Emergency Dredge Of Moriches Inlet Gets Green Light

CENTER MORICHES, NY — It's great news for fishermen, boaters and local businessmen as a request for an emergency dredge of the Moriches Inlet has been granted.

Commander of the U.S. Army Corps New York District Colonel Thomas Asbery received the emergency declaration from Army Corps of Engineers North Atlantic Division Brigadier General William Graham after Zeldin’s request to perform the desperately needed emergency dredging.

Next, an expedited funding and permitting process will kick off so dredging vessels can begin working on the Moriches Inlet as soon as possible.

The reason for the urgency, all agreed, is that a number of strong winter storms resulted in significant shoaling of Moriches Inlet — the inlet provides critical access to the Atlantic Ocean and has allowed some boats to bypass the shoaling problems of Moriches Bay.

The threat of a closure of the inlet would deal a major blow to marine related businesses across eastern Suffolk County and present a danger to boaters’ safety, Zeldin said.

Last month, Zeldin and a group including local fishermen, boaters, small business owners, and elected officials met at the Moriches Yacht Club in Center Moriches to survey the currently dangerous navigation conditions at the inlet.

“The approval of this request and the continued efforts to bring about an emergency dredge of Moriches Inlet is great news for our coastal economy, commercial and recreational fisherman and all those whose livelihoods rely on the vitality of our communities’ waterways,” Zeldin said.

He added that, with fishing season fast approaching, he plans to work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and all those affected by the "deteriorated state of the Moriches Inlet" to get the emergency dredge done as soon as possible.

The community was thrilled with the news. “I just want to thank Congressman Zeldin for his efforts in coordinating the emergency dredging project in Moriches Inlet, and bay,” said Joe Tangel, Owner of King Cod Fishing in Center Moriches. “It is a great relief for boater and fishermen in the area to know that something will finally be done to ensure our safety and economic viability.”

Brookhaven Town Supervisor Ed Romaine agreed that the issue is critical. “This bay needs to be dredged. The intracoastal waterway needs to be dredged — and if anyone has seen the pictures that inlet will close up. We need to keep that inlet open."

Wessthampton Beach Mayor Maria Moore added, "Thank you, Congressman Zeldin for being our voice on this very important issue. It is critical that we get this done for boater safety, for our commercial fishermen, and for our local economy.”

At last month's event, Tangel spoke from his vantage point as a full-time year round fisherman who supports a family of four transiting Moriches Inlet close to 200 times a year. After the past three nor’easters, he said: "This inlet is in the worst shape I have ever seen it in my entire lifetime of fishing. With the recreational boating season fast approaching, emergency dredging action is required immediately. My greatest fear is loss of boats this season loss of property, and imminent death. The economic harm these conditions will cause will be widespread throughout this community. The conditions threaten the livelihood of eight large private marinas, three full-time passenger carrying fishing vessels, numerous commercial operations, and tackle shops.”

The emergency declaration allows for expedited coordination with relevant agencies including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regarding the listed endangered bird species, piping plover; the National Marine Fisheries Service, with respect to relevant fisheries species, the United States Coast Guard/Sector Long Island; the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and the State of New York Department of State. The expedited coordination is needed to comply with federal and state laws as well as help identify suitable placement location for the 300,000 cubic yards of sand that is clogging the inlet, a release from Zeldin's office said.

Patch courtesy photos.