After several years of working in conjunction with DENREC Secretary John Hughes and Tony Pratt, US Army Corps of Engineers, Delaware Representative Hocker, Delaware State Senator, Bunting, US Congressional Representative Castle, US Senators Biden and Carper and Marlowe and Associates, our beach replenishment project began on September 24, 2007 at 5:30 p.m. EDT.  Our beach now has a dune that is approximately 1 mile in length, 100' in width from east to west and about 16' above sea level.  The new beach is between 200' and 225' wide from the ocean to the dune. 

Some individuals questioned the need for the height of the new dune as it blocks one's ability to see the waterline from the boardwalk.  Others felt the height was important as they were here and saw the storm damage in 1962, when water was as deep as 4 feet in some of the commercial buildings.  The Town asked DNREC to inquire if the Army Corps of Engineers would consider lowering the dune height.  The response received on March 4, 2008 via e-mail reads as follows:

"The position of the Philadelphia District regarding the dune height at the Bethany Beach Fill Project in Delaware is that it will not be lowered.  I am aware that a recent article in a local Bethany newspaper discussed concern by local residents that the planting of dune grass and construction of crossovers could mean that the dune height will not be changed.  In that article, DNREC was quoted as giving assurance that the dune grass and crossovers will be sacrificed if analysis prove the dune height can be lowered.  DNREC has been notified that the District's position is that we will not sacrifice the costs of dune grass and crossovers to lower the dune.

Our re-analysis effort continues, utilizing better modeling algorithms.  The modeling is complex and we will not have an answer for several  months.  If the analysis proves that a lower wider dune can provide the same level of protection, all future renourishment cycles will maintain the dune based on those revised requirements.  The existing constructed dune, completed on 23 Feb 08, will not be altered..."