Current status of the funding for the Bethany/SB project?
The Army Corps is $14.4 million short of what is needed to start the $25.5 million project.
The State of Delaware, thru DNREC, has set aside their contribution.
FY 05-06 federal budget included $3 million, bringing us to the current 14.4 number.
What's up with the FY 06-07 budget?
We're about 3 months into the fiscal year, and the US government is being run on continuing resolutions,
most of them extending thru February 15.
When the new congress meets in early January, one would hope they make passing the budget a priority.
All draft versions floating around include no money for this project.
Is anyone lobbying Congress on this issue?
The towns of Bethany and South Bethany have hired the lobbying firm of Marlowe and Company to lobby on their behalf since 2004 (05?).
Marlowe gave a presentation to the combined town councils in early December; their current contract expires on December 31.
Marlowe is the pre-eminent lobbying firm for coastal replenishment projects.
At the presentation, the above budget realities were spelled out.
The beaches in the Bethany area look pretty bad right now. Reading between the lines, you said there was over $10 million already banked for this project. Explain?
The Federal funding can only be used for the major Army Corps project.
DNREC has indicated that they will use their funds in case of an emergency.
There is a fear that if the local governments pay for renourishing the beaches,
it will be seen in Congress as a sign that Federal help is not needed.
Hence, they would prefer to hold the funds for the larger project.
The statement was made by a councilman that "of course, there's always FEMA".
Rehoboth/Dewey and Fenwick Island projects were completed long ago; why is the Bethany area last?
It is both the largest and most complex of the three projects.
It involves 2 public beaches separated by 2 private beaches (MBA and Sea Colony).
The actual Army Corps project will in reality be 2 projects separated by about 2000 feet.
In fact, after DNREC spent substantial time negotiating easements with oceanfront property owners for the Rehoboth/Dewey project,
they decided to move the proposed new South Bethany dune further east to avoid using private property.
What can I do to help?
Click
HERE for info on how to send a message to Congress.
Note that Senators Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) and Arlen Specter (R-PA) are both members of the Appropriations Committee.
These people in particular need to be made aware of how the depleted state of the Bethany area beaches threaten the economics of the area,
and that we just want to be treated equally with our neighbors.
If you, or one of your friends who visits in the summer, or one of their next-door neighbors, knows either of these people, MOBILIZE THEM!!
Looks like Sea Colony just brought in sand to protect their oceanfront swimming pools and decks.
Sea Colony brought in 200 truckloads of sand in early December in an operation that cost about $75,000.
At the same time, several oceanfront property owners at the south end of Bethany paid to rebuild part of their private lots.
And MBA is doing?
The MBA Board prefers to save the existing money in the Beach Replenishment Fund (approximately $325,000)
to place sand on the community's beach when it is most economically favorable-by piggybacking onto a local dredging project.
However, the Board appointed Mike Ambrose and Jennifer Kazemazdeh to investigate ways for oceanfront property owners to contribute to the cost of rebuilding the dunes on private property.
How can I go for a walk on MBA's beach?
Evergreen Rd walkway is somewhat usable.
We hope to have removeable steps at Bridge Road installed for the upcoming New Year's weekend.
We request that you be careful of what's left of the dunes, and respect the privately owned steps that have thus far survived.
to be continued...
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