Final report for 2013 on the condition of the municipal oceanfront beaches the Borough of Avalon, Cape May County, New Jersey

The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey Coastal Research Center (CRC) was tasked with a review of the municipal oceanfront shoreline within the Borough of Avalon over the past year. This annual report presents a discussion of the changes to the beach sand volume, shoreline positions, and the impact of winter storm Saturn plus follows the performance of the 2013 US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) maintenance project along the north end engineered beach. During the winter the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) completed an emergency maintenance project on the northern beaches based on erosion suffered during Hurricane Irene and Sandy placing a reported 336,359 cubic yards (CY) of sand on the engineered beach. The project was eligible for Flood Control and Coastal Emergency funds under Public Law 84-99 and in response to P.L. 113-2 Disaster Relief Appropriations Act the project beach was eligible for restoration to design template. When the project was completed the beach width and elevation had been restored to pre-storm conditions. CRC surveys at the five monitoring sites within the engineered beach area showed a net gain of 277,260 CY from November 30, 2012 to March 1, 2013 following construction. Shoreline positions from the jetty to 28th Street advanced seaward approximately 100 – 110 feet during the project. Unfortunately, winter storm Saturn impacted the Jersey coast soon after the USACE project was completed