Beach Updates
Beach Sand Updates – Conditions – ECD Activities at Davis Park, Fire Island January 6th 2024 –
Emergency Beach Repair: Our beach is in bad shape. County, Town, FIA and community leaders are continuing to work on an immediate emergency repair project for our East End communities, through a private purchase of sand funded by our local Erosion Control Districts (for which we pay taxes). Many, many thanks to Neil Foley, Michelle DiBrita and the law department for their incredible efforts to get this done. Several challenges to overcome but fingers crossed. Thanks to John Lund and Michelle’s team, we are all set to install new sand fencing when conditions allow. Thanks to the Steins for storage and transport. Again, this is done through our Davis Park ECD. Longer term, we are awaiting a new decision by the Army Corps on the County’s several requests for a much larger repair project funded federally. We should have a decision soon but, if approved, the project would not start until next Fall at the earliest. Longer longer term, the pieces are falling into place for ongoing maintenance and renourishment of the beach every 5 years for the next few decades. This would be funded 50% federally with the balance funded locally, mainly through the ECDs. Stay tuned. Happy New Year! – The DPA
Beach sand (→ LINK: live Camera – WebCam)
Beach sand comparison images, looking south-west from the Casino Cafe, Davis Park, Fire Island:2021 (top image) to 2024 (bottom image)
November 2024 – Davis Park: Beach Repair
Beach Repair Work begins …
Federal Dune Repair Project & Sand PurchaseWelcome to our newest DPA Director, Jeff Vollmuth, who is helping to manage this effort.
The Federal project is set to begin dredging in early December. It will be a full rebuild of the dunes and berm, including stairs and beach grass. They have been mobilizing at Davis Park and our project will go first as they move from East to West.
It looks like there will be an opportunity for the DPA (along with our ECD and the Town) to purchase sand privately from the Army Corps dredging contractor. The DPA sand would be made available for purchase by DPA Members to:
–Backfill legally existing bulkheads (permits need to be in place).
–Infill low points on private property that flood during high groundwater periods (permits may be required from Town and NYSDEC).
Our land use consultant, Kelly Risotto, has been involved in this and our prior projects. She is very knowledgeable and could be retained by individual homeowners to assist with permitting.
The DPA would make sand available for purchase by DPA Members (there’s still time to join the DPA) at the original base cost charged by the dredging contractor (which we are assuming would be $20 per cubic yard or thereabouts) plus a pro rata share of the cost of establishing a stockpile and moving the sand there. In other words, the DPA would sell the sand to members at its cost, all in.
The sand may be transported overland where possible or it may be transported to the Marina, off loaded to a private contractor barge using geotech bags and then floated to the face of the bulkhead requiring filling. Method of transport to your property would have to be privately contracted by each homeowner. We cannot predict that cost but believe that this purchase would be considerably cheaper than buying sand from the mainland.
A number of our contractors have expressed an interest in being retained to assist homeowners with transport: (in alphabetical order): Andrew Felice; Bobby & Tammy Palermo & Jeff Fisher, Eric Lemery, John Layne; Kevin Harrigan.
The DPA and our friends at the Town have put in a tremendous effort this year — from Trapbags to the Dune Repair Project to this private purchase of sand for homeowners. We are asking that participants show their support for this effort by joining the DPA, if they haven’t already, as homeowners ($75 Member annual dues) or contractors ($25 Associate Member annual dues).
We hope to purchase as much sand as homeowners request but there may be a limit. One of our key objectives in this effort is to help abate the mosquito issue by infilling low areas. We will try to be fair if we have to allocate.
A message from our DPA consultant:
Please see below for a summary of permitting requirements and jurisdiction(s) for those wishing to purchase sand from the DPA:
NYSDEC has jurisdiction of sites within and adjacent to tidal wetlands regulated under Article 25 of the Environmental Conservation Law, as follows –
Sites/areas within 300 FT of the delineated tidal wetland boundary – this may include residences that are 2-3 houses off the bay in some areas;
If a site was bulkheaded prior to 8/20/1977 and that bulkhead is over 100 FT in length AND is/has been functional since prior to 8/20/1977, then NYSDEC has jurisdiction to the bulkhead but not landward;
NYSDEC will not allow fill placement in a regulated tidal wetland, but could permit fill placement in the adjacent area with an Article 25 permit and has permitted similar projects around Long Island;
A homeowner should obtain a NYSDEC permit or letter of no jurisdiction to ensure compliance with Article 25.
