View the full letter here.
December 9th, 2025
The Honorable Philip D. Murphy
Governor of New Jersey
Dear Governor Murphy,
The American Coastal Coalition is writing on behalf of its New Jersey membership to ask why the state did not request Project Information Reports (PIRs) from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) for the severe beach erosion following the October Nor’easter?
While we understand that the state's capacity to conduct periodic beach nourishments is constrained by its current Shore Protection Budget, any approved post-disaster repairs through the USACE are 100% federally funded and do not require any matching state resources.
At this time, several beaches in New Jersey are currently in an advanced state of erosion and cannot sustain another major storm event. This exposes coastal infrastructure, businesses, and residents to unacceptable risk. New Jersey's beaches are a multibillion-dollar economic engine whose annual outputs far exceed the costs of beach nourishment and maintenance. Given the high-risk conditions, it is imperative that the state take all necessary steps to repair its beaches as expeditiously as possible to protect this vital economic asset.
The American Coastal Coalition represents coastal communities nationwide with federal beach nourishment projects and understands the inherent complexities in maintaining these vital projects. We are grateful for the state's commitment to its beaches and its ongoing, successful partnership with the Corps of Engineers and shore towns.
We look forward to working collaboratively with your administration to ensure New Jersey's beaches remain vibrant, healthy, and resilient attractors for residents, businesses, and visitors for years to come.
Thank you for your immediate attention to this critical matter.
Sincerely,
Dan Ginolfi
Executive Director
American Coastal Coalition
CC:
Mikie Sherrill (Governor-elect)
Shawn LaTourette (NJDEP Commissioner)
Senator Cory Booker
Senator Andy Kim
Representative Jeff Van Drew
Representative Frank Pallone Representative Chris Smith