Farmingville, NY – Brookhaven Town Highway Superintendent Daniel P. Losquadro and Councilwoman Jane Bonner recently announced the completion of a four-year, multi-phase, $1.3-million shoreline stabilization project in the vicinity of Shore Road and Amagansett Drive in Sound Beach.
In October 2012, Hurricane Sandy changed the topography of much of the North Shore beaches and dunes, with the bluff at Shore Road and Amagansett Drive becoming severely eroded and leaving the roads and homes in this area at great risk. In May 2013, the Brookhaven Highway Department completed the first phase of the project by stabilizing the bluff—filling it in with approximately 2,000 cubic yards of clean fill—and replacing its outfall pipe, which broke during Hurricane Sandy. This work was approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for federal assistance in the amount of $233,651.
However, the work on the bluff and the repair of the pipe were never meant to complete the project. Superintendent Losquadro explained that this first phase “was just a temporary ‘Band-Aid’ so the bluff wouldn’t erode any further and jeopardize the structural integrity of the drainage pipe. Our ultimate goal was to eliminate the outfall over the bluff completely, abandon the drainage pipe and direct all of the water from this tributary area into a newly-constructed recharge basin to the east of Amagansett Drive. The construction of this recharge basin allowed the Town the rare ability to eliminate an outfall pipe and, by doing so, prevent the stormwater runoff from flooding the beach and entering the Long Island Sound, while also taking the erosion pressure off of the bluff face.”
Once construction of the recharge basin near the intersection of Amagansett Drive and Shore Drive was completed in 2015, the final phase of the project began which included the abandonment of the pipe and permanent stabilization of the bluff through the installation of a three- to four- ton armoring stone revetment wall, erosion control matting, wood terracing and native plantings. The project also included the installation of a new staircase from Shore Drive. This phase was completed with in-house resources and came in under budget.
“As a Town, we need to make sure there is reliable access that will be there, season after season, for our fire department and police, in the event of an emergency,” Losquadro said.
Although the temporary stabilization of the bluff received funding from FEMA, the storm hardening and total bluff restoration was paid for through Town capital funds. The total cost for Phase II (construction of the recharge basin) was $633,333 and Phase III (storm hardening and bluff restoration) was $450,000.
“I am extremely pleased with the solutions created by this shoreline stabilization project in Sound Beach – one of nearly a dozen surface water quality protection projects the Highway Department has undertaken since I took office four years ago,” Losquadro said. “In the long run, the results of this project will save taxpayer dollars due to fewer erosion costs in the area. And, the hardening of our infrastructure leaves us less vulnerable to damage from future storms.”
Councilwoman Bonner said, “Completion of this project on time and under budget after being stalled by Superstorm Sandy is a welcome event to the residents of Sound Beach. The bluffs along the North Shore are especially vulnerable to erosion, but the more we can do to stabilize our shoreline, the safer it will be.”
Division of Public Information - Office of the Supervisor
One Independence Hill
Farmingville, NY 11738
Phone: 631-451-6595