Hempstead Town Seeking Permission To Dredge Creek

Five years have passed since Hurricane Sandy slammed the Town of Hempstead, but work continues to repair all of the damage caused by the storm. This week, Councilwoman Erin King Sweeney was joined by Supervisor Laura Gillen and Councilman Anthony D’Esposito as they announced that the town is seeking state approval for plans to dredge Sea Dog Creek to unclog access points to the south bay area, which have become treacherous waters for local boating enthusiasts.

“Residents certainly remember the devastation to homes, businesses, parks, roads and other property throughout the Town of Hempstead as a result of Superstorm Sandy,” said King Sweeney. “However, Sandy also did a great deal of damage to local waterways, as eroded shoreline was washed into canals, channels and other marine access routes.”

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 has become even more clogged, and many boaters have reported that it has become dangerous to navigate.

“Hempstead Town has been aggressively working to address all issues associated with the ravaging effects of Sandy, and I am proud to join Councilwoman King Sweeney and the Town Board in the efforts to ensure that our waterways are safe for navigation and our precious marshes are rebuilt,” Gillen said. “These efforts will undoubtedly help mitigate threats of flooding for tens of thousands of residents here in the Town of Hempstead.”

As the area is under the jurisdiction of the state, the town is seeking a permit from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC). King Sweeney met with the Deputy Commissioner of the NYSDEC in Albany last week and urged that the DEC do everything in its power to expedite issuance of the permit, as many boaters utilize the waterway after launching from the town’s nearby East and West Marinas. Town officials noted that the waterway is safe so long as boaters follow town navigation buoys.

“Being from and representing waterfront communities, I know firsthand how severely our waterways and marshes were impacted by Sandy,” said D’Esposito. “This project is imperative for the safety of boaters and homeowners alike.”

Dredged sand would be placed on the beach just south of Sea Dog Creek, west of the Loop Parkway drawbridge. The marshlands in this area are ½ the size they were less than 100 years ago. Marshland is being lost within Hempstead’s bays at approximately 22 acres a year.

“Dredging the creek and using the material to restore our marsh islands will be a win-win,” said King Sweeney. “Our boaters can navigate more freely and a restored marsh will help protect against coastal flooding as well as protecting a valuable wildlife habitat.”

In addition to the proposed dredging plans, the Town Board has also overseen the town’s authorization of the U.S. Army Corps’ Long Beach Island Storm Reduction Act, which helped rebuild town shorelines and protect low-lying communities against future storm surge. Additionally, the town is in the process of refurbishing bulkheads at the East and West Marinas.

“The dredging of Sea Dog Creek just north of the Loop Parkway drawbridge is an important project to help protect our marshes and keep our waterways navigable,” King Sweeney said. "The Town of Hempstead is committed to beginning this project as soon as possible.”

Photo: Town of Hempstead