Theoretically, Montauk Will Have a New Dune by Next Summer

The long-discussed plan by the Army Corps of Engineers to build a new dune to protect downtown Montauk could begin by January. The project will involve building a 16.5-foot dune from roughly the intersection of Montauk Highway and Old Montauk Highway to the Atlantic Terrace motel. The project will cost $8.9M, to be paid for by the federal government, but will be "sponsored" legally by East Hampton Town. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation will act as the intermediary between the town and the feds; who will pay to maintain the dune, estimated at $157,000 a year, is another concern. Town Supervisor Larry Cantwell wants Suffolk County to cough up half the maintenance costs. Another question is what kind of sand will be used to create the beach—quarry sand will be used to fill the geotextile bags that will form the backbone of the dune, while beach sand will be used to cover it. Jeremy Samuelson, the executive director of Concerned Citizens of Montauk, was quoted in the East Hampton Star: "When these bags break, our beach will be covered with upland quarry sand."
· Envision New Montauk Dune by Summer [EHS]
· All posts about the Army Corps of Engineers [CH]