themselves & the waterway falls under Arm Corps control. Due to budget constraints they have no money allocated to maintain either aspect.So when it comes to fixing the Jetties it is up to public & organizations to work with local representatives to help make our voice heard in Congress, so that way they can reallocate money to fix these issues. DNREC will be working with the University of Delaware this year to discover & provide scientific data of the issues that exists with the Inlet Jetties. Combine that information with an organized effort amongsts surfers & you have a shot at making your voice heard.

As much as we can all complain & whine about how they ruin our surf breaks, if you aren't doing anything to help make a change then you don't have room to talk. We all need to get together to show that we are an organized group & they we do have power in our numbers. Get involved with the Surfrider Organization, even if you can't make it to the monthly meetings you can still receive all the information about what is going on. And when there is a big meeting/public forum then that's when you show up to show your support. This will only work if we can get everyone working together in a forward motion. Like Mitchell said we can make a change! I sat in that room with him almost 6 or 7 years ago, we made a change then & we surely can make one now!

 

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I really like the way you think and I thought I was the "one man band"

We can only hope the final conclusion of the U of D study on Northside will echo our thoughts on NS Jetty. Personally would like to see DNREC provide DE Surfrider Chapter some transparency upon its completion. The importance of this study in the very least will encompass the current Jetty and Inlet changes since Tetra Tech Engineering study that was contracted by the Army Corp. in 1993. That study was extremely unfavorable to the longevity of the NS Jetty so how the Army Corp. can currently state the Jetty is functioning as a navigational structure is beyond "engineering" common sense to avoid structure failure. Another unknown will be the tidal currents velocities once the old bridge supports are removed on scouring the slopes of the toe of the NS Jetty? The shocking conclusion of the Tecra Tech report if NS Jetty experience a severe Hurricane at present Inlet scouring the NS Jetty could experience "catastrophic" failure by 2020. If the Army Corp. continues their same path of "DO Nothing" we have 7 years to go if find out if Tectra conclusions were correct. Personally, I rather not and hope we can stay the course even with a few bumps along the way not experience their findings. The Tectra Tech study recommended the use of 6-8 ton stone over the original 4 ton stone used in 1938 to with stand storm damage as well as sand matts that have been successful collecting and holding sand. The issue of beach erosion is much greater on the Northside Jetty and lessens northward to the "Cove" from Professor Dalrymple studies on IRI as far back as 1977. You don't have to be a "Coastal Engineer" for those who surfed NS many years ago when the NS Jetty was much longer sand retention was not as critical as we see it today. Studies of NS Jetty has lost 400 feet since 1938 about 2 feet per year so how long is the Army Corp. going to allow the NS Jetty to reseed until its reaching the side walk?

As far as economics, it certainly in my opinion should play a role parallel to the science. I've read prior studies of the value of the Seashore Park sand as well as revenue of Park visitors not with standing million of dollars to the beach industry. When you add all those figures the rough estimate to restore the NS Jetty of 20 M is peanuts in the scheme of economic prior ties. This facet of NS should be dialoged with State and Congressional elected officials as this normally opens their eyes with their constituents the importance of those who thrive on beach economy.

I know some find it easier to point fingers and blame DNREC for conditions at Northside. The Northside Jetty was constructed in 1938 while SeasShore State Park was not anex from the Federal government until some 25 years later. DNREC didn't create the problem nor should they be blamed for it either. Some think the Sand "By-Pass" system contributes to the surf conditions at Northside. DNREC inherited the Army Corp. problems at IRI. The sand travels with the currents South to North called "Long Shore Drift" the IRI interrupted the flow of sand. Northside had no way of receiving sand other than manually putting it there via the sand "By Pass" system. The earlier studies demonstrated nearly 100,000 cubic yards of sand was interrupted so that sand was replaced. If the By Pass system was not part of maintaining Northside, the beach would have eroded beyond the foundation of the old bridge leaving no beach other than scarp. I've studied this "monster" for over 1 1/2 years and honestly found NO evidence DNREC should be blamed for loss of sand much less surf conditions at NS. The culpability is on behalf of Army Corp. who has applied the least expensive as well as easiest remedies to IRI other than the "Do nothing" approach.

On a more positive note from the DNREC and DE Surfrider Chapter meeting, we as "stake holders" have initiated a "partnership" to seek collaboration of mutual solutions for Northside. In regards to deterioration of NS Jetty (remember the Army Corp. built the Jetty) that remedy is going to have to be "political" with Congressional representatives with Army Corp.. That's not always an easy task buts its "doable"; we have to try as future of Northside is worth the effort, just say'n.

