Programs and events that attempt to deal with the many issues and problems in the barrier beach of Long Island’s South Shore from Oak Beach to West Gilgo.
The Sand dredging project has reached the Coast Guard Station at the west end of Gilgo State Park and the cover up is in progress. Pictures below are from end of day Jamuary 9th and midday, January 10th.
View looking east from the entrance to Gilgo State Park at Coast Guard.View looking Southeast from the west side of Gilgo State Park at Coast Guard. Looking east at the Coast Guard Station disappearing under the dredged sand.
The slide show above shows Coast Guard Station from the morning to evening dredging operations on January 10th, 2019. The rest of the photos are of the Coast Guard Station on the 11th to the 17th of January. The pictures were taken from the top of the path to the beach at the east end of Cottage Walk.
Dredging of Fire Island Inlet is in progress! This multi-purpose project provides a navigation channel and storm benefits through the dredging of the navigation channel with all the dredged sand placed westward along Gilgo Beach shoreline.
The sand replenishment project is making good progress with the beach filled in from the Sore Thumb to past Hemlock Cove as of today’s posting.
The Project involved moving 2.1 million cubic yards of sand from the Fire Island Inlet to the Town of Babylon and New York State Gilgo Beach areas to the west. The minimum depth of the navigation channel thru the inlet is to be 14 feet. The new beach is projected to be an average beach of 100 feet. The cost of the project is 26.2 million dollars and should be completed by April 10th, 2019.
Above is slide show photographed on December 27th, 2018, of the walk from the path at end of Cottage Walk walking east to the beach area where the erosion is the worst. Thank God the Dredging Project is less than a mile away.
Dredging front of Coast Guard Cove Dec 2018
For the Coast Guard Station area of beach, the sand replenishment project is just in a nick of time. Last week with the 40 mph on shore winds, cars on Ocean Parkway were treated to a 20 foot high sea foam funnel blowing across the highway at dusk. Take a look at the pictures below of the dune line just west of Coast Guard, one more good storm might have breached the dune line.
Dunes 100′ east path at end Cottage Walk looking north, this is the most eroded locationDunes 100′ east path at end Cottage Walk around 4 feet high. Dec 2018Close up of Dune 100′ east path at end Cottage Walk looking north from base of dune!Dunes 100′ east path at end Cottage Walk looking north at Car on Ocean Parkway.
Walked Gilgo Beach from the center Path to Coast Guard Station late morning during the mid tide.The slide below shows a picture of the West and then the walk East to Coast Guard Station.
Most of the dunes have eroded to within a foot or so of their peaks.
The majority of storm fencing and posts are gone or damaged.
The high water line comes within a couple of feet of the dunes in many locations.
There is not a lot of beach!
Mike from CA in front a half a dune on the east side of Gilgo before Coast Guard Station.
100 feet West of Coast Guard Station, erosion has gone past the peak height of the dune, it is eating up the dune to Ocean Parkway.
Look at the high tide marking in the sand, the ocean is reaching the dune line regularly on high tides.
Check Captain Rick and Gabby in front the dune danger zone, dune lost 10 feet plus in height.
Look at the dark sand area line on the beach, it is where the dune used to exist!
Top of the Dune Danger Zone, no flat top here.
This is the Top of the dunes 150′ West at the Path. Gives you an idea of the amount of destruction.
Babylon Barrier Beach erosion is reaching a critical point. Started walking and documenting the condition of the south shore beach in the Gilgo Beach area on June 18th.
This post documents the same walk as low tide on June 18th. These photo’s taken during the afternoon high tide on June 20th, 2017, just 2 days later!
The wind was on shore at less than 15 mph with the ocean a little bumpy, maybe a little 2′-3′ wave rolling in. Just image what a storm surge would do…
The route is as follows; crossed over the parkway at the east end of Cottage Walk, then walked east to the Coast Guard Station, then turned around and headed back west back to main Gilgo Beach entrance.
Could not get to the Coast Guard station today as too much water. I watched the ocean eating out the dunes in more than one spot, the situation is precarious.
Found pictures of the Gilgo Beach area and the Coast Guard Station after Hurricane Sandy passed. That is the Garbage Cove, Great South Bay in the background of slide 3, dunes gone, Ocean Parkway buckled.
There looks to be more or the same amount of beach after Sandy than there is at the beach now! Call your Congressman, tell him we need Sand.
Below are photos of the Coast Guard Station today!
Here is a photo of bulkhead after Sandy and below it, at the present time.
Coast Guard Bulkhead after Hurricane Sandy
Coast Guard Bulkhead at present. Picture taken June 18th, 2017
