08/20/2026
Beach nourishment may seem like just sand on a beach, but much more goes into the USACE process. Each and every federal coastal storm risk management project must get two levels of approval from Congress before completing a study, and another two before construction:
Feasibility Study: After getting approval in the biennial Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) and financing through federal appropriations, USACE evaluates economic, environmental, and engineering viability of solutions for the region, and proposes the most cost-effective solution.
Preconstruction, Engineering, & Design: Before construction, USACE investigates ecological constraints, runs localized monitoring, and obtains the necessary permits and contracts to construct. This step does not need WRDA authorization, but does require federal funding.
Construction: Once project construction is approved through WRDA, and funding from Congress is obtained, sand is taken from a local borrow source and placed onto or near the beach via dredging equipment. Beach nourishment projects typically run on 50-year cycles, meaning the project isn’t one and done. Projects need replenishment every 3-10 years, depending on how dynamic the coastal system is. Each time an eroded shoreline needs more sand, the project’s nonfederal sponsor must re-apply to get funding from Congress.
One authorization doesn’t mean we get sand on the beach. The majority of these projects are 65% paid by the federal government. This is why Congress needs to provide ~$200 million in federal funding to support coastal communities in designing, planning, and implementing their coastal restoration.
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