Jersey Shore
Long Beach Island & Barnegat Bay Area Projects
LONG BEACH ISLAND - is an 18-mile long barrier island. It is a popular summer destination in the Northeast, and its powdery white sand has often landed it among the ranks of finest beaches in the country. In the off-season, thousands of year-round residents call the island home. Tourism, rentals, shops, restaurants and recreational fishing are the key industries on the island.
Known locally as “LBI,” the island is home to the second largest fishery along the 130-mile New Jersey Coastline. This page is dedicated to the LBI beach project to reverse beach erosion and protect the LBI communities – homes, roads, schools, businesses, public buildings and other property – from Nor’ Easters and Hurricanes. This page also includes efforts to make Ocean County, including the Barnegat Bay, Great Bay and Little Egg Harbor areas, an even better place to live.
The History of Long Beach Island Beach Replenishment
LBI- Dodging the Bullet
I was on LBI with the late Mayor Jim Mancini in 2003 as Hurricane Isabel missed our island. It showed us all the need for real beach protection to avert a catastrophe to the entire community. It also reminded me of an early time when Jim and I were in Long Beach Township town hall on LBI in 1992, and together watched a storm batter the island, and began efforts to have the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers devise a plan to protect the island.
Below are some press releases of the fight to get LBI beach replenishment funds.
Storms in 1991 and 1992 battered the island, and we've never fully recovered. Since 1993, I've worked to bring $3.3 million to the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers to engineer permanent beach protection.
A Huge Step in 2000
We won a major victory in 2000, when Congress authorized the project with the federal government paying 65 percent of the costs, and with state picking up 35 percent (one of the last such rations in the country for new construction).
More Progress in 2003
The plan to build a 17-mile long berm on Long Beach Island took a huge leap forward on November 18, 2003, when the House passed the required approval of the start of construction, plus $1 million to begin construction. (I note that Mayor Mancini, a tireless advocate for the LBI project, passed away on the same day.)
Project Status in 2004
The House set aside another $750,000 for construction of the LBI project in the FY2005 budget.
$5 M & More Leaps Forward in Spring/Summer 2005
In May, I was pleased to have added another $5 million in the House’s FY2006 budget, enough to actually start construction. Subsequently, the Senate agreed to add the funding. By August, the Project Cooperation Agreement was approved by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and then approved by the NJ Dept. of Environmental Protection. Congress will take up final passage of the FY2006 budget in the fall of 2005.
Construction Officially Starts in 2005, Leads to 2006 funds, 2007 funds…
On Sept. 23, 2005 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer awarded a contract for the first phase of construction to truck an estimated 16,000 tons of sand to an eroded, four-block area in Harvey Cedars. The contractor mobilized on site Sept. 26 for 45 days of moving sand and repairing the beach. This start was critical to enable me to work with the administration to add $5M in funding in the FY2006 budget. The strategy worked. And when we got the President’s budget in February 2006, in included $2.5 million for the LBI project in 2007—the first time the LBI project was funded when Congress got the budget.
Work on FY07 Budget, State Finalizing Plans, Surf City 1st to Receive Sand
In the 2007 budget process, the funding for LBI was $2.5M. Though I had hoped for more, I do recognize it was one of the few projects of its type funded in New Jersey.
Latest - Corps Works to Clear WWI Ordinance
My office is in close contact with the Philadelphia District of the Army Corps of Engineers in cleaning up some WWI-era ordinance found on the beach. The Corps has selected a contractor to survey the beach and is set to start the clean-up. We hope that the work will be done by Memorial Day in time for the traditional holiday start of the tourist season.
Future of the LBI Project
State officials now must continue to complete final details with the Army Corps of Engineers for various towns, such as remaining public access issues on select sections of the island, which includes a half-dozen municipalities. The second phase of construction was put out to bid in July 2006 and awarded in September 2006, with the first pumping of sand in Surf City January 2007, thanks to the leadership of State Sen. & Surf City Mayor Len Conners who led the way to securing necessary easements.
The project is expected to be constructed over 5-10 years. Although the federal budget is tight, I will continue to fight for funding for 2008 and coming years.
