DNREC alerts the public of Indian River Beach Inlet closure
Sussex County, De. – Part of the Indian River Inlet Beach is closed to the public after DNREC says debris and bridge materials pose a danger to the public.
Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control also known as DNREC, says the closure is for citizens’ safety, but many community members aren’t happy, and have the community questioning, whether the construction is truly constructive.
Beachgoers like Jared Mahosky say they’re frustrated by what they call a lack of progress on sand dune replenishment at Indian River Inlet beach. Based off what he’s seeing, Mahosky says the sand isn’t doing much. “It appears that they’re trying to rebuild the dunes, from the destruction that the storms have been causing here, it kind of looks to me they’re fighting a losing battle. “Even at the rate they’re going, it’s going to take forever to try and recover what’s been lost… The only real solution from what I can see is probably something more permanent if they’re going to try to prevent the ocean from coming in here.”
DNREC has closed parts of the beach because quote, “Debris and exposed bridge infrastructure have created some hazardous conditions. Heavy equipment will also be moving in and around this area for the next several months.” end quote. Other beachgoers such as Vaughn and Diane Courtney feel not enough has been done to keep the project going, and the beach open for visitors.
Vaughn says, “Well they need to get the sand machine that’s been out of commission since 2019 up and running… Seems to me somebody put that on a backburner until it gets a little bit more serious, and you’ve got water coming across the highway.” Diane says unfortunately sometimes children play a part in the destruction and parents have to keep an eye on them. “Well they’re just playing in the sand and they’re taking their boogie boards and sliding down the hills, and they’re you know, drawling, and you know, doing what kids do. And I don’t fault them because we don’t have a beach here, but it doesn’t help the situation.”
In the end, they just hope DNREC finds a more permanent solution. “If they don’t do something and it does wash in here, then this campground and a lot of this will be gone forever…” says Jared Mahosky. Diane Courtney ends with this, “It’s just sad to see, I’m praying real hard that it gets fixed because it’s a beautiful natural resource that the state of Delaware has.”
DNREC has not confirmed when that work might wrap up, but they’re asking the public to respect the closure. WMDT did reach out to DNREC and asked if they viewed the sand as a permanent solution, and we have not heard back from them thus far.
