Trying To Save The Summer Season
State, Army Corps Of Engineers outline plans For Barnegat Bay cleanup; debris removal will be done all along New Jersey coastline, Ocean County Administrator says
Barnegat Bay off Good Luck Point in Bayville, after Superstorm Sandy
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Residents up and down the Jersey Shore have noticed a disturbing trend during the three months since Superstorm Sandy pummeled the coastline - more flooding after relatively minor storms.
Hopefully, things will improve in the next few months as a massive debris cleanup of Barnegat Bay and waterways from Raritan Bay all the way down to the bottom of the state gets underway, Ocean County Administrator Carl W. Block said tonight.
"The target is to have 75 percent of the debris out by June," he said. "While it's an ambitious target, they are trying to make sure there's a summer season."
Block attended both of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's sessions on "wet debris" held at the Ocean County Administration Building Thursday for local and county officials.
What is "wet debris?" Basically it's anything that was funneled into the bay, tidal rivers and even lagoons by the massive storm surge from Superstorm Sandy, Block said.
"They will go after sunken boats, cars, whole houses," Block said. "They hope in three weeks to have barges out there picking up debris."
Once the larger items have been located and removed, the bay will be dredged to remove sand that has shoaled in places it doesn't belong and hinders navigation, he said.
Cleaning up waterways affected by Sandy will be a joint effort between the state and the Army Corps of Engineers. The Army Corps will handle the main channels and the Intercoastal Waterway.
The state has assumed responsibility for all other waters, including bays, tidal rivers and even lagoons. The state will go out to bid for three contractors, who will break the state up into 11 sections, Block said.
"The state has assumed full responsibility," he said.
Florida-based AshBritt - a debris removal firm hired by the county in mid-November to do a shared services agreement with municipalities for Sandy-related debris removal - has already done some Barnegat Bay debris removal, Block said.
He expects AshBritt to bid on the bay cleanup project as well. Contractors will use side-scan sonar and high-resolution cameras to map the debris, so bigger items can be easily identified.
"They can even identify a refrigerator in the bay," he said.
County officials have estimated that nearly 1,400 vessels were either sunken or abandoned in our waterways during Sandy. In Mantoloking alone, 58 buildings and 8 cars were washed into Barnegat Bay.
The wet debris removal in Ocean County will probably begin in the most affected areas, like Mantoloking - where a breach obliterated sections of Route 35 and the Mantoloking bridge - and the Ortley Beach section of Toms River, Block said.
bayboat
1:04 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013
Its a daunting project. And while it probably won't be finished by June, at least it'll be started.
Liane
1:04 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013
This needs to be done as soon as possible. I can only imagine all the debris down there, makes you afraid to go in the water this summer.
Halpha2
1:04 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013
A jelly donut......well you paid for it, you eat it.
shorefriend
1:05 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013
I would love to ride along on the barge and see all of the crazy stuff they are going to pull up, maybe Hoffa after all it is Jersey?
foggyworld
1:06 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013
Now that the Town has stopped picking up garbage, would we be better off removing what is left and putting it on a beach? Sounds like it. More great planning from our "civil servants."
Angelo Turello
12:48 pm on Sunday, February 3, 2013
Just look at the garbage in front of the commercial properties in Ortley beach vs how well Seaside Heights and Seaside Park and Lavallette have cleaned up for their business owners. Lavallette Mayor took the bull by the horns and made sure his businesses got ready . Toms River Mayor ??ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Bill Schrader
1:07 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013
This is great news for the homeowners affected by flooding since Sandy and
for boaters using the bay as well!!
WMS826
1:08 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013
Even as a Brick resident I have had about enough of all this.
Already these people who have houses available to rent are counting their profits and seeing dollar signs with the shortage of available units.
Why do we need tax payer dollars to rebuild the shore overnight so investors who own multiple homes can rent them out.
Why do we need tax payer money so a bar that is seasonal at best can make windfall profits in a few short months.
Let's get back to terra firma here and think what was the shore all about to begin with and is there any implied and known risks you take by making it your home and livelihood.