Newsletters & Press Releases on Ocean County Issues
Newsletters
- Coastal Report - Summer 2006
- Coastal Report - Fall 2005
- Coastal Report - Summer 2004
- Coastal Report - Fall 2003
Press Releases
2007
- Cong. Saxton Unveils Ocean Exploration Bill (March 29, 2007)
- Trio of Ocean County Towns Awarded Grants; Police Grants from U.S. Department of Homeland Security (March 28, 2007)
- Saxton Announces Funds for Wildlife Refuge System; US Fish & Wildlife gets $250K to expand refuge (March 27, 2007)
- U.S. DOT Awards Funding for MOM Rail Line Study (March 23, 2007)
- Long Beach Island Firehouse Nets $196K; Grant for Surf City Fire & Rescue; ‘07 application period near (March 5, 2007)
- Bayville Fire Company Nets $41 thousand Grant; Pinewald Pioneer Fire Co. Pulls in 3rd Federal Grant (February 23, 2007)
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to Honor Saxton as Legislator of Yr. for volunteer conservation efforts (February 19, 2007)
- Saxton Named to Natural Resources Committee; Seat on Fish, Wildlife, Oceans Subcom helps district (February 2, 2007)
- Saxton Asks NRC Chief to Act on Court Ruling; Oyster Creek renewal should review terrorism criteria (January 19, 2007)
- Emergency Flounder Fluke Rule Set for Friday; LoBiondo, Pallone, Saxton: rule to aid NJ fishermen (January 18, 2007)
- President Signs Saxton's Flounder Legislation; Saxton, bipartisan group attend Oval Office event (January 12, 2007)
- President to Sign Cong. Saxton's Fluke Provisions; Saxton invited to White House for bill signing Friday (January 11, 2007)
- Saxton, Bipartisan Ocean Caucus Unveil Ocean Bill (January 4, 2007)
2006
- Grant to Help Area Fire Co. Purchase Fire Truck; Bamber Lake Vol. Fire Co. awarded $285k grant (December 28, 2006)
- Congress OK's Final Passage of Fisheries Bill with Cong. Saxton's Summer Flounder Provisions (December 11, 2006)
- Saxton Receives Commitment from House Leadership to Take Up Summer Founder Legislation Today; Bill will TRIPLE fluke quota for 2007 (December 8, 2006)
- Saxton Hails Passage of Senate Bill that Increases Summer Flounder Quota; Bill would increase total allowable landings for fluke to 17M+ pounds for 2007; Saxton worked with Senate to include his provision (December 7, 2006)
- Cong. Saxton: Potters Creek Tract Now Protected (November 30, 2006)
- Finally, Sand to Be Pumped on Long Beach Island; Delayed due to nor’easter, the dredge R.N. Weeks is now off Surf City. Dredging, pumping is underway. (November 30, 2006)
- USDA Presents Second Phase of Funding for Seaside Heights to Upgrade its Water Treatment System; Saxton on hand to unveil $646K grant, $1.7M loan (October 25, 2006)
- LBI Beach Project Construction Officially Starts! Groundbreaking paves way to fix years of erosion (October 18, 2006)
- Bid for Long Beach Island Beach Project Awarded; Army Corps of Engineers awards $5.8M contract; Construction estimated to start in 30 days in Surf City (September 26, 2006)
- Saxton: Long Beach Island Beach Bid Accepted; Army Corps of Engineers accepts bid for Surf City NJ (August 29, 2006)
- At last, Canada Geese Management Plan Is Law; New US Fish & Wildlife rule result of years of debate (August 15, 2006)
- Saxton: 1st Bid Is Out for Long Beach Island Project; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is now seeking bids, Award expected to be made within next three weeks (August 4, 2006)
- Saxton Sponors Bipartisan Legislation to Protect the New Jersey, New York Shore as a 'Clean Ocean Zone' (July 22, 2006)
- Saxton Adds Funds for Ocean County Public Transit - June 15, 2006
- Saxton talks w/ Gov. Corzine, DEP, LBI Mayors on LBI Project; Thanks Governor, NJDEP for action - June 14, 2006
