The DNREC Shoreline and Waterway Management Section works to maintain and improve Delaware’s beaches, shorelines and waterways.

The section manages the shoreline through regulation of coastal construction activities and implementation of dune and beach management practices. It also works to protect and enhance eroded beaches to enable continued recreational use of this precious resource.

And it works to improve the state’s ability to endure severe coastal storms with minimal damage to public and private property and infrastructure.

For more information, please contact the DNREC Shoreline and Waterway Management Section, at DNREC_shorelines@delaware.gov or 302-608-5500.

Bay Beach Nourishment

DNREC and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have partnered to advance the Delaware River Dredged Material Utilization Project, also known as the Bay Beach Nourishment Project.

This project will beneficially use material dredged from the Delaware River navigable channel for beach nourishment projects for coastal storm risk management for Delaware’s Bayshore communities. This will reduce the harmful impacts of flooding and coastal storms by reducing vulnerabilities, enhancing resilience and protecting lives, property and natural resources.

The Indian River Inlet Sand Bypass System

The Indian River Inlet Sand Bypass System is now fully operational following an energy-efficient upgrade from diesel to electric power.

To ensure safe operation, some areas near the inlet will have temporary closures and access restrictions. Please observe posted signs and use caution when traveling in the vicinity.

The system will operate from Labor Day to Memorial Day.

Broadkill Beach Dune Realignment

DNREC has completed a dune realignment project at Broadkill Beach to reduce ongoing dune losses and improve the effectiveness of storm protection along approximately one mile of shoreline. Work began in January 2026 to realign and reconstruct the existing artificial dune and create a broader, more gently sloping beach.

Shoreline Public Access

Starting in the summer of 2026, Delaware communities along Atlantic Ocean and Delaware Bay shorelines will need approved shoreline public access plans before beginning beach nourishment, maintenance or improvement projects using public funds. To help them meet that requirement, the Shoreline and Waterway Management Section has developed shoreline public access plan guidelines.

Economic Analysis for Shoreline Management

DNREC has commissioned a study to explore the economic benefits of beach nourishment and to begin to develop new approaches to funding projects needed to maintain Delaware’s shorelines.

This will be a public process, with public meetings to present information to Delaware residents and gather their input.

Bay Shoreline Maintenance

The Shoreline and Waterway Management Section uses shoreline monitoring data to plan, design and carry out beach nourishment projects along Delaware’s Delaware Bay coast.

DNREC prioritizes beach nourishment along Delaware’s bay coast based on erosion and storm impacts, protection of public infrastructure, project readiness, available resources and the ability to complete work within the available timeframe and within state-owned real estate or easements.

Projects are conducted in accordance with the Delaware Beach Preservation Act (7 Del. C. Chapter 68), including its definition of public beaches. Private property owners, including those on private beaches or private property adjacent to public beaches, may apply for permits through DNREC’s Coastal Construction Program for authorized sand placement, sandbags, bulkheads and other coastal protection measures, subject to applicable requirements.

Back Bay Study

The Coastal Storm Risk Management Study of the Delaware Inland Bays and Delaware Bay Coast will explore potential storm risk management problems and flood risk reduction solutions.

Beaches: A Natural Resource

Beaches and dunes are more than just a place for recreation and vacations. They are our first line of protection from wave action during coastal storms.

Property owners and visitors can preserve and protect beaches and dunes in several ways, through their day-to-day actions, by taking part in volunteer efforts such as beach grass planting, or by adopting a beach.

Coastal Construction

Coastal development adds stress to beaches and dunes. Coastal construction regulations designed to preserve and protect public and private beaches require approval for construction seaward of a state building line.

Related Topics:  beaches, ocean and coasts, shoreline, watershed, waterways