The Cost of Building Beaches

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Credit U.S. Army Corps of Engineers via Flickr Creative Commons

Despite arguments over effectiveness and cost, New Jersey has long practiced what is called “artificial beach nourishment”—importing and pumping tons of sand to build up its shore.  Much of that sand was swept away by super storm Sandy’s massive surge and the one that followed from the recent nor’easter. 

Word of Mouth talks more with Cornelia Dean, staff writer for the New York Times, who recently wrote about the costs of shoring up coastal communities.