Filed Under: Environmental Issues | Long Island | Nassau | Water | Water

Shoreline Erosion

Shoreline Erosion and Barrier Beach Management

Hit by powerful storms and the passage of time, Long Island’s beaches have experienced serious erosion.  Over time, vegetation has been removed by wind and waves, leaving soil vulnerable to erosion, and by rainfall, carrying the soil away as it streams toward lowland areas.  Poor land management practices, such as jetties and development close to sensitive areas, have further exacerbated the erosion problem.

The New York State Department of State (DOS) has recently prepared a Long Island Sound Coastal Management Plan (LISCMP) that sets out specific recommendations for guiding land use and development, ensuring public access to the shore, and protecting important habitats.  The LISCMP and Connecticut’s Coastal Zone Management Plan are part of the plan developed by the LISS.  Restoration plans by New York and Connecticut are being developed for coastal and aquatic habitats in and around the Sound.  The restoration plans will help prioritize sites and identify non-profit and for-profit partners in the restoration process. 

Involved Government Agencies

NYS Department of State; The Governor’s Coastal Erosion Task Force. Emergency response funding and repair are also provided by the federal Corps of Engineers and the NYS Environmental Protection Fund.  The Nassau County Department of Public Works conducts dredging projects.  Municipalities fund and implement local erosion control.