Ocean County Leader

In a letter to Army Corps Commander Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Beeman, Rep. Chris Smith (R-Manchester) called on the Army Corps of Engineers to take immediate action to address the growing navigational hazard in the Manasquan Inlet caused by a dangerous build-up of sand following weekend storms.

Smith’s letter follows conversations he initiated with Army Corps officials and local boat captains over the weekend as the shoaling began to develop. Smith noted that Point Pleasant Beach Mayor Doug Vitale has also raised significant concerns.

“The build-up of sand on the Point Pleasant side of the inlet against the jetty has reached unprecedented proportions,” said Smith. “This is not only a grounding hazard to vessels, but the waves created inside the inlet as a result of this shoaling are enough to capsize boats that regularly traverse the channel.”

Smith emphasized that “this new development calls for a more urgent response, especially during this busiest boating time of the year on the Jersey Shore.” The Army Corps was scheduled to perform maintenance dredging on the inlet this week before a mechanical failure postponed that operation for two weeks.

“Based on these concerns and understanding that the safety and viability of recreational, for-hire and commercial vessels is of utmost importance, especially during these last few weeks of summer when inlet traffic is at its peak, I respectfully request that the Army Corps take immediate corrective action to mitigate this dangerous navigational hazard,” Smith said.

Manasquan Inlet, categorized as a dynamic inlet with constantly shifting sands created by currents, has been prone to shoaling before. When similar safety hazards plagued Manasquan Inlet in August 2022, Smith secured an emergency survey from the Army Corps along with continued monitoring of the river floor to ensure navigability.