NYSDEC currently has no regulated freshwater wetlands in Davis Park. However, Article 24 regulations are changing effective 1/1/2025 so if there are freshwater wetlands within Davis Park, a letter of no jurisdiction should be obtained to ensure compliance with Article 24.
Brookhaven (DEP) has jurisdiction of sites within and adjacent to wetlands regulated under Chapter 81 of the Town Code, as follows –Sites/areas within 150 FT of delineated freshwater + tidal wetlands;
Chapter 81 defines wetlands differently than NYSDEC, and therefore, wetlands that may not be regulated by NYSDEC are regulated by the Town ( typically freshwater wetlands).
Brookhaven will not allow fill placement within a regulated wetland (freshwater or tidal) but could permit fill placement in the regulated adjacent/upland area with a Wetlands & Waterways permit.NYSDEC and Brookhaven approvals require submission of application packages that include a site survey with wetland delineation and a site plan showing fill placement areas and calculations, in addition to their application forms and supporting documentation.
If there is anything I’ve left out or you have any questions about the above, please feel free to reach out by phone or email.
Thanks, Kelly M. Risotto, Principal
LAND USE ECOLOGICAL SERVICES, INC.
570 Expressway Drive South, Suite 204, Medford, NY 11763
Office (631) 727-2400 Ext. 302 Mobile (631) 764-7983
Email krisotto@landuse.us
August 6th 2024 – Davis Park: Beach Repair Good News!
For Immediate Release: 8/5/2024
GOVERNOR HOCHUL, U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, MAJORITY LEADER SCHUMER, AND SENATOR GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE CONTRACT AWARDED FOR EMERGENCY SHORELINE REPAIRS ON EASTERN FIRE ISLAND
Army Corps Contract Helps Fulfill Governor Hochul’s Request for “Extreme Storm” Determination and Multi-Agency Collaboration Team Efforts
Project Marks the First Project Labor Agreement Implemented by the Army Corps’ New York DistrictGovernor Kathy Hochul, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced the award of a federally funded contract for emergency repairs to a damaged coastal storm risk management project on Fire Island in Suffolk County.
A $52 million contract was awarded on August 5 to Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company of Houston, Texas, for the work necessary to protect Long Island’s South Shore communities.
“The safety of New Yorkers is one of my top priorities, especially communities vulnerable to the impacts of extreme weather driven by climate change,” Governor Hochul said. “With increasingly frequent and extreme storms, New York is meeting the challenge head on to protect homes and infrastructure. I applaud the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for its expedited response to funding these emergency repairs and for ensuring construction will be led by a skilled workforce working under fair labor practices.”
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) New York District Commander Colonel Alex Young said, “USACE is excited to announce this contract award. This puts us on track to begin the construction phase of the emergency coastal repairs on Fire Island this year. I would like to thank the many federal, state and local elected officials for the incredible support we have had as we’ve moved quickly to bring this project into construction. I also want to thank all our partners from the Department of Interior, to National Park Service and Fish and Wildlife Service, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and New York Department of State, Suffolk County and Town of Brookhaven who came together to form the Multi-Agency Collaboration Team that was instrumental in working through many challenges that helped us achieve this expedited contract award.”
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said, “Today’s $52 million contract award brings us another step closer to restoring the dunes on Fire Island to protect its communities and ensure the integrity of the island, a barrier that protects Long Island’s densely populated South Shore. After the storms, I worked my flip phone to secure these critical emergency repairs on Fire Island, and I applaud the Corps, Senator Gillibrand, and Governor Hochul for working with me to get this done. Thank Brigadier General Lloyd, Colonel Young and his team at the Corps for their work with us and the state and will continue to advocate for continued help across Suffolk as it relates to this storm damage.”
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said, “I am thrilled that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has awarded this contract to address the extensive damages that eastern Fire Island communities have experienced over the past year. This is a momentous step toward delivering critical repairs to the Fire Island community and coastline and I am proud to have worked alongside Governor Hochul and Senator Schumer to secure these emergency repairs. Restoring the South Shore of Long Island remains one of my top priorities, and I will keep fighting to help secure the federal assistance communities need.”
Extreme weather events starting in September 2023 with Hurricane Lee and Tropical Storm Ophelia, followed by significant coastal storms from November 2023 through January 2024, presented a cumulative impact that eroded large sections of beach berm and dunes that are part of the Fire Island Inlet to Moriches Inlet (FIMI) project, resulting in damages to infrastructure and properties on Fire Island from the Ocean Bay Park community east to Davis Park.
