Governor Kathy Hochul announced $3.5 million to build back Long Island’s South Shoreline beaches. The funding coincides with the first phase of dredging to combat significant beach erosion to help strengthen the shoreline after being pummeled by severe storms.
Low-lying areas of Nassau and Suffolk were hit especially hard by these storms. This funding announcement comes on the heels of significant erosion after several extreme weather events that led to substantial damage to coastal towns and the shoreline itself.
Shoreline damage will be repaired in hopes of protecting local towns and recreation sites from severe weather damage going forward.
“Our shoreline is not only environmentally important but is a critical economic driver. We must protect it,” Assemblyman Joe DeStefano stressed. “The funds released by Governor Hochul will go a long way toward securing our coastline assets.”
The Jones Beach barrier Island is important to protect the south shore mainland communities of western Suffolk County. Fortification work will include the dredging of the Fire Island Inlet and the placement of approximately 1.25 million cubic yards of sand at Gilgo State Park, Tobay Beach, and Overlook Beach.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) approved the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) request for emergency rehabilitation assistance to expedite coastal damage repair. There are multiple USACE Coastal Storm Risk Management Projects along the South Shore of Long Island that suffered excessive damage from a series of storm events. It is hoped that the work will mitigate severe loss in these communities.
New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Commissioner Pro Tempore Randy Simons said, “We thank Governor Hochul for her support and commitment to Long Island. We have seen what the storm surges can do and are glad this work by the USACE will build back a stronger shoreline.”