Long Beach Barrier Island Shore Protection Project

The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit environmental group with 25,000 members and 50 chapters worldwide. We are dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the worlds beaches, oceans, waves, and waterways for all people, through conservation, activism, research, and education. The New York City Chapter is a new and active addition to the national organization.
Part of our mission is to ensure conservation of beaches for all citizens. In fact, one of our principles is founded on property protection and the protection of recreational resources for all people.

With the proposed Long Beach Barrier Island Shore Protection Project, The Army Corps' plan includes the replenishing of the beach from Long Beach to Point Lookout with a 110-foot berm of sand, raise the beach to 10 feet above sea level, construct several new groins (also known as "jetties") in Lido and Point Lookout, refurbish all of Long Beach's groins, and add a two-mile long dune rising 15 feet above sea level, running along the length of the Boardwalk, which stands at 18 feet above sea level. New "finger boardwalks" would be constructed to take beach-goers over the dune.

On any beautiful day in Long Beach, New York, youll find swimmers, sun bathers, boogie boarders, fishermen, surfers, kayakers, windsurfers, volleyball players, kids (toddlers and young ones with mom/dad) wading in the shallows protected by and resulting from the current sand bar.
Each group is potentially threatened if the Long Beach moves ahead with the Long Beach Barrier Island Shore Protection Project if the profile as stated above (+10 ft high +100 ft out) is accepted. Steep drop offs in projects like this (i.e. Long Branch, New Jersey) have resulted in increase riptides, which add an increase in documented need of saving lives.

Also, the potential destruction of marine habitat in a serious concern after all jetties and rocks around them have over the years become ecosystems.

Recreational beach sports (i.e. surfing, boogie boarding, kayaking, windsurfing, etc.) are one of the fastest growing sports documented by trade publications and have a positive economic impact on beach towns like Long Beach, New York (e.g. sales on sport related items, customers in restaurants, increased beach attractiveness to sports enthusiastic and their families.) By changing the coastline by this proposed project, the economic benefits for the city of Long Beach are at risk.

As members of the Surfrider Foundation and local surfers, we realize that this is an issue of storm safety for residents and their property, and are willing to work with the council members to address this issue in a matter satisfactory to both our groups.

We proposed to help:

>>Inventory spots
>>Prioritize recreational areas (for diverse user groups)
>>Discuss and document the potential impact of doing the project as planned
>>Have experts look at alternative designs (e.g. profile nourishment where sand is placed differently artificial reef construction, etc.)

We, the undersigned, strongly encourage you to work with our local and national foundation to find an alternative solution for the beautiful beach of Long Beach, New York.

Thank you for your attention to this pressing matter.