Bay Head mayor worries approaching nor’easter will destroy beach

The mayor of a Jersey Shore community says that he is worried that an approaching nor’easter will destroy what is left of the beach in his town.

News 12 Staff

Oct 15, 2019, 9:08 PM

Updated 1,644 days ago

Share:

The mayor of a Jersey Shore community says that he is worried that an approaching nor’easter will destroy what is left of the beach in his town.
Sub-tropical storm Melissa ate away at many of New Jersey’s beaches last week. And Bay Head Mayor Bill Curtis says that he is afraid Wednesday’s storm will do the same.
“My fear is there will be no beach to sit on this summer,” he says.
Bay Head lost a lot of the sand on the newly replenished beach last week.
“Since last week we've lost probably 50 feet of beach. What's even more telling, if you pan down the beach, our groins are exposed. That's 30 feet in depth that we've lost, that's incredible,” Curtis says.
A groin is a structure built into the ocean to interrupt the water flow and limit the movement of sediment. They are used to prevent the beaches from being washed away.
Wednesday’s storm is expected to bring winds of around 50 mph, along with large swells. Storms like this become more common as winter approaches. Curtis says that with no beach left in Bay Head, he fears that the dune fences are now threatened.
“Look at where it is right now, and there's no beach to protect it,” the mayor says. “I think we'll lose a lot more fence.”
The good news is that there is a large reserve of sand just offshore. The sand could help replenish some of what has been lost or it could drift north to Manasquan and Point Pleasant.
It wasn't only Bay Head that lost significant amounts of the beach from last week's storm. Several beaches in Cape May County lost between 10 and 20 feet of sand.


More from News 12
1:32
Police swarms Elmsford neighborhood, details remain scarce

Police swarms Elmsford neighborhood, details remain scarce

2:17
Amazing weather today, light rain tomorrow afternoon through Thursday

Amazing weather today, light rain tomorrow afternoon through Thursday

Vote 2024: Ask your questions for Congressional District 16 Democratic candidates

Vote 2024: Ask your questions for Congressional District 16 Democratic candidates

0:41
Rockland Community College library and student union closed indefinitely due to water damage

Rockland Community College library and student union closed indefinitely due to water damage

0:23
Vandalism at New Hampton park prompts search for culprit

Vandalism at New Hampton park prompts search for culprit

Orange County DA: 2 men arrested in Walmart knife fight that injured a police officer

Orange County DA: 2 men arrested in Walmart knife fight that injured a police officer

0:25
Port Chester man arrested after burglary leads to standoff in Elmsford

Port Chester man arrested after burglary leads to standoff in Elmsford

0:24
Hyde Park School District honored nationally for music education excellence

Hyde Park School District honored nationally for music education excellence

1:00
Headlines: Officer charged in illegal eavesdropping, drug dealer arrested again, missing woman

Headlines: Officer charged in illegal eavesdropping, drug dealer arrested again, missing woman

MTA introduces electric-powered vans to Access-A-Ride fleet

MTA introduces electric-powered vans to Access-A-Ride fleet

Guide: Alcohol addiction recovery support and resources

Guide: Alcohol addiction recovery support and resources

2:54
Prison conversations shed light on Robert Durst's mental state, depths he went to evade justice

Prison conversations shed light on Robert Durst's mental state, depths he went to evade justice

1:55
Gov. Hochul, state lawmakers reach 'conceptual' agreement on state budget

Gov. Hochul, state lawmakers reach 'conceptual' agreement on state budget

2:12
Rockland pressures Evergreen Court to clean up 2021 fire site

Rockland pressures Evergreen Court to clean up 2021 fire site

0:35
Police: 41-year-old man recovering from stabbing at New Rochelle sports lounge

Police: 41-year-old man recovering from stabbing at New Rochelle sports lounge

New DMV comes to downtown Port Jervis

New DMV comes to downtown Port Jervis

1:52
15 protesters arrested, blocked traffic on Newburgh-Beacon Bridge during Monday rush hour

15 protesters arrested, blocked traffic on Newburgh-Beacon Bridge during Monday rush hour

1:42
South Blooming Grove issued DOH violations amid water crisis and construction boom

South Blooming Grove issued DOH violations amid water crisis and construction boom

0:49
‘I need your help.’ Parents of missing Sullivan County woman plead for public’s help to solve cold case

‘I need your help.’ Parents of missing Sullivan County woman plead for public’s help to solve cold case

1:54
What happens to the clothes you donate? Greenburgh town supervisor explains

What happens to the clothes you donate? Greenburgh town supervisor explains