South end beach in Ocean Grove after Dec. 9 2014 nor’easter. Paul Goldfinger photo ©

By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger

On December 9, 2014, the Jersey Shore got blasted by a nor’easter which produced several inches of rain and high winds. We went down to the Ocean Grove beach and found the beach and dunes to appear a bit wasted.

Four days ago, NJTV News posted a report from Mantoloking, Bay Head, and Ortley Beach (Toms River) regarding the sand and dune losses at those beach towns.  All three had less damage to their beaches than what might have occurred if they hadn’t provided post-Sandy protections, including  a steel wall,  a rock wall with 7 ton boulders, and a huge dune respectively.

Here is a link to that article:   NJTV link

In Ocean Grove, the Camp Meeting Association has been engineering the new beachfront to provide protections from future storms, including our own steel bulkhead, new dunes, and a new strong boardwalk design. 

We contacted William Bailey, Director of Operations at the OGCMA, and this is his reply:

“Paul, the nor’easter caused minimal sand loss, and we anticipate that it will once again build back up.  The “sad” dune photo you posted was of the south end dune that was established in the months following the hurricane.  That dune has remained as it is now, with little change other than more sand accumulating.

“The new dune process is from the Pier towards the boardwalk pavilion or between Heck and McClintock St.   Those dunes were not affected by the nor’easter;  in fact the newly established dunes along with the sand fence recently installed collected sand as designed, thus you will note there was no sand blown on the boardwalk or roadway.

“The dune work will be on going over the next year as more sand fence is installed and then dune grass plantings in the fall of 2015.”

William H Bailey

Director of Operations

AL JOLSON:   (we’re sending this out to Susan and Jim of OG who themselves are soon heading for the Golden State)