In response to the damage, in December 2023 Governor Hochul formally requested expedited approval of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) request to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for emergency rehabilitation assistance for the Corps’ FIMI project along eastern Fire Island in Suffolk County.
The request was supported by Suffolk County, DEC’s local sponsor for the FIMI project, who provided extensive documentation of the storm damage. New York’s requests initiated a process under the federal PL 84-99 program , that allows the Army Corps to deploy significant repair funds to fix projects damaged by storms determined to constitute an extraordinary weather event. In April of 2024, the Corps approved this project for PL 84-99 funds and initiated the process to undertake the repairs. The Corps then expedited physical inspections, completed surveys, performed engineering and design work, worked to create an agency collaboration workgroup to advance cooperation on regulatory permitting and enhance communications, and met on numerous occasions with local stakeholders. Corps leadership, DEC expert staff, and other key stakeholders, traveled to Fire Island communities on multiple occasions to engage with local residents to address concerns. These efforts helped secure local support and allowed the project to move forward.
Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine Said, “Suffolk County’s barrier beaches are critical to protecting the mainland and providing an economic engine for our region. I thank Governor Hochul, Majority Leader Schumer, and Senator Gillibrand for their partnership as we work together to harden our coastlines against future storms.” New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar said, “Under the leadership of Governor Hochul, New York State is working with our local, state, and federal partners, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and New York’s Congressional delegation, to advance post-storm recovery and prepare for future climate-driven extreme weather and flooding. The emergency repair contract award announced today advances expedited construction to protect Fire Island communities, and DEC is thankful to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for coordinating this multi-agency collaborative effort.” This project also marks the first time the New York District of the Army Corps has implemented a project labor agreement (PLA) for the dredging and sand placement activities. The PLA ensures that the project will be completed efficiently, with a skilled workforce and in compliance with fair labor practices.
Today’s announcement complement’s Governor Hochul’s commitment to restoring New York coastal shorelines, including the recently announced funding to support rehabilitation and flood prevention in Long Island and almost $300 million for communities experiencing the wide-ranging negative impacts of our changing climate by advancing resiliency initiatives and investments. Governor Hochul’s Comprehensive Resiliency Plan to Protect New Yorkers Governor Hochul announced a comprehensive resiliency plan to protect New Yorkers from extreme weather as part of her 2024 State of the State.
Highlights include:
+ Launching the ‘Resilient & Ready’ Program to establish a flexible fund to support resiliency efforts for low- and moderate-income homeowners ahead of future storms. The program will enable State Homes and Community Renewal to assist households that experience flood damage to make necessary repairs in the aftermath of storms and will cover the cost of proactive flood mitigation improvements.
+ Introducing the Blue Buffers Voluntary Buyout Program, with $250 million including in the 2024-25 FY Enacted Budget to encourage buyouts in communities most vulnerable to flooding. The program will prioritize outreach and education first and then begin identifying voluntary projects based on the level of flood risk, ensuring we protect our communities that are most vulnerable to high water and storm surges.
+ Making major investments in statewide disaster response to put more boots on the ground, improve training and preparedness, and address evolving threats as they come.
+ Updating Coastal Erosion Hazard Area (CEHA) Maps, which are essential to protect beaches, dunes, and bluffs that maintain and enhance flood resilience, so communities and permit applicants can quickly determine if a property is within a CEHA.
These investments and initiatives also complement other ongoing State efforts including the $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022 that funds projects to update aging water infrastructure and protect water quality, strengthen communities’ ability to withstand severe storms and flooding, reduce air pollution and lower climate-altering emissions, restore habitats, and preserve outdoor spaces and local farms. Disadvantaged communities will receive at least 35 percent of the benefits of Bond Act funding, with a goal of 40 percent. For more information about the Bond Act, go to www.ny.gov/BondAct.
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– The DPA
March 12th 2024 – Starting repair work on dunes at Davis Park
The Trap Bag installation was underway yesterday (March 12th 2024) at Davis Park. They are placing the trap bags two bags wide north and south (see image). (we expect) a third bag will then be placed on top of the two bags.
February 2024 –
Video: Davis Park, Fire Island / Dune restoration via trucks, bring sand from the west: LINK
February 26th 2024 –
- A long-delayed Army Corps PL 84-99 beach repair project is just winding up at the west end of the island. Some Fire Islanders believe that the west end repair was an immediate USACE response to this winter’s ferocious storms. Actually, it was not. Suffolk County applied for this west end repair way back in 2019 after a vicious series of nor-easters pounded the west end. The storms somehow left the east end beaches in better shape, and they were not included in the emergency request at that time.
