Supervisor: Storm Uncovers 'Inadequacy' of Fire Island to Montauk Point Plan; Sandbags Exposed in Montauk

EAST HAMPTON, NY — A Hermine-ravaged downtown Montauk beach project is a symbol that more needs to be done to protect the shoreline, said East Hampton Town Supervisor Larry Cantwell.

According to Cantwell in a release, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation informed East Hampton Town officials that the municipality is not responsible for restoring or repairing damages that occurred to the downtown Montauk beach project as a result of Hermine.

Cantwell said the length of the total project is 3,000 feet, and of that, 300 feet of sandbag reinforced dune was "severely eroded in the storm;" most of the damage occurred Monday night and Tuesday, when "we had the highest winds and tides," Cantwell said.

The supervisor said of the 300 feet that suffered signifiant erosion, 50 feet of sandbags are currently exposed.

Cantwell said since project has not been officially turned over to Town of East Hampton and the State of
New York, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will be responsible for the restoration of damages
caused by the storm.

“The damage incurred by this modest storm should demonstrate to the Army Corps the inadequacy
of the project and its new proposal under the Fire Island to Montauk Point plan. Unfortunately, the
current FIMP plan for downtown Montauk calls for the placement of 120,000 cubic yards of sand
to be placed once every four years. What is needed to protect the beach and downtown Montauk
is a major beach-fill project that would pump at least 1 million cubic yards of sand from an offshore
source to provide the protection needed in the hamlet of Montauk,” Cantwell said.

Cantwell said letters and photographs have been sent to Rep. Lee Zeldin, U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer and other elected officials.

"The good news is that a substantial portion of the project is completely intact, untouched," Cantwell said. "But the area that has historically suffered the most severe erosion was again negatively impacted."

Photo courtesy East Hampton Town.