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Delaware Coastal Storm Risk Management Program

2023 Beachfill Construction Details

  • Summary & Placement Areas: In Rehoboth Beach, sand will be placed on the beach in the northern portion of the community (between City Tennis Courts area on N. Surf Avenue south to the Bandstand Area). In Dewey Beach, sand will be placed on the beach between Salisbury Street south to the Beach Avenue area. Estimated sand quantity: Rehoboth Beach – 196,000 cubic yards; Dewey Beach – 194,000 cubic yards.
  • Estimated Start Date: USACE's contractor Weeks Marine anticipates mobilizing to Rehoboth Beach in March with dredging/placement operations expected to begin in Rehoboth Beach in early to mid April. When work is finished in Rehoboth Beach, work will proceed to Dewey Beach. 
  • Rehoboth Beach Pipe Landing Location & Sequence: a pipe landing will be made between Olive and Virginia Avenue. Work will first proceed north and then from the pipe landing, the contractor will flip and work will proceed south. 
  • Dewey Beach Pipe Landing Location & Sequence: a pipe landing will be made between Read & Rodney Streets. Work will first proceed north and then from the pipe landing, the contractor will flip and work will proceed south. 
  • Summary & Placement Areas: In Bethany Beach, sand will be placed from Third Street south to Wellington Park. In South Bethany Beach, sand will be placed from approximately North 5th Street south to North end of Fenwick Island State Park. Estimated sand quantity: Bethany Beach – 245,000 cubic yards; South Bethany Beach – 287,000 cubic yards.
  • Estimated Start Date: USACE's contractor Weeks Marine anticipates mobilizing to Rehoboth Beach in March with dredging/placement operations expected to begin in Rehoboth Beach in early April. When work is finished in Rehoboth Beach, work will proceed to Dewey Beach and then to Bethany Beach and then to South Bethany Beach. For Bethany Beach and South Bethany Beach, work is expected to take place in May/June timeframes. This estimate can change based on progress, weather, sea conditions, and mechanical issues. 
  • Bethany Beach Pipe Landing Location & Sequence: a pipe landing will be made near Campbell Place. Work will first proceed north and then from the pipe landing, the contractor will flip and work will proceed south. 
  • South Bethany Beach Pipe Landing Location & Sequence: a pipe landing will be made , between South 2nd and South 3rd Streets. Work will first proceed north and then from the pipe landing, the contractor will flip and work will proceed south. 
  • Summary & Placement Areas: In Fenwick Island, sand will be placed from approximately Kames Street south to Lighthouse Road.  Estimated sand quantity – 207,000 cubic yards.
  • Estimated Start Date: USACE's contractor Weeks Marine anticipates mobilizing to Rehoboth Beach in March with dredging/placement operations expected to begin in Rehoboth Beach in early April. When work is finished in Rehoboth Beach, work will proceed to Dewey Beach, then to Bethany Beach, then South Bethany Beach, and then to Fenwick Island. For Fenwick Island, work is estimated to take place in June/July timeframe. This estimate can change based on progress, weather, sea conditions, and mechanical issues with the dredging equipment. 
  • Fenwick Island Pipe Landing Location & Sequence: a pipe landing will be made between between Dagsboro and Cannon Streets. Work will first proceed north and then from the pipe landing, the contractor will flip and work will proceed south. 

Delaware Coastal Storm Risk Management Program Background

For more than 20 years, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Philadelphia District has worked in partnership with the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) on coastal storm risk management projects.  The District has constructed six coastal storm risk management projects along the coastline of Delaware (including Broadkill Beach on the Delaware Bay coastline). These projects are designed and built to reduce storm damages to infrastructure. Projects involve dredging sand from approved offshore borrow sites and pumping through a series of pipes onto the beach. The sand is then graded into a dune and berm design. Projects are periodically nourished with additional sand pending available funding. 

  • Broadkill Beach: initial construction in coordination with the Delaware River Deepening completed in 2016. Design includes 100 foot berm backed by a dune at elevation +16 feet. 
  • Lewes-Roosevelt Inlet: initial construction completed in 2004 with several nourishment/repair projects in subsequent years. Design includes a 100-foot berm backed by a dune at elevation +14 over a total project length of 1,400 feet at the northern/eastern end of Lewes. 
  • Rehoboth & Dewey: initial construction completed in 2006 with several nourishments/repair projects in subsequent years. Design includes 150-foot berm back by a dune at elevation +13.2 feet. 
  • Indian River Inlet Sand Bypass: The purpose of this project provides for construction of a sand bypassing beach plant, and operation of the plant for periodic nourishment of a feeder beach. 
  • Bethany & South Bethany: initial construction completed in 2008 with several nourishments/repair projects in subsequent years. Design includes 150-foot berm back by a dune at elevation +16 feet.  
  • Fenwick Island: initial construction completed in 2005 with several nourishments/repair projects in subsequent years. Design includes 200-foot berm back by a dune at elevation +17.7 feet. 
  • Port Mahon: project was authorized by Congress in 1999, but has not been constructed. 

Dune System Animation During Potential Storm Event