- Two separate PL 84-99 repair applications for the east end were submitted to NYSDEC and USACE in 2022 and 2023. The request has finally been approved, and it looks like full repair will happen at the end of this summer (or if the stars align, perhaps even in May!).
- Because areas of severely damaged beach on the east end will be vulnerable until a Corps repair project gets underway, Brookhaven Deputy Supervisor Neil Foley worked tirelessly with his Brookhaven colleagues and Suffolk County officials to put together a ‘stop gap” trap bag project for the most seriously damaged east end ‘hot spots.’
- 20,000 yards of sand was purchased from the Great Lakes dredge company as they finished working on the west end. The sand was left on the beaches in front of Ocean Beach, Corneille and Summer Club.
- Thanks primarily to the efforts of the Pines and Seaview, who hired the Actum media & government relations team, Governor Hochul earmarked 3 million dollars to help the County fund this trap bag project. With sand and funding available, Suffolk County agreed to organize and oversee the work. They hired a marine construction contractor to transport sand to the east end, and fill and place the traps bags where they are most urgently needed.
- The County did a survey of the shoreline from eastern Seaview to Davis Park to identify the critical erosion hot spots that need emergency protection.
- The FIA hired Kelly Risotto of Land Use Ecological Services to help the County determine how and where trap bags should be installed. Kelly has 20+ years of experience of working with FIA and our individual communities to plan ocean shoreline and bayside restoration projects.
- Point O’Woods, Cherry Grove and Water Island have not been as seriously impacted by the recent storms. Their beaches and dunes will be restored during the upcoming East End PL84-99 project.
- Seaview received 500 cubic yards of sand to build up the height of a short stretch of severely eroded beach at the east end of the community.
- A careful evaluation of the Ocean Bay Park oceanfront revealed that installing trap bags was not recommended, and actually could even further undermine their storm-diminished dunes.
- County engineers, assisted by Kelly, found that the Pines and Davis Park have the most urgent need for ‘hot spot’ installation of trap bags. (The Davis Park project will also include the use of additional stockpiled sand that they purchased during FIMI project, if it is needed.)
- Getting the large trucks, excavators and bulldozers over to the island by barge
- Securing permits from FINS to drive the sand down the beach.
- Addressing an area on the east end of POW where the beach was so narrow that it was virtually impassable by the trucks filled with sand and heading east.
- The County engineers, working in close collaboration with POW community leaders, designed a trap-bag reinforced ‘corridor’ on the POW beachfront that allows the trucks to get past this narrow bottleneck. The County has assured POW that the incursion onto the POW dune area will be completely restored after the project is completed.
Progress to date:
- Hours of daily project operation: 7:00AM ‐ 4:30 PM
- Amount of sand transported to the Pines and Davis Park to date: 4,000 Cubic Yards
- Cubic yards of sand remaining to be transported: 12,000 CY
- Cubic yards of sand transported to Seaview: 500 CY
- Cubic yards required for building and maintaining the driving corridor: 2000 CY
- Linear feet of trap bags to be installed: 7000 total (3500 ft of triple stacked bags; 3500 ft. of single bags)
- Linear feet completed to date: 1500 ft. of triple stacked bags in the Pines
- Projected end date for each leg of project: Pines (3/8/2024) and Davis Park (4/1/2024)
- Work schedule for week of February 26th:
- Continue trap bag installation at Fire Island Pines.
- Transport approximately 150 CY of sand per day to DP.
- The FINS mandate that all large vehicles and equipment must come by water has resulted in disruption and damage at the Islip Town Marina in Atlantique where the project equipment was brought onto the island. There is agreement between the County, the Town of Islip and the vendor H&L Construction that all damage to the marina area will be repaired as part of their contract obligations.
- The need to transport a large amount of sand for trap bags from OB all the way down to the Pines and DP means hundreds of trips by large trucks that leave deep tracks in the beach (see pictures below). In addition to the unsightly impact on our beaches, the deep ruts make for difficult driving conditions for other vehicles who need to traverse the beach. Suffolk County has assured FINS and the FIA that the contractor will restore any beach areas they have disturbed during the project. In addition, they are directing the contractor to mitigate the truck tracks as much as possible during the project.
- With sand staged on crowded narrow beaches of various communities, there have been reports of vehicles driving up to close to the existing dune line at high tide. These violations of FINS driving code have been reported to FINS, and the County will attempt to place the sand more appropriately to allow room for other vehicles.
- The project is only happening because of the amazing advocacy, energy and teamwork of our east end communities working seamlessly with Neil Foley, Michelle DiBrita and the committed TOB team, with intense advocacy by the Pines and Seaview, and lots of support from the FIA.
