Rep. Zeldin Secures $3 Million in Federal Funding for Dredge of Long Island Intracoastal Waterway
Patchogue, NY - August 16, 2018 - Congressman Lee Zeldin (R, NY-1) issued the following statement after securing $3 million in federal funding needed to dredge 57,000 cubic yards over 2.7 miles of the Long Island Intracoastal Waterway to restore 6-foot depth to the waterway:
“The dredging of the Long Island Intracoastal Waterway is great news for our coastal economy, commercial and recreational fishermen and all those whose livelihoods rely on the vitality of our communities’ waterways. After a series of recent storms, the state of the Long Island Intracoastal Waterway significantly deteriorated. With the dredging project for Moriches Inlet currently underway, this is another great victory for our coastal economy, boater safety and way of life. I would like to thank Colonel Tom Asbery at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and his team for their superb attention to this urgent request I made on behalf of my concerned constituents.”
Earlier this year, Congressman Zeldin called for the dredging of Moriches Inlet and Long Island Intracoastal Waterway after a series of winter storms. Congressman Zeldin recently secured the approval of and $12.25 million in funding for an emergency dredge of Moriches Inlet earlier this year and has now secured funding to dredge 2.7 miles of the Long Island Intracoastal Waterway near the inlet.
Yesterday, August 15, 2018, the contractor’s survey vessel for the Moriches Inlet emergency dredge arrived on site and commenced work on the dredging project. The next step will include placing 750 foot long submergible pipe for the several mile distance between Moriches Inlet and the Smith Point County Park location that Congressman Zeldin secured to strengthen the beach in front of the boardwalk and increase its size. Once the pipe for the Moriches Inlet dredging has been placed, 10,000 cubic yards per day will be dredged from the inlet 24/7.
The bid for the Long Island Intracoastal Waterway project is currently anticipated to open at the end of September, which will be followed by the awarding of a contract and then the commencement of work, which will require a much smaller pipe in the Intracoastal Waterway.