- House OK's LBI Funds; $6M in construction funds is most ever to repair beaches; must pass Senate - May 25, 2006
- Currituck Scheduled to Arrive at the Jersey Shore; Federal dredge to arrive in Barnegat by Fourth of July - May 23, 2006
- Rep. Saxton Backs Conservation Amendments; Changes w/ bipartisan support put in Interior budget - May 19, 2006
- Saxton Amendments Added to Magnuson-Stevens; Fisheries Bill Passes House Resources Committee - May 18, 2006
- Saxton Unveils Bill to Support Nat. Fish Hatcheries; Would foster volunteers for hatcheries that produce stripers, shad, herring, other fish; Legislation modeled after previous Saxton bills passed into law - May 12, 2006
- Congressmen Saxton, Andrews and LoBiondo Team Up; Hold press conf. on provision in 2007 Defense Bill to stall dumping VX chemicals into the Delaware River - May 11, 2006
- FAA OK's Grant for Ocean County's Miller Air Park - May 9, 2006
- Hearing Held on Saxton's Ocean Exploration Bill - May 5, 2006
- Saxton: Funds for LBI Beach Repairs in '07 Budget; $2.5M for construction included in budget for 1st time - February 7, 2006
- Saxton Asks NJDEP for Flexiblity on LBI Beach Plan - January 27, 2006
2005
- 'BIG' Federal Grant Heading to Tuckerton Seaport; $500,000 to help build new dock, rest areas, dredging - November 23, 2005
- Saxton Aids Barnegat Light Historic Preservation; House & Senate Approve $200K for Viking Village - November 22, 2005
- Energy & Water Bill with Barnegat Bay Beach Funds Okayed by Congress, Sent to the White House - November 15, 2005
- Saxton Nets Funds for Barnegat Bay Watershed - November 10, 2005
- Congressman Saxton: Funds for LBI Beach Project Dodge the 2006 Budget Ax Meant to Pay for Katrina - November 9, 2005
- Army Corps of Engineers Starts LBI Beach Project; Sand being poured on LBI: Could lead to future funds - November 3, 2005
- Contract Awarded to Start First LBI Beach Repairs; Work on 4 blocks in Harvey Cedars Starts Today - September 26, 2005
- Saxton Unveils Ocean Exploration Bill - September 20, 2005
- Ocean Co. Nets $567K Airport Grant - September 1, 2005
- N.J. Shore Benefits from ‘Pumpout’ Grant - August 19, 2005
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Signs LBI Beach Repair Agreement w/ N.J. - August 17, 2005
- N.J. OK’s LBI Beach Repair Project Pact; Army Corps of Engineers to Sign Wed. - August 16, 2005
- House OK’s TEA-LU; $8M for Rt. 530 - July 29, 2005
- Ocean Co. Nets $3M+ for Co. Rd. 85 - July 29, 2005
- Saxton Helps Secure Money for M.O.M. - July 29, 2005
- Bill Includes Forsythe Funds - July 28, 2005
- Saxton Honored by Tuckerton Seaport - July 26, 2005
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Starts Dredging Channels in Barnegat Bay - July 15, 2005
- LBI Project Pact Approved in Washington, D.C. - July 13, 2005
- Rep. Saxton Introduces Bill to Help Expand Coastal Open Space - July 1, 2005
- Saxton Honored as ‘Guardian of the Bay - June 28, 2005
- Ocean County Receives Airport Grant - June 24, 2005
- Ocean Co. Library Awarded NEH Grant - June 20, 2005
- Saxton Joins Colleagues in Cosponsoring Bipartisan Ocean Bill - June 17, 2005
- 'Net Free Returns' Missing since May 19, Rutgers U. Locates Rep. Saxton’s ‘Net Free’ - June 16, 2005
- Saxton Adopts Tagged Striper - May 27, 2005
- LBI Funds Pass House - May 25, 2005
- LONG BEACH ISLAND FUNDS IN BUDGET - May 18, 2005
- Saxton Meets with LBI Mayors - May 5, 2005
- Saxton Announces $10K Grant for Barnegat Decoy & Baymen’s Museum - April 19, 2005
- Ocean County Nets $4M for Route 85 - March 10, 2005
- Beach Haven Vol. Fire Company to Net $177K Homeland Security Grant - February 18, 2005