- We are also grateful to Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine for his unwavering commitment, and his ‘all hands” activation of the County DPW team. DPW leadership and staff responded quickly to organize a trap bag installation that is extremely challenging. They are working hard to complete the work before the start of piping plover season at the end of March.
- As mentioned above, the County had to secure permits from FINS for the transportation of sand down the beach. Because it was an emergency project with a tight timeline, FINS worked intensely with the County to negotiate permit restrictions that would allow the project to proceed, but would assure FINS that the island beaches would be protected from permanent damage. Because Superintendent Alex Romero and his staff understood the urgency, they were able to grant the permits in 4-5 days time (rather than the usual 30 days). Alex has also been monitoring the project and is available to resolve any concerns about permit compliance issues.
- It is also abundantly clear that the project is successfully moving forward because of a generous spirit of cooperation from neighboring communities who have supported the process of sand transport down to the Pines and Davis Park.
- Point O’Woods and the County worked closely to design the driving corridor on a narrow and severely eroded section of beachfront, allowing the trucks to get through to the east end.
- The logistics of sand transport also meant that large piles of sand had to be staged on the oceanfronts of Ocean Beach, Corneille, Summer Club, Ocean Bay Park, and Cherry Grove. Very deep tracks from the trucks have seriously affected those areas as well. All stakeholders applaud the generosity and patience of these neighboring communities. We look forward to complete restoration of their beaches at the end of the project.
February 3rd 2024 – 
January 28th 2024 – 
January 23rd 2024 –
Some good news on 2 Fronts First, thanks to an all-out effort by leaders of the Pines and Seaview, Suffolk Executive Ed Romaine, Brookhaven Supervisor Dan Panico, and especially Councilman Neil Foley and FIA’s Suzy Goldhirsch, Governor Hochul has committed $3 million towards emergency beach repair for Fire Island’s East End communities! We hope to see emergency sand on our beach in relatively short order. Second, the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), at the urging of our Senators, Governor, County and Town officials and community leaders, is taking a hard second (or third) look at the need for major emergency repair of the FIMI Project in our East End Communities, similar to the project underway on the West End. This would be fully federally funded and, if approved, would hopefully occur this year. USACE engineers are on the beach assessing the East End damage. Good sign! The following is a message from ‘Pines’ and ‘Seaview’ leaders, then excerpts from NY Governor Hochul’s press release yesterday.
“We have some extraordinary news to share. Actum, the public affairs firm that the Pines and Seaview retained back in October, has been informed by the governor’s office that Governor Hochul today plans to announce that the state will fund a series of coastal resiliency initiatives, including a $3 million partnership with Suffolk County to fund beach replenishment in Fire Island’s eastern communities. We have not been given any details about when and how the money will be disbursed – we assume the state will communicate that in short order. If we hear anything we will share it with you immediately. The good news caps an intense PR and government relations campaign that Actum has spearheaded for us all since October. As you know, we have had a great deal of media coverage since then, and mobilized our elected officials at every level of government, from the town level to Washington, to work together to secure funding for emergency repairs and put pressure on the Corps to reverse its decision to bypass the east end. Suzy has been a great partner in this effort and we want to thank her. Our understanding from Councilman Neil Foley (and Brookhaven) is that the stopgap project has cleared every hurdle but has yet to get a green light from Great Lakes Dredging Co. We have asked the governor’s office, as well as Senators Schumer and Gillibrand, to place calls to the company to urge them to proceed. We are so grateful for everyone’s support and collaboration. Sincerely, Henry Robin (Pines) and Tom Ruskin (Seaview)”
GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES INVESTMENTS IN LONG ISLAND RESILIENCY PROJECTS TO PROTECT COMMUNITIES FROM EXTREME WEATHER Governor Hochul and State Officials Assess Beach Damage and Take Action to Repair Shoreline Damage *** $3 Million to Support Suffolk County’s Shoreline Stabilization and Replenishment Project in Fire Island Communities *** In the wake of significant storm damage and erosion from recurring coastal storms, Governor Kathy Hochul today announced key resiliency investments to stabilize communities from shoreline erosion and severe weather driven by climate change and continued to press the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to undertake more comprehensive repairs to its damaged coastal projects. New State funding to the town of Babylon from the historic $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act, a new partnership with Suffolk County to replenish sand and help stabilize the Fire Island shoreline, and critical improvements to protect public access to Gilgo State Park will improve the ability of these assets in the face of extreme weather, sea level rise, and other ongoing climate change challenges affecting the region. Governor Hochul made this announcement following a tour of Overlook Beach in the Town of Babylon, joined by Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos, Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine, Babylon Town Supervisor Rich Schaffer, and Suffolk County Legislature Presiding Officer Kevin McCaffrey. “Long Island communities are all too familiar with the destruction caused by extreme weather,” Governor Hochul said. “In addition to New York’s actions to combat climate change, we are taking action to ensure our communities, homes and infrastructure are resilient and will withstand the coastal storms happening now. I’m committed to continuing our close partnership with the Army Corps and local officials to protect Long Island.” The projects announced today will help repair shoreline damage, protect communities and important recreation assets from severe weather events, and create jobs that boost local economies. *** New York State is also partnering with Suffolk County and providing $3 million to support additional beach replenishment to more immediately protect eastern Long Island communities such as Fire Island Pines and Cherry Grove. While repairs by the Army Corps to the western portion of Fire Island are now well underway to address erosion damage that first started in 2019, there remains high risk that another significant storm will cause additional catastrophic damage in many Suffolk County coastal communities. For example, in portions of the Pines community, the protective dune is completely gone, and homes are subject to direct wave damage. In addition to the work scheduled to help Fire Island communities, Governor Hochul, the State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), and local partners continue to urge the Army Corps to issue the required authorization to repair damage to eastern Long Island. Earlier this month, Governor Hochul called for the Army Corps’ expedited approval of the State’s emergency rehabilitation assistance request to help ensure repairs begin immediately to restore coastal resiliency projects that protect public safety and mitigate the severity of future damage. New York has requested expedited repairs by the Army Corps to four coastal projects: the Fire Island Inlet to Moriches Inlet; West of Shinnecock Inlet; Fire Island Inlet to Shores Westerly; and Downtown Montauk. Today, DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos and other State and local officials met with community leaders and toured the damage and restoration projects underway. *** New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Seggos said, “Improving coastal resilience in the face of climate change requires all hands on deck, and DEC is proud to work with Governor Hochul, Suffolk County, the Army Corps, and the many local partners supporting necessary post-storm recovery and restoration and helping prevent future damage. DEC’s coastal and water quality experts will continue to work directly with communities across Long Island to advance critical projects following these devastating storms, and the allocation of millions of dollars today is just another example of Governor Hochul’s commitment to helping protect Long Island’s coastal communities.” *** State Parks Commissioner Erik Kulleseid said, “I applaud the leadership by Governor Hochul to aid our coastal communities following these fierce storms. It’s wonderful to see all levels of government quickly coming together to help make vulnerable communities more resilient to the impacts of climate change.” *** State Senator Dean Murray said, “I want to thank Governor Hochul for her immediate attention to the dangerous situation we have been facing due to the numerous storms that have hit Long Island over the last few weeks. I look forward to working with her and our federal partners and local officials as we continue to address what has become an emergency situation on Fire Island and our local shoreline communities.” *** Assemblymember Jarett Gandolfo said, “I’m grateful that the Governor recognizes the importance of restabilizing shoreline communities and investing in the protection of our shores from continued rapid erosion. With continued aggressive storms, Long Island needs this kind of investment and support now more than ever. These new protections will go a long way in protecting our vulnerable coastal communities.” *** Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine said, “We thank Governor Hochul for her action to protect our beaches and waterfront communities. Each year we face the dire reality that we will lose more of our shoreline, creating a public safety emergency while also affecting the billions in tourism dollars that are generated by hundreds of thousands of visitors visiting our world-famous beaches and historic villages and landmarks. Governor Hochul’s promise of aggressive action to combat this issue will no doubt assist us in preserving an entire way of life that has personified Long Island for generations.” *** Suffolk County Legislature Presiding Officer Kevin McCaffrey said, “It is much more than restoring the beach. It is about protecting the Ocean Parkway and the mainland from the Atlantic Ocean. I am happy that NYS and Governor Hochul have committed resources to the stabilization of our Fire Island communities, repair of Overlook Beach, and Gilgo State Park. These steps are essential toward protecting the South Shore and our very way of life.” *** Suffolk County Legislator Dominick Thorne said, “Our county recently experienced a round of storms that caused great damage to various communities here on the main shoreline and to Fire Island communities. I am overjoyed to see every level of government working together to repair and ensure our coastline resiliency. I would like to thank the Governor for her response to our calls for help.” *** Brookhaven Town Supervisor Daniel J. Panico said, “When it comes to storms, the barrier island is the first line of defense