Jose
12:56 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013
How can I help?
Part Timer
2:10 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013
What about all the debris that was brought back into the ocean when the tides receded.
Lifeguards are going to have there hands full.........
Tom Z
2:22 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013
"They can even identify a refrigerator in the bay,", Gee, I can do that refrigerators float. Seriously, we can all help, just walk down to the bay short and pick up some of the junk that’s there. It’s great that the state is starting this work, but it’s our bay, we can and should do our small part as well.
butch cassidy
2:28 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013
thanks!
George
4:50 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013
Any rainy day could flood our streets. Dredge out the 1,000,000+ cubic feet of sand from the bay ASAP.
Meanwhile, use eminent domain to get easements so dunes can be rebuilt and beaches can be replenished. No one's ocean view is more important than my personal safety and my house on the mainland that was flooded because selfish view-lovers left thousands of "little people" unprotected.
Ed Wiegant
4:59 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013
George is that like the Patriot act?
Michelle Blamble
8:40 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013
I agree with you about the importance of building up the dunes regardless of what ocean front homeowners want but your tone is very off-putting.
I'd also note that the worse section of Ortley is to the west of the public beach. Apparently 3rd St was a river and the poorly maintained dunes didn't do much. So, Toms River could take the land and build dunes but we need a more competent/interest government to administer the barrier island.
Commuter
5:05 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013
So we have a small home in Green Island that had about two feet of water or so in it. We did remove the sheetrock and so on. Been back and forth there over the last few months, as we are staying with family. Now that we know we may have to raise it and put money we do not have into it. My ins. agent told us yes, we would be able to get this extra money to raise the home but most likely we would have to lay the funds out first. Anyway, 30 grand will not do it as we are looking at about 50 to 60 thou to raise it. We have not even put anything back yet, nevermind raising it. My family wants to put an addition on the home we are staying at now. We may just do that and walk. The home is just about worthless as it stands, I guess if my attorney is right, the bank can have it in three years. Can't imagine what this will look like then.
letsgetreal
6:57 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013
Commuter....
Sadly your situation seems to be what is going to happen to all of us in the areas where you either have to raise your home or now are situated in the new FEMA flood zones. Walking is probably the most prudent financial solution and staying....well it will bankrupt many of us. Sorry about your situation...its sad.
Michael Krieger
4:28 pm on Sunday, February 3, 2013
The thing is, if you do not want FEMA backed flood ins. you don't have to raise the house.
Ken
7:52 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013
Forcing homeowners to raise thousands of homes is going to cause thousands of homeowners to walk away from them due to costs.
KC
1:24 am on Saturday, February 2, 2013
Gosh it is so depressing. Between the mid-winter blahs, the lack of flowers, the debris, the fallen trees that still remain, the mold, the shells of homes and the belly- up businesses, who can even picture a sunny day at the beach? Right now this shore is just one butt ugly place to be. When I get like this I just have to go out and pick up more crap. Sorry for the soundoff. But it is true. It is just one moldy depressing area to be in right now. The Joisey Sure. God help us. I also think before the first dang beach is opened the last homeless person should be placed in at least temporary private housing trailors.
Brick Jerz Mom
12:32 pm on Sunday, February 3, 2013
completely agree
bob
8:09 am on Sunday, February 3, 2013
Say it to my friends all the time,Sandy was bad but the worst is yet to come
Angelo Turello
12:51 pm on Sunday, February 3, 2013
The lawsuits will be worst than Sandy.
Mary
8:46 am on Sunday, February 3, 2013
our home in Lacey off of Cedar Creek had 3 feet of water. Is ranch style and in the family for many years. I purchased it from my mom, now deceased, and have a mortgage. Was built in 1950's and never flooded before. It too now sits as a stripped shell. We are near retirement, and I am handicapped (MS). Loved the fact that I only had one step to get into my house. Now I am V zone and will have to climb a flight of stairs or more to get in. Fema no help thus far, and Flood Insurance money, including getting ICC just won't cover it all. Our bulkhead was compromised too, and that's not covered. This is our primary home. Just don't know what we are going to do!!!