North Wildwood, New Jersey, is currently facing a daunting challenge as its efforts to combat beach erosion continue to be unsuccessful. The town, which has already spent tens of millions of dollars on beach preservation, recently suffered the loss of a significant portion of its sand dunes during a powerful winter storm. With limited protection remaining and rising sea levels caused by climate change, North Wildwood finds itself more vulnerable than ever.
The destruction caused by the winter storm has left the town with only small piles of sand, barely reaching knee height, to shield a resort area with an estimated $2.5 billion worth of private property and a substantial amount of government infrastructure. This unfortunate development comes after New Jersey fined North Wildwood $12 million for unauthorized beach repairs, which the state claims could worsen erosion. Simultaneously, the city has filed a lawsuit to recover the $30 million it has spent over the past decade on sand replenishment.
The vulnerability of North Wildwood serves as a stark reminder that, in the long run, nature often prevails in the battle against human intervention. Mayor Patrick Rosenello expressed concerns, stating that even regular high tides pose a threat to the town due to the absence of sufficient protective dunes. The mayor walked along the beachfront, observing how the surf had created a hole in the dunes, completely obliterating them for about 20 feet. Other areas witnessed a notable reduction in dune height, with some now less than half their original size.
Despite previous attempts to mitigate erosion, such as trucking in sand for emergency repairs, this method is no longer viable for North Wildwood. The erosion has caused narrow passages along the beach, rendering them impassable for dump trucks. In response, the town has sought emergency permission from the state to construct a steel bulkhead along the most eroded section of the beachfront. However, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection tends to oppose bulkheads as a long-term solution due to the detrimental effects they can have on erosion.
The agency instead supports the beach replenishment projects carried out by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which involve pumping offshore sand onto eroded beaches. This method widens the beaches and creates sand dunes for enhanced protection. While nearly the entire New Jersey coastline has benefited from such projects, North Wildwood still faces challenges in obtaining legal approvals and property easements from private landowners.
North Wildwood's situation is compounded by the fact that the town engaged in unauthorized beach repairs in the past, resulting in warnings from the state's environment protection commissioner last July. Shawn LaTourette emphasized that continuing this behavior could lead to more severe consequences, including the potential loss of future shore protection funding. The Department of Environmental Protection contends that heavy equipment used to move sand has further weakened and reduced the height of the dunes, exacerbating the erosion while destroying natural plants and animal habitats.
Residents of North Wildwood fear the detrimental impact of the increasingly vulnerable coastline on their homes, hotels, motels, and the overall survival of the town. The devastation caused by Superstorm Sandy in 2012 prompted the Army Corps to initiate a dune rebuilding program along the entire New Jersey shoreline. Scientific studies have consistently found that communities with existing dunes were more resilient during Sandy compared to those without.
While critics argue that sand replenishment is an ongoing and wasteful endeavor, Congress continues to allocate funds for these projects, emphasizing their effectiveness in protecting lives, property, and the crucial tourism industry. As North Wildwood awaits final approval for its own replenishment project, residents like Kim Milligan see potential silver linings in worst-case scenarios, jokingly remarking that she would have beachfront access. However, the town remains focused on finding sustainable solutions to safeguard its future against the relentless forces of nature.
