DOVER, DE — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Philadelphia District and the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) have finalized a design agreement for the Delaware Beneficial Use of Dredged Material (BUDM) for the Delaware River, Philadelphia to Sea Project, also known as the Delaware Bayshore BUDM Project.
The agreement, effective July 30, 2024, was signed by USACE Philadelphia District Commander Lt. Col. Jeffrey Beeman and DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. It outlines the responsibilities and requirements for both federal and non-federal parties and enables the USACE to commence design efforts. The total project cost is $3 million, with funding shared 90% federally and 10% non-federally.
This project aims to place sand at locations identified in the Delaware River Dredged Material Utilization (DMU) study. The study evaluated opportunities to beneficially use dredged material from the Philadelphia to Sea federal navigation channel and recommended sand placement at multiple communities along the Delaware Bayshore. Federal funding for the project includes $56.95 million, supplemented by appropriations from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
A Design Coordination Team, consisting of representatives from USACE and DNREC, will manage the project. The team will determine available sand quantities within the federal navigation channel and the Buoy 10 borrow area in the Delaware Bay. They will also identify potential placement sites.
The design phase includes updating surveys, assessing beach conditions, specifying placement areas and elevations, designing beach profiles, and coordinating environmental and real estate acquisition efforts. This phase is expected to take about 15 months, with construction phases to follow based on funding availability and priority needs.
“We appreciate the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for their collaboration and commitment. Together, we finalized this critical agreement, addressing the interests of both parties involved, to protect our communities, infrastructure, and wildlife habitat from coastal storms,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. “We will continue to endure the impacts of climate change, including sea level rise and more frequent intense storms, but we are working together to make Delaware’s coastal communities more resilient and better prepared for the future.”
USACE Philadelphia District Commander Jeffrey Beeman echoed this sentiment. “I’m proud to continue our long-standing partnership with the State of Delaware. We are excited to work collaboratively with the DNREC team to move this important Delaware Bayshore effort forward.”
This agreement represents a significant step in enhancing coastal resilience and environmental protection for Delaware’s shoreline communities.
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