Indian River Inlet Northside Beach Took A Beating

Indian River Inlet Northside Beach Took A Beating From The Summer Nor’easter of 2019

Beach Umbrella set up near the wall of sand that used to be a dune face.

The north side beach at Indian River Inlet is all but gone. The summer nor’easter last week chewed the sand away and washed it into the inlet and out front into the sand bars. There is sand there, but at high tide the beach is really skinny.

Sand relocation pipe completely exposed
Sand relocation pipe completely exposed

The sand relocation pipe is exposed and no longer laying on the beach. Delaware is paying for this sand relocation with the promise that the Army Corp Of Engineers will reimburse the state. I’m curious if this was even run this year. Had that sand been built up like usual this beach might not have been hit as hard.

Old Coast Guard Tower base completely exposed to the footers. Last storm that did this was Superstorm Sandy
Northside beach at Indian River Inlet, the beach is washed out and there are many tide pools that will fill back in eventually. There are chunks of asphalt in the tide pools and surf.

There are chunks of asphalt from route 1 pieces when the new bridge was built and the road was shifted. Watch your step.

Old Coast Guard Tower base completely exposed to the footers. Last storm that did this was Superstorm Sandy

The old Coast Guard Tower stand from the original Indian River Inlet station location.

The rocks, and old jetty cap are all exposed

Eventually this sand will return to a degree but for the most part the state will have to pump sand to fill this beach back. The Masseys Ditch dredge project should help with that issue, but not until November.

Old Coast Guard Tower base completely exposed to the footers. Last storm that did this was Superstorm Sandy
Northside beach at Indian River Inlet, the beach is washed out and there are many tide pools that will fill back in eventually

Black sand covers several ares exposed to the air it should turn back to the traditional sand color, eventually.

Where did the sand get pushed? Right into the Indian River inlet

You can see how the sand built up and washed into the Indian River Inlet. We need a better system there to prevent that from happening.

The sand is black for several inches on the berm