Understanding Barrier Islands and Coastal Sand Dunes
Coastal sand dunes are formed by waves and wind-blown sand being trapped by vegetation or other obstructions. Barrier islands are narrow stretches of land that run parallel to the mainland constantly, moving, eroding and growing or even disappearing. These barrier islands protect the mainland from extreme weather.
Atlantic Coast of Maryland Shoreline Protection Project
The Town of Ocean City is located on a barrier island. The extensive development of the island has disrupted the natural erosion-replenishment cycle. A project was needed to preserve the natural migration of the barrier island and slow beach erosion. Together, the Town of Ocean City, Worcester County, the State of Maryland and the Army Corps of Engineer’s Baltimore District designed a two-phase beach nourishment and shoreline protection project.
The Town of Ocean City is located on a barrier island. The extensive development of the island has disrupted the natural erosion-replenishment cycle and a project was needed to preserve the natural migration of the barrier island and slow beach erosion. Together, the Town of Ocean City, Worcester County, the State of Maryland and the Army Corps of Engineer’s Baltimore District designed a two-phase beach nourishment and shoreline protection project: The Atlantic Coast of Maryland Shoreline Protection Project.
The 1st Phase of the project was completed in 1988 and included placing 2.3 million cubic yards of sand along 8.3 miles of the Ocean City’s 9 mile-long coastline for the purpose of restoring the width of the beach (i.e. the “Beach Berm). Note that the 8.3 mile-long project is the distance as measured from 3rd Street to 146th Street. The total length of Ocean City’s beach is 9.0 miles which is measured from the Inlet Jetty to 146th Street. Phase 2 of the project was completed in 1992 and included placing 3.6 million cubic yards of sand to construct a 6.9-mile-long dune from 27th Street to 146th Street and expand the Beach Berm as well as constructing a 1.5 mile long steel and concrete seawall from 4th Street to 27th Street. Although the major elements of the Atlantic Coast of Maryland Shoreline Protection Project were completed in 1992, the project still continues with the Army Corps of Engineers managing periodic Beach Renourishment operations occurring approximately every 4 Years at an average of 700,000 cubic yards of sand.