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Some might say the #13 is unlucky. I disagree. Proof now follows.
I am pleased to announce more great news on the fight to replenish our beach. Last week, I shared that the Army Corps of Engineers had reversed itself after months of pressure, and agreed to commence a major beach repair project, a huge victory for our community.
The big unknown was when the project would take place. Because the dunes on the west end of the Pines are all but gone, and the timing of the Corps project isn’t yet known, we started pressing for an immediate stopgap project to replace and protect our dunes until the Corps can commence its large-scale project.
As a result of a blizzard of activity involving officials from the state, county, town, FIPPOA, and Seaview, as well as Actum, our public affairs firm, I’m happy to report that the dredging company Great Lakes will start pumping sand this weekend.
The sand will be pumped at Ocean Beach, then distributed by the county over the next week or two in large trap bags to the east end communities. The Pines will be first, and receive the most sand of any community.
We hope to see the sand-filled trap bags replacing and reinforcing our dunes as soon as next week. FIPPOA has hired an engineer to offer recommendations as to where the trap bags should go and how they should be configured, though the town and county will have the final say.
Much if not all of the funds for the project will come from the state, as Governor Kathy Hochul last week awarded $3 million to help Fire Island’s east end communities. We are so appreciative to her for her help; she came to our aid when we most needed her. Money that has accumulated in our erosion control district may also be used to fund the project.
But the governor was hardly the only one. Both the large-scale and smaller-scale projects have only come about because of a mammoth public and political pressure campaign. Hiring Actum to run the effort was one of the smartest decisions we could have made. Neil Foley, our Brookhaven councilman, has been a tireless advocate determined to break through the bureaucracy to protect our beach. Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand played a key role in moving the Army Corps to drop their opposition. County Executive Ed Romaine championed our cause as well. We have found heroes at innumerable agencies who worked hard to make this happen.
The legion of Pines residents joining the effort seemed to grow by the day; nobody said no when we asked for their help. It is a wonderful community, comprised of people who love and care about it passionately. We all waged this battle together.
I am looking forward to seeing the new dune protection on our beach in the next week or so. It is a modest stopgap measure, a fraction of the size the Army Corps project will be. Hopefully it will give us the protection we desperately need until the Corp arrives.
Best,
Henry
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