Community Corner
Op/Ed: 'The Time is Now Quogue To Undertake a Beach Nourishment Project'
John J. Post, the president of the Save The Dunes and Beaches Foundation, explains why Quogue's Beaches need to be built up.
All property owners and residents in the Village of Quogue are stakeholders in its 2.7 miles of oceanfront beach. Why have most all of us chosen Quogue? An important reason is the magnificent beach, which is a vital source of Quogue’s reputation, real estate values, opportunity for leisure and recreation on the Village Beach, and quality of life. In many ways, Quogue’s 2.7 miles of beach is its universe.
Although Quogue’s beachfront had been generally stable for several decades, in the 1970’s, storm erosion started at the east end, and since worked its way west taking over thirty feet of dune sand and reducing the height and width of the beach. Hurricane Sandy a year ago, has caused significant damage to the dunes and did an over-wash that went half way to Dune Road in the same area as the 1938 hurricane. (Note that the center of Sandy was eighty miles to the west.)
How many Westhampton Patch readers remember the Little Pike Inlet break of 1993 where 124 houses were lost? Plummeting tax revenues (which were escrowed) caused severe distress to Westhampton Beach. There was a huge settlement with the Federal government after years of bitter, expensive litigation. The formation of the Village of West Hampton Dunes and the role of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers remains a vivid example of what it takes to repair an ocean breakthrough.
There’s a school of thought that Quogue Village ought to ignore the risk and danger to its beach---mainly cause by the development of the Shinnecock Inlet (repairing it, extending it, dredging it). Quogue Village beach has been starved of sand flow that should have naturally accrued on its beach had Nature been allowed to take its course. We should receive a definitive opinion from Dr. Robert Young and other experts on our circumstances and appropriate remedy. Let science prevail.
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In response, the Save The Dunes and Beaches Foundation (www.quoguebeaches.org) was formed. Through the generosity of a number of members, we have funded a $100,000 study (available for all to read through our website and by hard copy). Credentialed experts have determined that a vast volume of sand has been diverted miles offshore not to return to our protective barrier beach.
The time is now for Quogue Village to undertake a beach nourishment program which will restore this balance, helping to protect Quogue from a potential breach/inlet and preserve “our crown jewel”. This initiative should transcend any local politics because the urgency and gravity of this situation. (Because of the same challenges, our eastern neighbors in Bridgehampton and Sagaponack have recently approved nourishment projects.)
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Interest rates for municipal bonds remain relatively low at this stage in our economy. The Village of Quogue should be able to put together a financing package, fair and reasonable to all taxpayers. (Upon completion of this project according to specifications, the Federal government has programs in place which then pays for nourishment updates.) Beach nourishment for Quogue Village will be a major step in reducing risk that could harm our community in a variety of ways.
— JOHN J. POST, PRESIDENT, SAVE THE DUNES AND BEACHES FOUNDATION, INC.
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