In the late 1980s, after Hurricane Gloria, some beach areas in Ocean City, Maryland had almost completely washed away. To walk the beach at high tide you sometimes had to walk under some of the beach-front buildings. The only sandy areas were where the streets ended.

The Ocean City Dune Patrol believes that without the aid of a dune system, such a scenario could occur again.

Beach Replenishment and Hurricane Protection Project

The dunes in Ocean City were built with funds from the Town of Ocean City, Worcester County, the state of Maryland and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

They extend from the north end of the Boardwalk at 27th Street to the Delaware state line.

They were constructed to protect the lands and people in Ocean City from the ferocity of storms such as hurricanes and Nor'easters. These storms bring high winds, heavy surf and flood surges.

Constructed of 3.5 million cubic yards of sand dredged from offshore areas, the dunes were completed in October 1991.

What You Can Do

• The Dune Patrol is dedicated to cleaning up dune areas and maintaining them. They ask that you help out by putting your trash in containers on the beach or taking it with you when you leave.
  
  
• For more information on the Ocean City Dune Patrol or the Dune Stabilization Committee, call the Ocean City Department of Recreation and Parks at 410-250-0125.