Approvals Received to Reduce Minimum
Clearance at Four Reef Sites

In August 2006, New Jersey’s Reef Program
received approvals to reduce the minimum clearances
at the Sandy Hook, Axel Carlson, Barnegat Light and
Great Egg reefs from the Philadelphia District, Army
Corps of Engineers and from the New Jersey
Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of
Land Use Regulation. The changes in clearance are as
follows:
Sandy Hook Reef - from 40’ to 30’ at mean low water
Axel Carlson Reef - from 50’ to 40’ at mean low water
Barnegat Light Reef - from 50’ to 40’ at mean low water
Great Egg Reef - from 50’ to 40’ at mean low water
The reduced minimum clearance at the four reef
sites will allow the Reef Program to construct reefs that
are 10 feet higher in vertical profile. For anglers who
frequent the Axel Carlson and Sandy Hook reefs, this
translates into higher rock mountains on the Axel
Carlson and more rock and concrete deployments on
Sandy Hook. On the Barnegat Light and Great Egg
reefs, vessels 20 feet and 25 feet in vertical profile,
respectively, can be sunk. Previously, only low-profile
vessels such as deck barges and tanker barges could
be sunk on these reefs. As vessels such as tugboat
and fishing trawlers become available for reefing, they
will be deployed on the Barnegat Light and Great Egg
reefs.