SLAUGHTER BEACH, DE — Delaware Senator Tom Carper, flanked by local and state officials, announced today a historic investment of $31.9 million in federal funding to bolster the protection and restoration efforts for Delaware Bay beach communities.
Delaware's beaches are undeniably one of the state's most valuable assets, and speakers echoed at today's announcement the commitment to preserving this natural treasure for generations to come.
What was originally set as a $10 million funding initiative was announced to increase to the nearly $32 million mark. Senator Carper secured $10 million in Congressionally Directed Spending, and the Army Corps of Engineers released its work plan which allocates an additional $21.9 million to the initiative.
Senator Tom Carper emphasized the urgency of action in the face of climate change, highlighting the imminent threats posed to beachfront communities.
"They are threatened, the beaches are threatened, the housing here is threatened, the jobs and businesses are threatened," Carper stated. "Our planet is getting hotter and warmer every year, and seas are literally rising."
The allocated funds will be directed towards beach restoration projects and the implementation of storm protection systems, such as the construction of additional dunes, aimed at fortifying vulnerable communities. Among the beach communities set to benefit from this funding are Pickering Beach, Kitts Hummock, Slaughter Beach, Prime Hook Beach, and Lewes Beach.
Kathleen Lock, President of the Bay Beach Association, welcomed the substantial investment, emphasizing its transformative impact. "It will re-engineer the slope of the beach so the waves break further out," Lock explained. "Each nor'easter, each storm, will do less damage than it currently does."