Watch: Herrington Joins Roundtable on Beach Replenishment Funding Challenges

Monmouth University Urban Coast Institute (UCI) Associate Director Tom Herrington was a panelist on an Oct. 1 online discussion hosted by South Jersey Forward about funding challenges New Jersey faces for its future beach replenishment needs. The panel was moderated by South Jersey Forward founder Michael Suleiman and also included Jersey Shore Partnership Executive Director Grace Hanlon and Stevens Institute of Technology Research Professor Jon Miller. The following is a synopsis of the discussion topic from South Jersey Forward:

For the first time in decades, 2025 saw no federal dollars allocated for beach replenishment. Without these critical funds, South Jersey's shoreline faces unprecedented risk, especially for the homes, businesses, and ecosystems it protects. Early appropriations for the next fiscal year suggest even deeper cuts ahead.

That's why we've partnered with the Jersey Shore Partnership, the state's leading authority on coastal restoration, for a virtual roundtable on Wednesday, October 1 to discuss:

• The implications of zero federal funding for beach replenishment
• Economic, environmental, and community impacts of reduced beach replenishment
• Strategies for local and state advocacy to secure future funding