State Assesses Dune Damage

State officials recently inspected the hurricane-wracked dunes in Long Beach and offered suggestions on how the city could bette protect its shorefront.

The state DEC’s Coastal Erosion and Tidal Wetlands staff visited the West End on Oct. 18 to assess the damage caused by Hurricane Irene. DEC officials met with Kevin Mulligan, the Department of Public Works commissioner for the city, and suggested several improvements to shore up the dunes.

“We discussed going forward and developing a more standardized system to keep the dune level at a consistent height,” said DEC spokesman Bill Fonda.

He said, for example, one block may contain a dune 15 feet high while a dune on another block may reach only 12 feet high.

“The hurricane damaged a few dunes and we suggested bringing them up to pre-hurricane height,” Fonda said.

He added that Long Beach would require a permit to rehabilitate the dunes and an application was handed to Mulligan during the Oct. 18 meeting. Fonda said the city will be responsible for picking up the cost of the repairs.

Mulligan did not return calls for comment.

Long Beach residents said the dunes, for the most part, protected their property from Hurricane Irene, but the dunes took a beating and needed to be restored.

Fonda added the state also suggested that the city develop standards for building the walkways and to replace the snow fencing that was also damaged by the hurricane.

“We suggested putting that back in place also,” Fonda said of the fencing.

Fonda said the DEC did not issue any violations to the city during the inspection, but suggested Long Beach develop a dune maintenance program “that the city will be able to use in the future. A more consistent maintenance program will be in the city’s best interest.”

Fonda said that when Hurricane Gloria struck the island in 1985, dunes did not protect Long Beach. Since then, the dunes have been built up, making it safer for residents during a storm. But when hurricane weather combines with high tides, any community could be at risk, he said.

Carol Kenney, a resident of Nevada Avenue since 1984, said she is glad the DEC came down to inspect the dunes.

“I think we can do much better,” Kenney said.  “Nobody has really put the care in. The dunes were never treated as a wonderful resource that they are. It’s so frustrating to me because our beach is so beautiful. Maybe now we will get some guidelines in here.”

She said the Town of Hempstead takes good care of the dunes in Lido Beach, reminding her of Montauk, and she hopes that Long Beach can do the same for its dunes.