by Daniel Brouse
July 22, 2025
For the first time since 1996, Congress has allocated zero dollars for federal beach replenishment, halting nearly three decades of continuous support for projects that combat beach erosion along the U.S. coast. Typically, Congress sets aside $100 million to $200 million annually for these efforts, which involve dredging sand from offshore sites and depositing it on eroding beaches to protect coastal infrastructure, tourism economies, and property values.
This year, however, the federal budget earmarked nothing for these projects, and it remains uncertain whether any funding will be restored in next year’s budget as lawmakers debate spending priorities amid rising climate-related costs.
The immediate impact is already being felt:
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Two planned beach nourishment projects at the Jersey Shore (Avalon, Stone Harbor, and Ocean City) for 2025 were canceled.
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Planned replenishment in parts of Maryland and Delaware has also been paused indefinitely.
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Shore towns that have reliably supported federal beach projects for decades now face the financial and environmental consequences of erosion without federal assistance.
“This is the first time in 29 years this has happened,” said Scott Wahl, business administrator for Avalon, NJ, noting that the town will not receive a “hydraulic fill” this cycle, a process that uses large pipes to pump dredged sand onto beaches. “You’re looking at tens of millions of dollars that will now fall on local communities.”
The Philadelphia district of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which manages replenishment projects in heavily trafficked Shore towns, confirmed it had two projects eligible for “periodic nourishment” in 2025 (Avalon-Stone Harbor and North Ocean City), both of which were last nourished in 2023. However, without federal funding, these projects are now suspended.
Climate Change Intensifies Coastal Vulnerability
The halt in funding comes at a time when climate change and sea-level rise are accelerating coastal erosion, increasing the frequency and intensity of storms, and placing additional strain on fragile beach ecosystems and coastal infrastructure. Delays in nourishment can lead to:
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Greater storm damage to homes, roads, and utilities.
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Loss of protective dunes and wetlands that buffer inland flooding.
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Economic losses for tourism-dependent communities.
Contractor Bottlenecks and Rising Costs
Dan Ginolfi of the American Coastal Coalition warns that delaying projects only compounds the challenges. The limited number of dredging contractors and strict environmental timing windows for projects mean any delay increases demand and inflates costs.
“If we can’t get those projects done in a certain amount of time,” Ginolfi said, “it increases the demand on the dredgers. The cost of dredging is already sky-high, and that just snowballs.”
A Looming Coastal Crisis
This funding freeze leaves local governments scrambling to find alternative funding sources, which could mean higher local taxes, special assessments, or deferred maintenance, all while the climate crisis increases the urgency of shoreline protection.
Without federal beach replenishment, coastal communities are left exposed to worsening erosion, economic disruption, and the risk of catastrophic losses from future storms, further highlighting the need for systemic climate adaptation strategies and sustainable shoreline management.
Beach Replenishment Is Becoming Unsustainable
While beach replenishment has historically helped protect coastal infrastructure and tourism economies, it is no longer a sustainable long-term solution in the face of accelerating climate change. The increased frequency and severity of storms wash away replenished sand more quickly, requiring ever more frequent and costly projects to maintain minimal beach widths. Meanwhile, sea-level rise accelerates erosion rates and increases the likelihood of storm surge damage, making each replenishment effort less effective and shorter-lived. This cycle of “sand dumping and washout” is becoming financially and environmentally untenable, highlighting the need for alternative coastal adaptation measures such as strategic retreat, dune restoration, and wetland buffers to protect communities in a warming world.