 

We will see how much of the inlet is left after this upcoming hurricane season...

 

Groin at north end of fill cell

We must as surfers consider the fact that the State decision makers, including DNREC, will UNDOUBTEDLY opt for bridge and roadway protection FIRST and FOREMOST, and not allow ourselves to be lulled into a false sense of security that well intended DNREC beach renourishment officials are concerned about the rebuilding of sand bars to enhance surfing through finer sand fill utilization. When the bridge and roadway are threatened there is NO doubt that EXTREME measures will be implemented. Correspondingly it will be VERY expensive repeating this proposed back fill of finer material from the shoals inside the inlet on a regular basis. What happens if a huge storm moves all this material (which is finer sand subject to rapid relocation) and the roadway and bridge are threatened yet again. The hammer will fall very quickly then and sand bars will be the least of their concerns (if they really are now).

For that reason it seems that if a groin like Herring Point were constructed at the north end of the cell of new fill then both objectives would be accomplished; namely the material would be better protected from movement (still allowing sand bars along the face of the fill cell for surfing) and therefore protecting the bridge and roadway where current washouts are occuring AND providing a point break at the north end of the fill cell (much like Herring Point). Yes this will starve downward litoral drift which is currently already an issue but it will accomplish the State's main objective of bridge and roadway protection with the added benefit of at least two possible enhanced surfing benefits,i.e. sand bars along the fill cell and a point break. The amount of fill to be deposited from the backfill within the inlet will not be a long term fix for the starvation resulting from the inlet jettys unless performed regularly in an amount equal to or greater than the current accretion on south side. Tony Pratt told us the annual erosion rate is a few feet per year if nothing is done. If there were northern balancing (movement towards Dewey Beach) of the capture of sand at south side then the majority of that material would be vacated from the bridge and roadway leaving the exact problem that the State is facing today. The material either has to be very coarse and not as subject to movement or it must be retained within a defined area (presumably by a hard structure). There is only one choice here, either protect the bridge and roadway or replenish the northern starvation caused by southside jetty. Both will not happen unless this process is done regularly and I did not hear that in the meeting. Even with southside pumping (which has been far less than promised or even reported to have been done) if there is a net loss of beach the bridge and roadway WILL be PROTECTED and you know what that means.

There appears to be a risk in believing what we want to believe while not considering the reality of what is transpiring in the minds of the State officials who are apparently funding this project.

DNREC is not currently in favor of hard structures, only a policy decision, not a requirement. Wouldn't it be better to use Herring Point as the example of success ( in large part through Surfrider FDN) where a groin accomplished the desired result, while not starving the Cape and resulting in a class A break?

 

Demolish that old bridge and dump it 300 yards offshore, problem solved.

 

Problem of getting rid of the old bridge...solved
Problem that the inlet jetties block the south to north transport of sand causing shoreline erosion north of the inlet...not solved.

 

There is more than "one way to go", Swale. Some elected officials favor a breakwater/L-shaped Jetty at NSIRI or a sea wall build next to the road. These are two obviously bad ideas for many reasons, not just surfing.

Your suggestion is a good question for Tony. Hard structures have been avoided for several reasons. Cost and environmental impact being 2 of them. Others on this thread to can speak to the daunting task of building a new structure. Surfrider may have had a very big part in Herring Point, but we should give credit where credit is due. Tony Pratt (and at least one other DNREC person) played a very big part in getting Herring Point to where it is today. He was opposed to a T-shaped jetty at Herring Point from the get-go. Lets not also forget that the awesomeness that is Herring Point came at a cost, too. We lost the south jetty break there in the process.

The road takes priority, no doubt. Tony said as much at the meeting. In my opinion DNREC is less of a problem (relatively) than elected officials. At least DNREC is interested in meeting and having a dialog with end users like us surfers. Some elected officials have said they want a breakwater and/or a sea wall. Others have said they are not going to do a thing to help surfers.

This replenishment is a first step in a very long and very expensive process. The best we can hope for is to petition both DNREC and elected officials that we, taxpaying surfers and other beach users, demand a seat at the table when discussing the future of OUR beach.

The sand by-pass operation has been a huge problem for at least the last 2 years. Sometimes sand is not being pumped due to break downs or other reasons. Even when the sand is pumped, it not put where Tony wants it to go. In my opinion, the by-pass should be subbed out to a private contractor to ensure constant and proper operation. I am sure Goofy Footer can shed more light on the recent by-pass problems that, I think, contributed to the massive erosion that has taken place at NSIRI in the last 2+/- yrs.

 

true, but it would create one hell of a break...haha