BETHANY BEACH, Del. — Congresswoman Sarah McBride announced $600,000 in Community Project Funding to support continued operation of the Indian River Inlet Sand Bypass System at Delaware Seashore State Park, a key tool in combating coastal erosion and protecting infrastructure.
The system moves sand from the south side of the inlet to the north, helping maintain beaches, support navigation, and strengthen storm resilience along the coast, including along Coastal Highway and the Charles W. Cullen Bridge.
“As the state with the lowest mean elevation in the country, we feel the impacts of the climate crisis and sea level rise every day—especially in our coastal communities,” said Rep. McBride. “The federal investment we are celebrating today strengthens the longstanding federal-state partnership supporting the Inlet’s Sand Bypass System and helps ensure we can continue to nourish our beaches and protect critical transportation infrastructure."
The system, overseen by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, recently returned to full operation after a multi-year upgrade that included converting it to electric power and installing new pumps. It resumed moving sand earlier this year.
Funding secured will help maintain operations that move an average of 100,000 cubic yards of sand annually, supporting beach stability on the north side of the inlet.
“Following the large-scale projects by DNREC and Corps in 2025 that put more than 700,000 cubic yards of dredged sand on the north side, the bypass system is designed to maintain the beach and dune system with an average of 100,000 or so cubic yards of sand each year," explained DNREC Secretary Greg Patterson. "That will reduce storm damage risk and hopefully extend the interval before the next major nourishment project.”
During the visit, Rep. McBride toured the facility with DNREC leadership and partners, highlighting ongoing erosion challenges and the impact of coastal storms, including flooding along Coastal Highway and significant beach erosion reported in October.
The funding is part of the fiscal year 2026 appropriations process, during which McBride secured more than $19 million across 15 community project requests throughout Delaware.