Avalon Plans to Reuse Decade-Old Dredge Material to Fortify Wetlands Institute Infrastructure

Avalon, NJ — More than ten years after a 2014 bay dredging, sediment stored in Avalon’s disposal site will be repurposed to reinforce the Wetlands Institute’s vulnerable salt marsh trail, a key access route to the Institute’s dock on Scotch Bonnet Creek. The trail, originally built in the 1950s for a planned residential development that never happened, currently sits just 3 to 4 feet above sea level. The Institute aims to raise the trail by 2 to 3 feet, creating a natural flood barrier to protect its facilities and maintain access for educational programs. Executive Director Lenore Tedesco presented the project to local officials on May 14, highlighting the Institute’s ongoing commitment to using dredge material as a resource to combat the damaging effects of sea-level rise on marshlands. A federally funded permit process requires testing of approximately 25,000 cubic yards of the stored sediment, which will occur in the coming weeks. Pending approval, the material will be relocated in fall 2026. This initiative supports regional environmental goals by enhancing marsh resilience while securing the Institute’s infrastructure against future flooding threats. Avalon’s leadership voiced strong backing, emphasizing the project’s value for both ecological and community stability.