Management considerations for beach nourishment at Sandy Hook, New Jersey, U.S.A.

Abstract

A major problem facing the National Park Service in their management of Sandy Hook is the maintenance of its rapidly eroding principal recreation beach. Among the structural and non-structural alternatives, beach fill is regarded as the most suitable method of protection because it is in harmony with the Park Service objectives of providing the opportunity to use the recreation beaches, of protecting areas for wildlife, and of retaining the natural character of the Hook. The concept of recycling sand from the accreting northern portion of the spit to the eroding southern beaches is viewed as a viable long-term management strategy. The details of two recent beach-fill operations conducted at Sandy Hook are presented as case studies to determine the probable success of future sand replenishment programs. If recycling is to be successful, it should be combined with the ongoing maintenance dredging project at the northern tip of Sandy Hook. Short-term, small-scale beach fill solutions are considered to be impractical due to the high unit costs involved and the rapid rate of removal of the fill materials.