- Cong. Saxton Becomes Ocean Caucus Co-Chairman - February 18, 2005
2004
- Saxton Helps Preserve 780 Acres in Ocean County - December 12, 2004
- Congress, President Bush OK Bluefish Study - December 9, 2004
- Congress Acts to Preserve Manahawkin Marsh Tract - November 24, 2004
- Saxton & Coastal Caucus Delay New Beach Policy til Nov. 20 - October 8, 2004
- Saxton Asks Sec. of Commerce to Help Protect Striped Bass Fishing in N.J. - August 31, 2004
- Ocean County Receives Airport Grant - August 19, 2004
- House Passes Algal Bloom Legislation - July 7, 2004
- Plan to Aid Seaport Set - June 30, 2004
- Barnegat Bay Area Funds Added to Budget - June 25, 2004
- Work on North Jetty Nears Completion - June 7, 2004
- Saxton to President: Beach Funds Critical to N.J. & U.S. Economy - May 25, 2004
- Saxton Sends NJ Delegation letter to Key Subcommittee for Beach Funds - May 18, 2004
- Saxton Unveils Bill to Move National Marine Fisheries Service to U.S. Dept. of Interior -May 18, 2004
- USDA Approves Seaside Grant & Loan to Upgrade Water Treatment System - April 29, 2004
- Saxton, Other Congressional Leaders Cite New Report on State of Oceans - April 20, 2004
- House Authorizes MOM Rail Project - April 2, 2004
- Rep. Saxton Approaches 10,000th vote in Congress - March 24, 2004
- Budget Includes Funds for Forsythe - March 16, 2004
2003
- Work on North Jetty Begins Thursday - December 17, 2003
- House OK's Ocean Co. Funds - December 9, 2003
- House OKs LBI Project - November 18, 2003
- Congressman mourns death, hails life of Ocean Co. Icon - November 18, 2003
- Long Beach Island Project Added to 2004 Budget - November 10, 2003
- Isabel Approaches; LBI Vulnerable - September 16, 2003
- Audubon Society, Sierra Club Award Cong. Saxton for Helping Wildlife - August 26, 2003
- Currituck Arrives Early to LBI - August 5, 2003
- Saxton Works with Army Corps of Engineers to Bring Sand to LBI - July 30, 2003
- House Passes Funds for Rep. Saxton s Grants for Marine Mammal Rescues - July 23, 2003
- House OK's Ocean Co. Beach Projects - July 18, 2003
2002
- Saxton Hails Nomination of Barnegat Estuary for New Watershed Initiative - October 31, 2002
- Saxton Calls on Fish & Wildlife Service to Stop Distributing Holgate Brochure - September 10, 2002
- House Panel OK's Ocean Co. Beach Projects - September 6, 2002
- Saxton Glad to See Holgate Delay - September 2, 2002
- Saxton Seeks Holgate Clarification - August 30, 2002
- Fishermen Retain Access to Holgate - August 16, 2002
- Saxton Urges State of N.J. to Apply for New Watershed Initiative - July 31, 2002
- Corps Finishes Beach Feasibility Report, Environmental Impact - July 3, 2002
- Saxton Asks Key Appropriator for LBI Construction Start - June 17, 2002
- Fed Study Shows Benefit of Beach Replenishment - April 8, 2002
- Saxton amendment to Beach Act in 2001 leads to 2002 $285,000 windfall - March 18, 2002
- Saxton Requests Gov. McGreevey to Nominate Barnegat Estuary for New Presidential Watershed Initiative - March 12, 2002
- Congressmen Urge Gov. McGreevey to Protect New Jersey's Beaches - February 15, 2002
- Budget Includes Funds for Shore - February 6, 2002
2001
- House Passes Water Bill - November 1, 2001
- U.S. EPA Awards Ocean Co. $330K - October 17, 2001
- House-Senate Conference OK's $2.5M for Forsythe Wildlife Refuge - October 12, 2001
- House OK's Monitoring Funds - July 31, 2001
- Estuary Funding Passes Subcommittee - July 13, 2001
- Grant Slated for Save Barnegat Bay' - July 9, 2001
- Aid for Barnegat Inlet Hiked $1.8M - June 20, 2001
- Saxton: Subcommittee OK's $3.2M for Forsythe Wildlife Refuge Expansion - June 13, 2001
- U.S. EPA Awards Ocean Co. $330K - October 17, 2001