Restoring, Maintaining and Protecting Long Island's Maritime Infrastructure

Press Release

By Rep. Lee Zeldin

In a district almost completely surrounded by water, we have a unique responsibility to safeguard our local waterways. For all who have lived on Long Island for an extended period of time, we understand that our island's waterways are an integral part of our history, culture and entire way of life. The Long Island Sound alone supports tens of billions of dollars in economic value per year, which helps so many hardworking Long Islanders put food on the table and provide a better future for their families. For the safety and prosperity of all who rely on our waterways, it is essential to secure, undertake and complete maritime projects that restore, maintain and protect Long Island's coastline and waters.

This winter, our region was pummeled by a series of unprecedented storms that undermined the integrity of our maritime infrastructure, threatening our communities' fishing and boating industries and negatively impacting the so many businesses that support them. The severity of the situation was most prevalent at Moriches Inlet, which was no longer safe to pass through because of the severe shoaling created by the winter storms, which pushed sand into the inlet, creating extremely shallow and dangerous waters.

During one of my telephone town halls, which I hold while in Washington, D.C. voting, I spoke to a local fisherman, Captain Joe Tangel of Moriches, a year-round fisherman and charter boat captain who supports a family of four transiting Moriches Inlet close to 200 times a year. Having fished out of Moriches for over 20 years, he said Moriches Inlet was in the worst shape he had ever seen, a state that would no longer allow him and the so many others who rely on the inlet to support their families.

I went out to the inlet to see these dangerous conditions firsthand, and was joined by fishermen, business owners and other stakeholders in calling for an emergency dredge. Working with the Army Corps of Engineers and those at every level of government, I secured the approval and $12 million in federal funding needed to undertake this emergency dredge, and, with the necessary pipes being laid and vessels arriving, it is underway right now. The dredged sand will be placed at Smith Point County Park where it will be used to widen the beach, strengthen the dunes, support the boardwalk and defend the beach against future storms.

Working with Commander of the New York District of the Army Corps of Engineers Colonel Thomas Asbery and his incredible team, in addition to moving the Fire Island to Montauk Point (FIMP) plan closer to implementation as well as other important east end projects, I also secured $3 million and a dredge of the Long Island Intracoastal Waterway. This dredge will restore the proper 6-foot depth to the waterway and maintain safe navigational conditions for boaters along the South Shore by removing over 57,000 cubic yards of sand from over 2.7 miles.

These unprecedented winter storms left so many waterways in dangerous navigational conditions, including Wickham Creek on the North Fork. Dredging of Wickham Creek is prohibited between January 1st and September 31st, but with the summer approaching the condition of Wickham Creek was a safety hazard to recreational and commercial boaters alike. I secured an extension of the dredging period to restore safe navigational conditions for local residents right in time for summer.

On the East End, as the largest fishing port in New York State, Montauk is key to the seafood and tourism industries of our region. The vessels that drive this industry are sheltered in the safety of Lake Montauk. However, their safety and the docks utilized inside the harbor depend on regular upkeep and dredging, and in June I was proud to secure $1.9 million to undertake this important dredging project.

I also recently secured $480,000 in federal funding for the Cedar Beach Creek Habitat Restoration Demonstration Project, which restores local essential ecosystem functions in the degraded marsh system. Since 1930, significant marsh loss and degradation from erosion and past filling activities have occurred. Completion of this project will greatly enhance the 65-acre marsh and beach complex at Cedar Beach Creek. The project will restore and create 19.5 acres of salt marsh and marsh islands through the beneficial use of clean dredged material, create new oyster reefs, create 1.7 acres of new seagrass meadow, improve 3 acres of new open water habitat through increased and improved flushing and revitalize the entire 65 acre marsh, beach, and open water mosaic. This project will establish and enhance three critical marine habitats in the Peconic Estuary which is an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designated Estuary of National Significance.

The hundreds of miles of coastline that comprise our shores have been forever ingrained in the culture and livelihoods of Long Islanders. For generations, Long Island's economy has been driven by our surrounding waterways, culture and heritage molded by our communities' bustling tourism, boating, fishing and maritime industries. It is our responsibility to preserve this way of life for the so many Long Islanders who rely on our local maritime industries, ensuring our local waterways are clean, healthy, and safe to navigate; a critical component of continuing these unique traditions.

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