More than a decade after Surf City first started chasing a big fix for its eroding shoreline, the town’s long‑awaited beach nourishment project just got a crucial boost in Washington. Federal officials this week cleared a key funding step, and local leaders say that decision unlocks existing disaster‑relief money so the town and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers can move into final design and bidding. If the schedule holds, residents can expect a project focused on rebuilding dunes and widening the beach to better shield homes and infrastructure from stronger storms.
According to a news release from U.S. Rep. David Rouzer's office, the Office of Management and Budget approved the use of previously appropriated Disaster Relief Act funding for the project’s initial construction. WCTI reported that the clearance lets Surf City and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers wrap up remaining administrative steps before the project is advertised for bids.
What the Army Corps recommended
The Wilmington District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers finalized the project's Chief’s Report on July 15, 2025, laying out a detailed plan for beach and dune nourishment along roughly six miles of Surf City shoreline. The US Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington District says the design calls for a new dune system and an estimated 50‑foot‑wide berm intended to boost storm protection and long‑term shoreline resilience.
Next steps before bidding
Before any sand starts moving, the town and the Corps still have several procedural boxes to check, including real estate certification, execution of a Project Partnership Agreement and completion of final design, town officials noted in local documents. The Town of Surf City's project page explains that the community has been shepherding the plan through federal reviews since 2010 and details the remaining process, with the Town of Surf City providing the public timeline and project documents.
Funding and long‑term renourishment
Federal legislation could help keep the effort going beyond the first round of work. The proposed Water Resources Development Act of 2026 includes language that would authorize future nourishment cycles and, according to reporting, would earmark about $362.3 million for those long‑term efforts. WCTI noted that figure in its coverage of the Rouzer release.
What construction might look like
Local planning documents and regional reporting suggest that when construction finally starts, it will be substantial. Town materials estimate an initial placement of about 6.5 million cubic yards of sand with a rough‑order‑of‑magnitude cost near $170 million. The Town of Surf City outlines those early volume and cost estimates, while WilmingtonBiz reports that the Corps is targeting a contract award in late 2026 and an initial construction window of roughly 16 months.
Local reaction and what to expect
Mayor Teresa Batts has called the latest federal approval a meaningful milestone and said the community will continue working with its federal partners to see the project through. In a release, the Army Corps said the signing of the Chief’s Report "marks meaningful progress" and added that the Town of Surf City and the Corps will provide updates as key phases advance. The US Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington District has posted the full release and contact information for project staff for residents who want to follow the process from the first dredge to the last dump of sand.
