The USACE’s New York District has announced the completion of the emergency restoration of the Atlantic Ocean’s Gilgo Feeder Beach in the Town of Babylon, Long Island, to restore coastal storm risk reduction measures that reduce the risk of barrier island breaches and protect critical infrastructure.
The work restored the beach that protects the undermining of Ocean Parkway – a critical transportation corridor that serves as an evacuation route during coastal emergencies for the residents of the surrounding communities.
“The completion of this emergency shoreline restoration contract is absolutely critical for the residents and surrounding communities of the Town of Babylon,” said Col. Thomas Asbery, commander, New York District.
The contracted work involved dredging approximately 1,800,000 cubic yards of accumulated sand from Fire Island Inlet, including its navigation channel.
The dredged sand was pumped 2.5 miles to the west of the inlet in order to restore the 3.5 mile long Gilgo Feeder Beach which had incurred serious erosion due to last winter’s four nor’easters.
Sand naturally moves within the coastal systems along the Atlantic Ocean shoreline on Long Island from east to west, from Montauk Point west to Coney Island and Norton Point.