The Sea Dog Creek dredging project, aimed to remove a sand bar that has become a hazard for local boaters and to restore marshland, is officially underway, Councilwoman Erin King Sweeney said in her latest announcement.
In January 2018, Hempstead Town Supervisor Laura Gillen, Councilwoman King Sweeney and Councilman Anthony D’Esposito stood together to call on the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) to expedite a permit to allow the town to dredge Sea Dog Creek to unclog access to the South Bay area and place the dredged material on the marshland to combat the erosion of those precious resources.
In an effort to expedite the permits, Councilwoman King Sweeney, who represents the area, met with NYSDEC authorities in Albany to discuss the need for this project.
She said in her latest statement that on May 11th the permit to dredge from May 14-June 3rd was approved.
Though the weather prevented an immediate start, Councilwoman King Sweeney visited the dredging site last week to view the progress.
“ This dredging was a project that those who navigate our waterways desperately needed ,” said Councilwoman King Sweeney . “ I couldn’t be happier that the NYDEC recognized the urgency of this matter and worked with us to bring it to fruition.”
When Superstorm Sandy’s floodwaters swept through Point Lookout, a shoal was created just north of the Loop Parkway drawbridge, where the eastern end of Sea Dog Creek connects with Long Creek. Since that time, the waterway had become even more clogged, and many boaters have reported that it has become dangerous to navigate.
The dredging is all being completed in-house by employees of the Town of Hempstead Department of Conservation and Waterways.
It is estimated that 15,000 cubic yards of sand will be removed from the waterway and placed in a northwestern portion of Alder Island.
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