Army Corps Performing South Shore Flooding Study

Nassau County communities that abut the Back Bays have always been prone to flooding. But as many residents can attest, that problem has only worsened since Hurricane Sandy hit. It's because of the worsening conditions that the Army Corps of Engineers will be condeucting a study of the Back Bays, and it's seeking to inform the public.

The Army Corps will be holding two meetings next week to discuss the NY Coastal Storm Risk Management Feasibility Study. The first meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 2 in Seaford, and the other on Wednesday, May 3 in Freeport.

The meetings, held by the Army Corps and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), are being held to discuss the study, which is going to investigate potential solutions to the South Shore's flooding problem. The study is for communities that front Hewlett Bay, Middle Bay, Jones Bay, South Oyster Bay and the creeks, channels and minor waterbodies that make up the Nassau County Back Bays.

The South Shore of Long Island is a unique area. It's a highly developed and dense coastal area. Human engineering has impacted the way that the coastal and barrier island system works and is impacted by storms and high tides. Many of these dense areas are also at low elevations, which makes them prone to flooding. According to the Army Corps, this created changes to the natural sediment transport processes that has resulted in an impact on sensitive ecosystems and species that thrive in the area, as well as the flooding problems that residents experience.

The meetings will be held:

Tuesday, May 2
Seaford High School Auditorium
1575 Seamans Neck Road, Seaford
Poster session: 6 to 6:30 p.m.
Presentation and Q&A: 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, May 3
Freeport Village Hall
46 N. Ocean Ave., Freeport
Poster session: 6 to 6:30 p.m.
Presentation and Q&A: 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Any questions about the study and scoping meetings should be directed to Mark Lulka, Army Corps Project Manager, at (917) 790–8205 or NassauBackBays@usace.army.mil.

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