From an email, reprinted here with permission:

I am responding on behalf of Public Works at the request of Councilman Jim Wood concerning your questions about the sand replenishment on Cape Henry Beach.  We know that the recent nor’easter has increased the urgency and scope of this project.  We want to assure you that the City is committed to protecting your bayfront communities, and we are working as quickly as possible to replace as much sand as we can.

Please understand that the current replenishment activity on Cape Henry Beach is a by-product of the federal navigation project to maintain Lynnhaven Inlet.  There is a fixed amount of sand available within the Congressionally-authorized template for the Lynnhaven Inlet channel system.

As to the distance to be covered, there is sufficient sand available to extend beyond the Lynnhaven Fishing Pier.  The exact distance is not known, but estimates are that it will extend approximately 2,000 feet east of the pier before the available supply is exhausted.  The City did fund a modification to the contract to reduce the width of beach fill, which increased the anticipated length of the placement.  This action required the use of a booster pump for the dredge, funded by the City.  We are in the process of authorizing this request.
Upon completion of the Corps’ dredging process, the city will assess the Cape Henry Beach replenishment.  Because of the recent nor’easter, the city is looking to haul sand material from the Maple Street dredge disposal site to Cape Henry Beach.  To do this, however, requires certain project modifications that must be approved by the City and the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC).  The City is in the process of requesting modification of the original Cape Henry Beach Replenishment Permit so as to allow the City to move forward with sand hauling.
The City will be pursuing Council approval in the coming weeks, along with approval of our permit modifications request by the VMRC.  Upon approval from both, the City can begin hauling sand to Cape Henry Beach from Maple St.  Once we begin, the replacement operation should take approximately 45-60 days to complete. 
Please feel free to share this information with other civic league members and neighbors.  We appreciate your concerns and questions and are glad to assist you.  If you have any further questions or need additional information, please let us know.

Thank you. 

Drew Lankford
Media and Communications Coordinator
Department of Public Works
City of Virginia Beach
dlankfor@vbgov.com
(O)  757.385.8062
(C)  757.409.4353