I went to this public meeting today concerning the ongoing study of barrier beach problems from Fire Island Inlet to Montauk Point.
There are some serious issues that where addressed and what can be done to help save this project and be completed. Once this study is doen then and only then casn they start to repair the erosion problem and inlet problem
February 27, 2004
I went to the meeting today and I have to admit I was impressed. I went with the notion that this was just another political ploy to gain voter support. I am glad to say it was anything but that.
Prior to speaking Congressman Tim Bishop walked through the crowd introduced himself and asked each individual why they where there. Weather it was a commercial fisherman, a recreational fisherman, recreational boaters or property owner he listened to each individual and questioned all about there concerns.
When it was time for addressing the public as a whole he was straight to the point about this project and the funding to complete it. This study was started in the 90’s and is a solution to the never ending story or erosion on the South Shore of Long Island from Fire Island Inlet to Montauk including Montauk Harbor and Lake.
To make a long story short the projected cost to finish this study is 1.7 million dollars. This is the final stage of this study once completed there will be plan of how to attack this never ending problem or erosion, inlet construction and expansion of jetties.
Due to major federal budget considerations the budget for the Army Corp. of Engineers budget was slashed from 350 million dollars to about 120, which is a big hit. So being that they lost all this money the first thing to be scratched was this study even though they have put many years into this study and 18 million, they are willing to for sake all that work and money.
The bottom line is that we are in reach of completing this and solving so many problems that we all complain about. Moriches Inlet for one as far as the recreational fisherman goes. And Shinnicock Inlet and Montauk Harbor for there commercial value to Long Island. The real estate that is involved reaches almost the 3 billion dollar mark and not to forget the environment issues that will occur if we have more breaches in these barrier islands.
I am not going to speculate on what there findings will be but the feeling I got was that major jetty extensions and restoration for all 3 inlets was part of the solution.
Besides Cong. Bishop Assemblyman Fred Theil was on had also and spoke of this not being a political issue but being a bipartisan effort to protect our economy, our beaches, our fisheries both recreational and commercial and our tourism trade which is one of our best attributes. Not only for the local economy but for the tax dollars it brings to back to us.
Also on hand in support of the Congressman efforts where Major Don Pincus form the Army Corp. And 2 chief engineers whose names where John Tavolaro and Cliff Jones who have been involved with the study and the actual TEMPOARY maintenance of Moriches and Shinnicock Inlets.
The engineers assured us that what they are doing now is like putting a band aide on a severe wound and will not solve the long term problem of all three inlets. Some data was released on the depth of the water outside the mouths of these inlets that the current dredging was going to leave us with.
For Shinnicock it was brought to a level of 20 feet from 12 feet and Moriches was brought to 14 feet from a level of 9 feet at a cost of about 7 million per inlet. All this money for a temporary fix that we all know will last about 2-3 years depending on storms and tidal surges during theses N/Easters we get.
These 2 men where also question about dredging project for the inter-coastal waterways that we all use. The problem there was if it was pure mud they have to have a place to get rid of it. It can not be put up on the marshes or small island that dot the area. They did how ever find and old mining project that will take this waste and put it to good use filling up the old mined area with the spoils. An example was given on the removal of spoils for the Patchogue River, which is slated to remove 150 cubic yards. That removal will only take up 2% of what is available to refill. But this is another issue all together, but none the less it was addressed with a promising answer. So they are aware of these problems.
This meeting was to assure the public that they are trying to do everything in there power that this study continues to get funded and completed so that the long term solution can be accomplished.
When asked what amount of money it would take both the Assemblyman and Congressman stated LARGE 8 digit numbers.
My personnel feeling is that continued support of his efforts and with the new polices that are going to be set forth concerning bag limits this might be the allies we are looking for so that we to will have a voice with some political clout to help us in our never ending battle with bag limits and season closures.
The more people that voice there concerns, even if you are not in his district, the BETTER!!!
If you would like to send a letter to his office in support of this study his address is:
Congressman Tim Bishop
3680 Route 112
Coram NY 11727
OR E-mail his district director Luis Rosero at
Luis.Rosero@mailhouse.gov
Long Island Barrier beach Problems
