DEWEY BEACH, DE -- Town leaders in Dewey Beach received updates on a flood mitigation project proposed for Sunset Park at their meeting on Friday.
After Thursday's rain, some puddles pooled around Sunset Park on Friday morning. Neighbor Larry LaFontaine, who was walking his dog down Dagsworthy Avenue, said this was a clear day for the road.
"It always floods back here," LaFontaine said. "Depending on the tides and the weather and which way the wind is blowing. Water can almost go the whole way to the end sometimes."
Town manager Bill Zolper said the flooding is an issue for town officials.
"There's sunny day flooding where we have a full moon and just a little bit of wind," Zolper said. "Then you'll get flooding when there's not even a storm. And then of course there's the flooding when we do have storms or Nor'easters."
Zolper said the shoreline itself is also dealing with erosion. The presentation the town council received Friday from the Center for Inland Bays involved a natural, living shoreline, and would include preventative measures using shell bags, oyster castles, and dunes. Plans were also included to improve drainage on McKinley Street.
"It will help flooding in that part of town and also with the shore erosion down there," Zolper said. "It will help the town to mitigate flooding overall."
Zolper said they hope to begin the project in roughly nine months, as long as the proper permits are secured. The presentation listed the project as expected to be functional sometime in 2026.