Coastal Storms Take a Bite Out of Ortley Beach

Two coastal storms in a single week took their toll on Ortley Beach, where the oceanfront again was looking ragged after being battered by the surf.

Erosion and damage in Ortley Beach following the Oct. 2021 nor’easters. (Photo: Daniel Nee)

Erosion and damage in Ortley Beach following the Oct. 2021 nor’easters. (Photo: Daniel Nee)

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Erosion and damage in Ortley Beach following the Oct. 2021 nor’easters. (Photo: Daniel Nee)

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Several beach entrances were closed, a 1-2 foot dune scarp was present along the toe of the dune and items such as fencing and matting were either strewn about or damaged. Toms River is expected to repair the damage, as has been done in similar storms, and New Jersey may qualify for reimbursement funding from the federal government.

Ortley Beach has been identified as an area where the beach will be re-engineered during a future beach maintenance project. Mayor Maurice “Mo” Hill said over the summer that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which designed Toms River’s dune system, will likely make permanent changes to the beachscape when they return next year for a formal beach renourishment project.

Erosion and damage in Ortley Beach following the Oct. 2021 nor’easters. (Photo: Daniel Nee)

Erosion and damage in Ortley Beach following the Oct. 2021 nor’easters. (Photo: Daniel Nee)

Erosion and damage in Ortley Beach following the Oct. 2021 nor’easters. (Photo: Daniel Nee)

Erosion and damage in Ortley Beach following the Oct. 2021 nor’easters. (Photo: Daniel Nee)

“One thing the Army Corps of Engineers said when they met with us was that when they did the initial replenishment, they did it equidistant all the way around,” the mayor explained at the time. “They knew some areas would be impacted worse than others, and Ortley seems to be one of those areas.”