Summary construction program (PB−1), fiscal years 1964 and 1965

Location.-Rehoboth Beach is located on the Atlantic coast of Delaware, about 5 miles south of Cape Henlopen at the mouth of Delaware Bay. The project area extends about 8 miles from the northerly end of Rehoboth Beach southward to Indian River Inlet.

Authorization.-1958 River and Harbor Act.

Benefit-cost ratio.-1.5 to 1.

Beach replenishment: Widening 2,500 feet of beach near Indian River Inlet to a berm width of 50 feet by artificial placement of sand. Also periodic nourishment for a 10-year period after completion of the initial fill.

JUSTIFICATION

Rehoboth Beach, the largest population center along the Atlantic coast of Delaware, is a popular and growing beach resort. The summer patronage is drawn from all of Delaware and from points as far as Washington, Baltimore, and Philadelphia. About 85.6 percent of the entire project area, Rehoboth Beach and the area between Rehoboth Beach and Indian River Inlet, is publicly owned, and access to the beach is not restricted. The section between Dewey Beach and Indian River Inlet, including the beach and adjacent dunes, is a State park, much used during the warmer months for camping and surf fishing. The economy of Rehoboth Beach and vicinity is dependent upon a suitable beach for recreational purposes. Beach erosion control, the protection of the shoreline throughout the project area, is necessary to protect the adjacent property and preserve the economy of the area.

Fiscal year 1965.-The requested amount of $110,000 will be utilized to reimburse local interests for the Federal share of the cost of additional periodic nourishment completed in September 1963.

Non-Federal cost.-The non-Federal share of the cost of the authorized improvement is estimated to be $643,000 for initial beach fill and periodic nourishment for 10 years.

Status of local cooperation.-Assurances of compliance with the requirements of local cooperation have been furnished and accepted. Local interests were reimbursed in fiscal year 1961 for placement of the initial beach fill and additional material for periodic nourishment completed in 1957. Placement of additional periodic nourishment, eligible for Federal participation, was completed by local interests in September 1963.

Comparison of Federal cost estimates.-The current Federal cost estimate of $957,000 is an increase of $414,000 over the latest estimate ($543,000) submitted to Congress. The change is the result of the revision in the percentage of Federal participation in the cost of uncompleted work (from 33.83 to 63.8 percent) as provided by Public Law 87-874 approved October 23, 1962. There is no change in the overall project cost estimate.

Summary construction program (PB-1), fiscal years 1964 and 1965

Location.-Fire Island Inlet is on the south shore of Long Island connecting Great South Bay with the Atlantic Ocean. It is located in the town of Babylon, Suffolk County, N.Y., about 40 miles east of New York Harbor.

Authorization.-1958 River and Harbor Act.

Benefit-cost ratio.-1.7 to 1.

Pipeline dredging: A total of approximately 5,500,000 cubic yards of material to be dredged from the inlet shoal, of which 650,000 cubic yards to be deposited on the sand dike closure, and 4,850,000 cubic yards to be deposited on Oak Beach and Cedar Island Beach. The improvement consisted of three dredging operations over a period of 10 years. The third dredging operation will not be required assuming timely funding and initiation of work under the re maining modification of the River and Harbor Act of 1962 (sand bypassing facilities). The first dredging operation involving 3,750,000 cubic yards deposited on the closure and beaches was completed in June 1960. An estimated 1,750,000 cubic yards will be deposited in the second dredging operation. Status (Jan. 1, 1964)

The ocean shore from Fire Island Inlet westerly to Jones Inlet has been eroding along most of its 15-mile length. The beaches in this area are all publicly owned and need nourishment to maintain stability of the shore. Without nourishment, the shore will continue to recede, eventually resulting in substantial destruction of shore development which includes Jones Beach, having a total investment of over $50 million and other public beaches with facilities valued at about $350,000. The westerly littoral drift material along Fire Island that enters the inlet, builds up a shoal which has caused the navigation channel to migrate northerly, resulting in extensive erosion at Oak Beach. In that community a number of summer cottages have been undermined by wave action and destroyed or seriously damaged. There has also been severe erosion at Cedar Island Beach and continued erosion threatens a breakthrough across Ocean Parkway in the vicinity of Oak Beach. Although there is a great demand for additional recreational facilities in this area, much of the frontage has been left undeveloped because of the unstable condition of the shore. The plan of improvement provides for dredging in the inlet shoal and constructing a sand dike to divert tidal currents from Oak Beach and providing a stockpile of fill material for nourishment of the beaches west of Cedar Beach by littoral drift.

Fiscal year 1965.-The requested amount of $1,112,000 will be applied to the second dredging operation as follows:

Beach replenishment-

Engineering and design__.

Supervision and administration_____

Total____

$1,029, 000

4,000 79,000

1, 112, 000

Funds requested for fiscal year 1965 will complete the second dredging operation.

Completed modifications

None.

Remaining modification

The 1962 River and Harbor Act (Public Law 874, 87th Cong.) authorized a modification of the project to include a sand bypassing system substantially in accordance with plans being prepared by the Chief of Engineers, subject to approval by the Secretary of the Army and the President. A separate study on this item was completed in April 1963 and the report is currently under review. Non-Federal cost.-The authorizing legislation required that local interests contribute 58 percent of the cost of the improvement, in accordance with the cost-sharing provisions of Public Law 727, 79th Congress. This percentage has been applied to the cost of the first dredging operation. Application of the cost-sharing provisions of the 1962 River and Harbor Act (Public Law 874, 87th Cong.) to the estimated cost of the remaining project work, reduces the non-Federal share to 32.1 percent for the second dredging operation. The nonFederal share of the total project estimate is $2,291,000. Local interests have contributed $1,553,000 for the first dredging operation. A cash contribution estimated at $738,000 is required for the second dredging operation, of which $8,000 has been contributed to date.

Status of local cooperation.-The Long Island State Park Commission, State of New York, which was the responsible agency for the first dredging operation, entered into an agreement with U.S. Government, dated August 21, 1958, as modified on November 18, 1959, and February 1, 1962, in which the State commission adopted the plan of protection and/or improvement authorized by Congress, and agreed to furnish its share of the cost and comply with all requirements for local cooperation. On September 5, 1963, the New York State Department of Public Works informed the district engineer that under State law, the department would become the responsible cooperating agency for the remaining work on the project. On November 5, 1963, the agreement for the prosecution of the work in the second increment was forwarded to the State for execution.

Comparison of Federal cost estimates.-The current Federal cost estimate of $2,687,000 is a decrease of $543,000 from the latest estimate of $3,230,000 submitted to Congress. This decrease is due to the elimination of the third dredging increment which will not be required if timely funding and initiation of work is effected on the sand bypassing facilities authorized by the remaining modification of the River and Harbor Act of 1962, which will follow completion of the second dredging operation.

Summary construction program (PB−1), fiscal years 1964 and 1965

Location.-South Amsterdam, which is part of the city of Amsterdam, N.Y., is situated on the south bank of the Mohawk River, 38 miles above its mouth. The plan of improvement provides for floodwalls and appurtenant works along the Mohawk River and South Chuctanunda Creek. Authorization.-1958 Flood Control Act. Benefit-cost ratio.-1.7 to 1.

1 In addition, local interests have expended approximately $75,000 to provide partial flood protection in

the project area.