Ocean County Leader

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' 56-foot split-hull hopper dredge Murden will remain at the Manasquan Inlet to address the sand accumulation on the Point Pleasant Beach side. Stephen Rochette, spokesperson for the Army Corps’ Philadelphia District, stated that dredging operations are expected to resume this weekend, depending on sea conditions, and will continue for one to two weeks. The region was impacted by Tropical Storm Debby on Friday, which brought gusty winds and strong seas.

In response to rapid shoaling inside the inlet’s south jetty, hydrographic surveys were completed by the Army Corps on August 6. These surveys have been shared with the U.S. Coast Guard and are available to mariners on the Army Corps’ website. The Murden had already completed two cycles of dredging on August 6 but was halted due to a coastal storm.

Previously stationed at Manasquan Inlet for work on Shark River, the Murden has now been redirected to address issues at Manasquan Inlet. Lt. Col. Jeffrey Beeman, Commander of the Army Corps’ Philadelphia District, expressed gratitude for the flexibility shown by various districts in rearranging dredging operations: “I’m grateful to the USACE Wilmington, New England and New York Districts for their flexibility and rearranging dredging operations at other locations to enable this work to move forward this weekend as opposed to later in the month when it was originally scheduled.”

The decision followed multiple calls for assistance from stakeholders, including U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.), after shoaling returned for the second time in three years. Fishing boat captains reported that the shoal posed significant navigational hazards.

Capt. William Egeter Jr., of Dauntless party boat, described it as a “beach” extending about one-third into the mouth of the inlet.

The Army Corps attributes shoaling in Manasquan Inlet to its dynamic nature where conditions can change rapidly due to wind and wave patterns similar to those seen in 2022 when persistent south winds caused significant shoaling.

Critics argue that beach replenishment projects contribute excess sand drifting northward; however, Rochette noted that such projects end south of Manasquan Inlet with most sand placed south of a nodal zone where sand transport shifts direction.

Historically, inlets like Manasquan have required stabilization efforts dating back to when natural formations were altered by human activity such as canal digging in the 1920s.

Rep. Smith initiated conversations with Army Corps officials and local boat captains over August 3-4 regarding developing shoaling issues and subsequently urged immediate action through a letter dated August 5th addressed to Lt. Col. Beeman.

Manasquan Inlet's dynamic nature necessitates ongoing monitoring; previous safety hazards led Smith securing emergency surveys and continued monitoring efforts in August 2022 ensuring navigability of channels affected by shifting sands.

For more details refer: https://www.app.com/story/news/local/land-environment/2024/08/09/manasquan-inlet-shoal-us-army-corps-of-engineers-murden/74738065007/