for the mainland, so we thank the Governor for the allocation of these resources in furtherance of replenishment. However, we must address this issue as a region and must end the seemingly endless cycle of emergency scrambling and instead embark on a regional plan, because the frequency and ferocity of these storms have exposed the fact that the current approach may be untenable.” *** Brookhaven Town Councilman Neil Foley said, “As the Councilman representing Fire Island Communities in the Town of Brookhaven, I commend Governor Kathy Hochul for her proactive measures in addressing storm damage and erosion. The resiliency investments aimed at stabilizing the Fire Island shoreline are pivotal in safeguarding our communities from the impacts of climate change. These efforts support Suffolk County’s Shoreline Stabilization and Replenishment Project in Fire Island Communities.” +++ Governor Hochul’s Comprehensive Resiliency Plan to Protect New Yorkers Earlier this month, Governor Hochul announced a comprehensive resiliency plan to protect New Yorkers from extreme weather as part of her 2024 State of the State and included $435 million in the Executive Budget proposal to help implement the initiatives. Highlights include:
- Creating the ‘Resilient & Ready’ Program to establish a flexible fund to support resiliency efforts for low- and moderate-income homeowners ahead of future storms. The program will enable State Homes and Community Renewal to assist households that experience flood damage to make necessary repairs in the aftermath of storms and will cover the cost of proactive flood mitigation improvements.
- Creating the Blue Buffers Voluntary Buyout Program, with $250 million including in the 2024-25 Executive Budget to encourage buyouts in communities most vulnerable to flooding. The program will prioritize outreach and education first and then begin identifying voluntary projects based on the level of flood risk, ensuring we protect our communities that are most vulnerable to high water and storm surges.
- Making major investments in statewide disaster response to put more boots on the ground, improve training and preparedness, and address evolving threats as they come.
- Update Coastal Erosion Hazard Area (CEHA) Maps, which are essential to the protection of beaches, dunes, and bluffs that maintain and enhance flood resilience, so that communities and permit applicants quick quickly determine if a property is within a CEHA.The voter-approved $4.2-billion Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act is helping to support these and many other initiatives, including leveraging funding for water quality improvement and resilient infrastructure. The Bond Act is advancing historic levels of funding to update aging water infrastructure and protect water quality, strengthen communities’ ability to withstand severe storms and flooding, reduce air pollution and lower climate-altering emissions, restore habitats, and preserve outdoor spaces and local farms. Disadvantaged Communities will receive at least 35 percent of the benefits of Bond Act funding, with a goal of 40 percent. For more information about the Bond Act, go to www.ny.gov/BondAct.
– The DPA
January 13th 2024 –
NY Governor put out a press release today urging approval of DEC’s request for emergency repair work. Here is a link to the letter she sent to the Army Corps. LINK
For Immediate Release: 1/11/2024
GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL
FOLLOWING STORM IMPACTS ON LONG ISLAND, GOVERNOR HOCHUL UPDATES NEW YORKERS ON RECOVERY EFFORTS AND ANNOUNCES LETTER TO ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS
In A Letter to Army Corps of Engineers, Governor Urges Approval of Department of Environmental Conservation’s Request for Emergency Rehabilitation Assistance
State Agencies Continue Emergency Response Efforts; DHSES Damage Assessment Team Coordinating with Suffolk County
Governor’s 2024 State of the State Includes Resiliency Plan to Protect Communities, Homes, Infrastructure, and Our Most Vulnerable New Yorkers
Governor’s Letter to Army Corps of Engineers Is Available Here
Following significant storm damage and erosion from Tuesday’s winter storm, Governor Kathy Hochul today updated New Yorkers on the State’s continued response to storm damage in Suffolk County. Governor Hochul also issued a letter to the Army Corps of Engineers urging them to expeditiously approve the Department of Environmental Conservation’s request for emergency rehabilitation assistance.
“The safety of New Yorkers is my top priority, and we are working closely with our partners on Long Island to address the impact of this week’s storm,” Governor Hochul said. “I’m calling on our federal partners to review and expedite our requests for support. The compounding impacts of erosion on Long Island is threatening our communities and infrastructure and requires urgent action.”
In a letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Governor Hochul urged for the approval of the Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) request for emergency rehabilitation
assistance for multiple USACE Coastal Storm Risk Management Projects along the coast of Long Island in connection with excessive damage caused by Hurricane Lee and Tropical Storm Ophelia last September. Following an initial denial by USACE, the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), in coordination with Suffolk County, worked quickly to fully document the extensive damage wrought to coastal resiliency projects, including dunes, by previous storms and stress the need for emergency repairs. In response to recent coastal erosion, it is more urgent than ever that this work begins immediately to restore these resiliency projects to protect public safety and mitigate the severity of the damage in these communities.
