Views Differ on Steel Wall Construction in Mantoloking

Local officials and environmentalists have put forth different views on the steel revetment being built along the oceanfront in Mantoloking and Brick.

"At the end of the day, this shows that the shore is back," Sgt. Stacy Ferris, Mantoloking Emergency Management Coordinator, told Chasing New Jersey. "And then long term, people can rebuild their homes, the highway will be protected. This is built to the 1 percent storm. God forbid that 1 percent storm comes, we'll be protected."

But some disagree, saying the wall isn't worth its $23 million price tag, 80 percent of which will be paid by the federal government. The remaining 20 percent will be paid by the state government.

“Money funded by tax payers should not go to town projects such as seawalls, but towards more sustainable projects like dune restoration," said Jeff Tittel of the New Jersey chapter of the Sierra Club. "This is where the breach happened and it could happen again not only destroying the wall, but washing the $40 million out to sea. The state does not currently have a program that requiring towns to protect and maintain their dunes, which is what we need."

Mantoloking's dunes, however, will eventually be protected by a federally funded beach and dune replenishment project. Under that project the dunes will, indeed, be eligible for federally funded maintenance every seven years for 50 years and in post-storm emergencies.