Posted on May 31, 2018
By Alex Costello, Patch
This January, Hempstead Town Supervisor Laura Gillen, Councilwoman Erin King Sweeney and Councilman Anthony D’Esposito stood together to call on the New York State 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, King Sweeney, who represents the area, met with NYSDEC authorities in Albany to discuss the need for this project. She is now proud to announce that on May 11, the permit to dredge from May 14 through June 3 was approved. Though the weather prevented an immediate start, 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 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 Hurricane 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. Boaters utilize this waterway after launching from the town’s nearby East and West Marinas.
“I am proud to join Councilwoman King Sweeney, the town board and the DEC in ensuring the town’s waterways are safe for navigation and our precious marshes are rebuilt,” said Gillen. “These efforts will undoubtedly help mitigate threats of flooding for tens of thousands of residents here in the Town of Hempstead and secure safe passage for our recreational and commercial boaters and fishermen.”
The dredging is all being completed in-house by employees of the town’s 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.
Source: Patch
