Mattituck Inlet Faces 'Catastrophic Breach' Should Major Storm Arise; County Executive Urges Dredging

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NORTH FORK, NY — Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine urged the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to prioritize the dredging of the Mattituck Inlet — or else face potentially disastrous consequences.

“We cannot afford another delay,” said Romaine. “It is critical for the economic vibrancy and safety of the entire Mattituck area that this dredging take place to and beyond the required limits.”

Dredging of the federally authorized navigation channel was originally scheduled for the fall of 2025, but was delayed due to equipment delays and shipyard issues with the Corps’ dredging vessel.

Local officials, including Mattituck Park District Chairman Kevin Byrne, have warned that the inlet faces a “catastrophic breach” should a major storm arise, Romaine said.

Romaine said he also supports any necessary Section 111 studies to support the inlet’s long-term maintenance to protect the critical piece of coastal infrastructure.

"Mattituck Inlet is a critical navigation and community asset on the North Fork in Suffolk County," Romaine wrote in a letter to Colonel Alexander Young, commander and district engineer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineer.

"It is the only harbor between Port Jefferson and Greenport, serving as a harbor of refuge during severe weather, supporting recreational use and commercial marinas, as well as providing access for fishing and boating," he wrote. "Recent hydrographic surveys and local reporting underscore that significant sand accumulation has severely shoaled the federally authorized navigation channel, which is required to maintain at least seven feet of depth at low tide."

The maintenance dredge initially scheduled for Fall 2025 was postponed until fal2026 due to equipment delays and shipyard issues with the Corps’ dredge vessel, he said.

"The buildup of sand is not a minor inconvenience — it has already created areas within the inlet that are dangerously shallow for navigation and has formed a pseudo-beach inside the inlet, creating unpredictable currents that pose hazards to swimmers and boaters alike," Romaine wrote.

A 2006 Army Corps Section 111 study documented how federal navigation works have contributed to downdrift erosion and evaluated mitigation alternatives that would enhance shoreline stability and storm protection, Romaine said. The last large-scale dredge in 2014 removed roughly 100,000 cubic yards of sand, which substantially replenished Bailie Beach and improved coastal storm risk reduction, he said.

"The Corps’ own maintenance fact sheet confirms that dredged material from the inlet has previously been used beneficially along the shoreline," he said.

And, said Romaine: "Shoaling has narrowed parts of the inlet and reduced channel depth, impacting local recreational boating and commercial activity at Strong’s Marine and other operations. Timely dredging will help ensure safe navigation for commercial and recreational vessels, supporting the economic vitality of Mattituck and surrounding communities."

He concluded: "Considering these documented risks — increased shoaling, potential breach of coastal barriers, shoreline erosion, hazards to navigation, and risk to human safety — I respectfully request that the Army Corps prioritize dredging efforts for the federal channel in 2026, and, where possible, evaluate enhanced dredging operations that go beyond routine maintenance to address the significant shoaling and associated erosion."