Aerial Photos: Beach Line Thinning or Not?

From Westhampton to Southampton, ocean beaches appeared as though they were starting to signs of erosion last week with the high tide line reaching to protective fences and even the dunes.

However, environmentalist Aram Terchunian, M.Sc., of First Coastal Corporation, said the beaches are actually looking good for this time of year and that the high tide line was caused by an off-shore storm surge.

"We are presently experiencing elevated surf conditions were the wave runup is going close to the toe of the dune," said Terchunian on Friday. However, he added, "There is no erosion of the dune itself. This is how beaches and dunes normally react to these elevated surf conditions."

Terchunian said that once the surf condition eases, "the wave runup will reduce and the dry beach will increase."

Related Reading:

• Another Beach Erosion Control District for Southampton
• Aerial Photos: Irene Slams Hamptons Beaches
• Photos: Beach Scraping on Dune Road in Quogue
• Shinnecock Inlet to Be Dredged; Beach Renourishment Set for Westhampton