DESCRIPTION:
The authorized project provides for hurricane protection and beach erosion control along five reaches of the south shore of Long Island between Fire Island Inlet and Montauk Point, a distance of approximately 83 miles. The authorized project includes widening of the beaches along the developed areas between Kismet and Mecox Bay to a minimum width of 100 feet at an elevation of 14 feet above mean sea level and raising of dunes to an elevation of 20 feet above mean sea level from Fire Island Inlet to Hither Hills State Park, and at Montauk and opposite Lake Montauk Harbor by artificial placement of suitable sand; grass planting of the dunes and interior drainage structures at Mecox Bay, Sagaponack Lake and Georgica Pond. The project authorizes up to 50 groins subject to future determination of their actual need, based on experience. The project also authorizes Federal participation in periodic nourishment. The project sponsor is the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

BACKGROUND:
In 1978, the Department of the Interior (DOI) supported by other agencies referred the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the authorized project to the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) as unacceptable. In June 1978, CEQ recommended project reformulation to the Chief of Engineers, who
in turn directed the District to reformulate the project. Reformulation was originally initiated in 1980; however,
because of difficulties between the Federal, State and County in proceeding with Reach 2, Westhampton, which at the time was the most vulnerable reach of the authorized project, reformulation was suspended. Based on letters of intent to support an interim plan for Reach 2, the reformulation study was resumed in 1994. Work on the reformulation study is ongoing, and interim projects have been developed to address critical areas of vulnerability.

AUTHORIZATION:
The project is authorized by the Rivers and Harbors Act of 14 July 1960 in accordance with House Document 425 and subsequently modified by the River & Harbor Act of 1962, and the Water Resources Development Acts of 1974, 1986 and 1992.

STATUS:

Completed Work:

MORICHES INLET TO SHINNECOCK INLET:
(Reach 2) – 11 groins constructed in the Westhampton Beach area in 1965. Additional 4 groins with beach and dune fill placed west of the 11-groin field in 1969-1970. The Westhampton Interim Project, which included groin modification and beachfill within and west of the 15-groin field was substantially completed in December 1997. The West of Shinnecock Interim Project, which includes beachfill west of the Shinnecock navigation channel, was substantially completed in March 2005.

SOUTHAMPTON to BEACH HAMPTON:
(Reach 4) 2 groins constructed at Georgica Pond in 1965.

Ongoing Work:

PROJECT REFORMULATION:
Studies for a comprehensive reformulation study were initiated in 1994 in accordance with an Initial Project Study Plan dated June 1993. The goal of the reformulation study is to identify storm damage reduction risks within the study area and evaluate alternative methods of providing the authorized beach erosion control and hurricane protection. An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is being prepared for the reformulation effort. Initial work involved data collection including beach profile surveys of the 83-mile shoreline and topographic mapping of flood prone areas. Studies are continuing including coastal processes modeling, storm damage assessments, environmental data collection, plan formulation alternative screening and potential mitigation measures. Based on initial scoping sessions for the reformulation study, an Interagency Reformulation Group was developed as well as several Technical Management Groups to handle specific aspects of the overall study. As a result, the Project Study Plan was revised dated June 1996. The cooperating agencies, including the State of New York and the US Department of Interior, have discussed further revisions to the reformulation study plan resulting in the current Project Management Plan dated June 2000. A Design Agreement has been signed to share the study costs with the State of New York.

Draft Report/EIS for public release July 2009
Total Study Cost: $24 million

INTERIM ACTIONS:
State, local and congressional interests have requested that the District evaluate plans to provide immediate remedial action for vulnerable areas. These interim actions would be modified, as necessary, based on the recommendations of the reformulation study.

BREACH CONTINGENCY PLAN:
Provides a mechanism for rapid breach closure of the barrier islands throughout the 83-mile project area. A Breach Contingency Plan (BCP) Report was approved in February 1996. Under the approved generic Project Cooperation Agreement, the District Commander is authorized to execute specific PCA’s with the State to close breaches after coastal storms.

WESTHAMPTON INTERIM PROJECT:
Provides interim protection to the Westhampton Beach area west of Groin 15 and affected mainland communities north of Moriches Bay. The project provides for a protective beach berm and dune, tapering of existing groins 14 and 15 and construction of an intermediate groin (14a). The project also includes periodic nourishment, as necessary to ensure the integrity of the project design, for up to 30 years (2027). Beachfill for this interim project also includes placement within the existing groinfield to fill the groin compartments and encourage sand transport to the areas west of groin 15. Initial construction was completed in December 1997 at a cost of approximately $20 million. The project has performed better than anticipated in terms of anticipated cost, project performance and beneficial environmental impacts. The first renourishment began in
November 2000 and was substantially completed in February 2001 at a cost of approximately $5 million. Coastal and environmental monitoring are continuing. The second renourishment contract was awarded in September 2004 at a cost of $4.5 M and was completed in December 2004.

FIRE ISLAND INTERIM STUDY:
The Corps, the State of New York and the Department of Interior have been engaged in extensive coordination to develop a mutually acceptable interim plan along the Fire Island barrier island to provide protection until the implementation of the recommendations of the overall reformulation study. As specified in a partnering agreement between the Corps and the USDOI, any proposed interim project would consist of initial beachfill placement with one renourishment for a period not to exceed 6 years. The Draft Decision Document and DEIS were submitted for public review in December 1999 and a public meeting was held in January 2000. Based on the lack of a non-federal sponsor for this project, efforts will focus on development of a comprehensive plan thru the reformulation study. The extensive comments from the USDOI and other resource agencies as well as the general public on the Fire Island interim project will be incorporated in the preparation of the Reformulation study EIS.

WEST OF SHINNECOCK INTERIM PROJECT:
An evaluation has been completed to provide interim protection to the area immediately west of Shinnecock Inlet up to 4000ft westerly, which is seriously eroded and a potential breach area (where the ocean and the bay meet). The proposed project is intended to provide protection to bridge the gap until the implementation of the recommendations of the reformulation study; therefore, it is currently proposed that an interim project would consist of initial beachfill placement with two renourishments for a period not to exceed 6 years. The placement of sand in this 4000ft area will enable future maintenance dredging of Shinnecock Inlet to bypass sand past the influence of the inlet. Based on comments from the State of New York, a biological sampling of the proposed offshore borrow area was initiated in April 1999. Piping plover monitoring will continue for the 6 year project. The Draft Decision Document and Draft Environmental Assessment was submitted for public review in December 1999. The State of New York supports this project and has agreed to provide the non-Federal share of the project cost. The PCA was executed December 2003. A contract was awarded in September 2004 at a cost of $4.3 M, and the initial beachfill placement was completed in March 2005.

CONTACT

Mr. Clifford Jones
Project Manager

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District
26 Federal Plaza
New York, NY 10278

tel: (917)790-8214
email: clifford.jones@nan02.usace.army.mil
web: www.nan.usace.army.mil

Please visit the FIMP Web Page: http://www.nan.usace.army.mil/fimp/index.htm

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