The City of North Wildwood has incurred the most severe coastal erosion anywhere in New Jersey throughout the past 35 years. In spite of this well-documented reality, the Wildwoods remain the only New Jersey barrier island community without a coastal protection project. In 2014, the Hereford Inlet to Cape May Inlet coastal protection project was approved, with an initial estimated start date of 2017. For a variety of reasons, this project was delayed multiple times and to this day has not been constructed. Presently, the start date of this project is 2025 at the earliest. As a consequence of the failure to construct this critical project, North Wildwood is currently highly susceptible to storm damage, environmental degradation, and eventually a decline in tourism as a result of scarce beach accessibility.

In 2009, a beach and dune system constructed by the NJDEP utilizing Hereford Inlet sand proved dependable when it prevented North Wildwood from sustaining substantial damages during Hurricane Irene, Hurricane Sandy, including a multitude of other storms. Though the Hereford Inlet cannot be used currently as a borrow zone for coastal protection projects funded by federal dollars due to a legal interpretation by the USFWS in 2016, the case is not such with projects funded by state dollars. In fact, the commissioner of the NJDEP reserves the authority to fund a beach replenishment project from the shore protection fund, entirely funded by New Jersey, as noted in 13:19-16.1 b. Moreover, 13:19-16.2, which designates a priority system for coastal protection projects in regards to urgency, logically prioritizes North Wildwood, the most vulnerable coastal area in New Jersey. 

In consideration of the factors described above, a hydraulic beach replenishment project utilizing Hereford inlet sand appears to serve as a sufficient, means-tested temporary stopgap measure that will offer comprehensive coastal resiliency, environmental restoration, and beach accessibility in advance of the long-awaited federal project. 

Therefore, we respectfully request NJDEP Commissioner Shawn LaTourette and Governor Phil Murphy to use the exclusive powers provided to them to immediately begin the process of funding a hydraulic beach replenishment project.