Waves of Uncertainty Over Beach Replenishment

The projects are large and expensive. The 1992 construction of a 100-foot berm along 4.3 miles of oceanfront in Ocean City north of 34th street and extending to the inlet involved laying 6.2 million cubic yards of sand. Periodic replenishments have each generally involved over a million cubic yards of sand. The cost was more than $45 million.

Congress’ involvement with the beaches began even…