Ocean City will patch its eroded dune system with about 50,000 cubic yards of sand in early January, in an emergency replenishment project, according to City Engineer Terry McGean.

Town leaders met to discuss the bidding process for contractors Monday, according to McGean.

Town officials say the beach fared well after last weekend’s winter storm.

However, even after January’s partial replenishment, the beach will have to wait for a total beach re-nourishment program to begin in the spring.

Until then, town leaders say Ocean City remains protected by its dune system, even though the beach lost hundreds of thousands of cubic yards of sand from a November nor’easter.

Emergency Services Director Joe Theobald said he doesn’t expect any part of the dune system to fail or be breached by ocean water from any more potential storms, but he said the town is prepared to respond just in case.

“We are not concerned should there be a minor breach,” Theobald said. ”We don’t expect it to take place, and if it did, we will mitigate it and take actions internally that are necessary to protect the rest of the city.”

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