Posted on November 20, 2024
FIRE ISLAND, NY – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), New York District, has announced the commencement of essential 2024-2025 maintenance dredging operations for the Fire Island Inlet and Shores Westerly to Jones Inlet, New York Beach Erosion Control and Navigation Project (Project). This critical work, awarded to Norfolk Dredging Company for $36,978,060, will begin on November 19, 2024, and is expected to continue until mid-March 2025.
This maintenance dredging cycle will dredge approximately 1.25 million cubic yards of sand from Fire Island Inlet. The sand will be strategically placed along Gilgo Beach on Jones Island, nourishing beaches westward toward Jones Inlet to combat erosion and provide coastal storm risk management.
“This project is crucial to maintaining safe navigation and protecting our coastlines from the impacts of storms and erosion,” said Colonel Alex Young, Commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District. “We are committed to collaborating with local communities to ensure that these efforts benefit the region’s environment and economy.”
Additional work funded by the Town of Babylon includes dredging and placement of 70,000 cubic yards of sand at Overlook Beach. during November 2024. Additionally, USACE is working with the Town of Oyster Bay to dredge and place 53,000 cubic yards of sand at Tobay Beach during March 2025. The project addresses critical erosion areas along Jones Island, protects Ocean Parkway from flooding, and helps protect the barrier beach, which safeguards the Great South Bay’s wildlife habitat.
The Project was authorized by the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1937 and later modified to include storm risk management. The Project is integral to sustaining both recreational and environmental resources. Fire Island Inlet serves as the homeport for USCG Station Fire Island and supports a fleet of 35 commercial charter boats.
The last maintenance dredging cycle was conducted in 2022-23, placing 1.5 million cubic yards of sand at Gilgo Beach. Previous cycles in 2018-19 and 2013-14 have significantly mitigated erosion and storm impacts.
About the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District, manages federal water resources development in New Jersey, New York, and parts of Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. The District is dedicated to delivering vital engineering solutions in partnership with stakeholders to enhance national security, energize the economy, and mitigate disaster risks.
