By KIMBERLY ACEVEDO
We anticipate that both Lido and Point Lookout would participate in the project, Town of Hempstead spokesperson Mike Deery said.
The Town of Hempstead, along with Nassau County, signed a letter of intent to participate in the project last November, according to United States Army Corps of Engineer project manager Anthony Ciorra. Deery said $3 million, the estimated cost, has been allocated for the project by the Town.
Project details for the Town of Hempstead are similar to Long Beach, with one minor difference. Ciorra said seven new groins, known as jetties, are planned for the eastern end of the barrier island. Of the seven planned, only four will be implemented, keeping three in reserve for an as-needed basis. These new jetties would be placed west of the three existing jetties off of fast-eroding Point Lookout.
As in Long Beach, the Town portion of the project includes a dune 15 feet above sea level, a 110 foot-wide berm, refurbishing the beach with dredged sand, and refurbishing any existing jetties, in addition to the adding of the four new ones. The dune, which would extend across Lido, Point Lookout and Long Beach, would measure 25 feet wide at the top and 75 feet wide at the bottom.
The USACE began studying the Long Beach Barrier Island in 1986. The project is designed to reduce storm damage, wave damage and flooding during major storms and hurricanes.
The 6.8-mile beach project will be cost-shared between the USACE, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), Nassau County, the Town of Hempstead and the City of Long Beach.
Town officials said that, like their Long Beach neighbors, they are aware that some residents have concerns and questions about the $85 million project. The Town's Conservation and Waterway expert has met with the Point Lookout and Lido Civic Associations and community leaders to address their concerns, and project plans have been made available at the Department of Conservation and Waterways in Lido.
We are looking forward to working with [the residents] to alleviate any concerns that they might have, Deery said. Town officials have had input into some of the engineering, Deery said, which has resulted in some changes in the original plan to address residents' concerns.
Town officials said that addressing the concerns of Long Beach Barrier Island residents and working with them is one of their main concerns, but others feel differently about their efforts.
From October till now, no one has called us, administrative manager for Lido Towers Shari Morse said. Nobody has contacted me, whether it's from the Army Corps or from the Town of Hempstead. Morse feels that since the town has not informed residents of the Towers, they are unable to make a judgment. She is unclear how the project would affect the dunes that already sit on their beach front.
Deery noted that the Town, though, is anxious for the private property owners to enjoy the benefits of the project as well. We are looking to work closely with the property owners there and move forward with the project.
An official schedule has not been set for the dredging work to begin since the final plans have not been received, said Deery.
Since Point Lookout erosion is the worst of the three towns, Ciorra said they would most likely begin construction there first. He said it is possible to refurbish jetties in other areas at the same moment but is unsure if that will occur at this present time.
One existing problem for Town would be the Piping Plovers, a tiny bird that is listed as an Endangered Species. Since Plovers are protected, the USACE would have to wait for their peak mating season, May to August, to be completed before the beach project construction could begin. The Town has written a plover management plan, not specifically for the plan, but feel that they have relatively extensive experience in plover management within the Town, Deery said.
Previously, the USACE said they are aware of the Plovers and they will be included in the updated environmental assessment, since they weren't addressed in the 1995 study.
Although the industrial equipment will be aesthetically unpleasant, not much can be done. For beach front property owners, the sound of the dredging equipment could pose a problem, but Deery said, We'll make every provision that we can to mitigate and minimize disruption to the residents.
Local civic associations, though, have different views of the project. Point Lookout Civic Association president Frank Ryan said, We have discussed it and as far as the Civic goes, I think it's a really vital project.
But the Lido Civic Association doesn't have a position, Lido Beach Civic Association board member and coastal geologist Addi Quinn said. Since Lido Beach is an unincorporated area in the Town of Hempstead, Quinn said, Whatever the Town of Hempstead decides that's what's going to affect us. We are just taking a wait and see attitude.
Some residents are worried about cut backs that could hinder the project. Morris Kramer, an independent environmentalist and resident of Atlantic Beach