In addition, Governor Hochul directed DEC and the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) to coordinate with Suffolk County to evaluate the damage of yesterday’s storm to determine if it qualifies for additional federal assistance through FEMA, USACE or any other avenues. If and when a determination is made, the State will be requesting immediate emergency assistance.
Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine said, “On behalf of the residents of who have been affected by this storm, I want to thank Governor Hochul for her support and commitment to Suffolk County. It is only through partnerships among all levels of government that we can truly serve the people, and I will be working with Governor Hochul to do all we can to bring relief in the wake of another devastating storm event.”
Babylon Town Supervisor Rich Schaffer said, “We thank Governor Hochul for drawing attention to the extensive damage suffered recently in our coastal community. In Babylon in particular, a beloved Town facility, Overlook Beach, has basically been erased from the map as a result of the last few storms. We urgently join the Governor’s call for the Army Corps of Engineers to provide immediate assistance.”
Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico said, “Brookhaven Town called on the Army Corps of Engineers after the last storm, warning about exactly what occurred during this recent storm. Now with this most recent devastation, we join Governor Hochul in renewing the call for immediate action.”
Brookhaven Town Councilman Neil Foley said, “As the local Councilman representing Fire Island and parts of the South Shore in Brookhaven District 5, I stand united with Governor Hochul in urgently appealing to the Army Corps of Engineers. The recent challenges demand immediate attention, and by working collaboratively, we can address the issues promptly, ensuring the well-being of our community and preventing further deterioration. Together, let’s take proactive steps to remedy the situation before it escalates any further.”
New York Division of Military and Naval Affairs – The New York National Guard remains on high alert and Governor Hochul will send Long Island assistance as needed.
Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services – DHSES is working with local partners on damage assessments to determine if Suffolk County can access low-interest recovery loans for homeowners and businesses from the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Department of Environmental Conservation – DEC, in coordination with Suffolk County, worked quickly to fully document the extensive damage wrought to coastal resiliency projects, including dunes, by previous storms and stress the need for emergency repairs. DEC will expedite its review of any necessary environmental permits.
Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation – State Parks staff are placing and repositioning sandbags around buildings at oceanfront State Parks throughout the Long Island. Additionally, staff placed sand at Gilgo State Park to fortify the entrance and exit roads and prevent flooding of the Ocean Parkway. Once high water levels from Tuesday’s storm recede, State Parks staff will fortify a protective sand berm from the East Bathhouse to the West Bathhouse through the Central Mall, at Jones Beach State Park.
Department of Public Service – PSEG Long Island has restored power to all 26,541 customers affected by the gusty winds and heavy rain that brought down trees and heavy branches on wires, causing scattered power outages throughout PSEG Long Island’s service territory. The storm also caused widespread flooding in Ocean Beach on Fire Island. Some water entered the Ocean Beach substation, requiring PSEG Long Island to shut off equipment for safety. Crews restored power to customers on Wednesday. All PSEG Long Island employees were mobilized to support the restoration efforts, including more than 900 line workers, tree trimmers, surveyors and other field personnel. In addition, more than 720 internal and external contractors from Long Island, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, West Virginia and Indiana are on site to address outages.
Governor Hochul’s Comprehensive Resiliency Plan to Protect New Yorkers
This week, Governor Hochul announced a comprehensive resiliency plan to protect New Yorkers from extreme weather as part of her 2024 State of the State. Highlights include:
- Creating the Resilient & Ready Program to create a flexible fund to support resiliency efforts for low-and-moderate income homeowners ahead of future storms. The program will enable Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) to assist households that experience flood damage to make necessary repairs in the aftermath of storms and will cover the cost of proactive flood mitigation improvements.
- Creating the Blue Buffers Voluntary Buyout Program to encourage buyouts in communities most vulnerable to flooding. The program will prioritize outreach and education first and then begin identifying voluntary projects based on the level of flood risk, ensuring we protect our communities that are most vulnerable to high water and storm surges.
- Making major investments in statewide disaster response to put more boots on the ground, improve training and preparedness, and address evolving threats as they come.
- Update Coastal Erosion Hazard Area (CEHA) Maps, which are essential to the protection of beaches, dunes, and bluffs that maintain and enhance flood resilience, so that communities and permit applicants quick quickly determine if a property is within a CEHA.
