Harris Announces Funding for Ocean City Beach Replenishment

WASHINGTON, DC: Rep. Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01) today announced that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has awarded a nearly $15.7 million contract to Weeks Marine Inc. for the replenishment of beach sand in Ocean City. The project is expected to procure approximately 1.3 million cubic yards of sand from the outer continental shelf to replenish 8.3 miles of beach.

Congressman Harris issued the following statement:

"Ocean City beach replenishment is always an Army Corps project of top concern for my constituents. This is good news for Ocean City and the State of Maryland, as our coastal beaches attract millions of tourists each year from the surrounding region, driving economic activity and generating tax revenue for the state and our seasonal towns. I thank the Army Corps for their commitment to ensuring that our beaches remain an enviable destination for the entire region."

Beach replenishment in Ocean City is typically done every four years. Work for this project is expected to begin after Labor Day and be completed before Memorial Day, 2022. Sand for this project will be sourced from Weaver Shoal, which is approximately seven miles offshore of Ocean City. This comes via an agreement between USACE, the State of Maryland, and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, after sand usually sourced from borrow areas in state waters was depleted from previous projects.

The Atlantic Coast of Maryland Shoreline Protection project consists of a wide, elevated beach, a protective sea wall adjacent to the boardwalk, and a vegetated dune system that continues north from the boardwalk to the state line. These elements work together to reduce impacts to the community associated with coastal storms. USACE estimates this project has prevented more than $927 million in storm damage since construction started in 1990. The beach is also a significant economic driver for Ocean City, which boasts more than 8 million visitors annually. The project is a cost-shared effort between the Department of the Army, the state of Maryland, Worcester County and the town of Ocean City.