Erosion Hits Southold Town Beach Hard, Replenishment Needed

SOUTHOLD, NY — A rough winter has taken its toll on Southold's town beach.

Southold Town Director of Public Works Jeff Standish said the beach was hit hard, with the Long Island Sound only five feet from the town beach's parking lot in some spots.

Back in 2011, it cost the town nearly $50,000 to replenish the beach. "We haven't gotten to that point yet but thee's quite a bit of devastation," he said.

Standish said he spoke with Andy Binkowski, manager at the Cross Sound Ferry, who will allow the town to have sand for free; the goal is to use a town truck and pay loader to retrieve the sand from Orient Point.

"First, we'd like to work on areas that are very, very close to the road," Standish said.

He added that he budgeted $5,000 to push up the sand for the year, to protect and also to grade the beach, but he's concerned it might not be enough.

Standish said he spoke with Southold Town engineers Jamie Richter and Michael Collins about securing an emergency permit for the work.

At some points on the beach, he said, the erosion has left only the dark brown patches close to the shoreline.

"This might cost us some money," Standish said. The last time the beach was hit hard by Sandy, the town received reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. It cost $48,000 just to move sand at that time, he said.

Councilman Jim Dinizio questioned whether the town should act at all. "Honestly, we are just throwing money in the water," he said, adding that maybe it was time to just let nature take its course and cut back the parking lot.

"It's a popular beach," Standish said. "Even if you cut the parking lot, it won't stop the problem."

Councilwoman Jill Doherty said Suffolk County needs to help the town and said the erosion is a threat to County Road 48. "We're just putting a band aid on this," she said.

"I don't think you can get anything in government unless it's a tragedy," Dinizio said.

"Suffolk County would have a quick fix," said Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell, who added that they'd secure the road and "call it a day. The issue is do we want a beach or not. Do we let nature do what it wants and give up the town beach? I would vote for sand."

Doherty agreed, saying she believes the town should continue replenishing the beach.

Standish said he was asking for the board's okay to go retrieve the sand so he could begin protecting areas close to the highway.

"I wanted to give everyone a head's up because summer is right around the corner and the phones will ring," he said.

Councilman Bob Ghosio agreed and said on a recent nice day the beach drew a crowd.

Standish added that the erosion issue is a problem along the whole stretch of Sound shoreline, including Hashamomuck Cove. "They have to figure it out. It's getting bad."

The town board authorized the sand. Standish said he'll reach out to Town Highway Superintendent Vincent Orlando for manpower and equipment to move the sand.

Patch photo by Lisa Finn.