HomeMy WebLinkAboutCEDAR BEACHBOARD
OF TOWN TRUSTEES
TOWN OF $OUTHOLD
Town Hall, 53095 Main Road
P.O. Box 728
Southold, New York 1197t
March 26, 1987
TELEPHONE
(516) 765-1892
Mr. Donald Dzenkowski
Bay Constable
Town of Southold
Southold, New York 11971
Dear Don:
In 1986 thc._number of Least Tern Colonies on Long Island decreased to 50*.
This protected species of water bird is rapidly approaching the endangered
cacagory.
Recently, at the request of the Town of Southold, Board of Trustees, we met
with Dr. Charles McCarthy, Associate Professor of the Suffolk County Community
College Marine Technology Center to discuss the benefits associated with the
re-openmng of the second inlet at Cedar Beach (see attached survey) to isolate
the Least Tern Colony.
This site, established by the Tern, and also hsed by the Piping Plover
and Osprey is an ideally sparsely vegetated sand beach, however, due to 0RV
use during nesting periods and the County Park immediately East of the nesting
area this site becomes increasingly susceptible to abandonment.
Isolation of the colony, through the re-opening of the inlet minimizes
the disturbance to the colony and provides numerous associated benefits
as well.
Tidal flushing within the habitats is at a minimum, especially around
the bulkheaded channels. Increased flushing action, provided by the second inlet,
will enhance marine productivity within the creek and provide the nutrients
needed for the various species used in the Marine Aquaculture Programs. Enrolled
students will more fully appreciate the potential value of the intertidal marsh.
The New York State D.E.C., Suffolk County Health Dept., and S.U.N.Y. at
Stony Brook are actively involved in the monitoring of the "Brown Algae" bloom
within the Peconic System. Steve Megar of the group for the South Fork has
-2-
actively antempted to coordinate efforts between the agencies involved to
consolidate the data obtained to date. Access to the ?econics~ as well as docking
space could be provided to those agencies in gonjunction with m second inlet.
The area is a designated Significant Habitat by the New York State Dept. of
State. (See Attached). While the precise location and financing of this inlet
is yet to be determined we are sure you will also realize the benefits of our
proposal.
The detriments inolude the potential pressure to dredge inside the 'Cedar
Beach marsh as well as the costs associated with the maintenance of two inlets.
In an effort to ensure that the Least Tern Colony remains viable a~d'to serve
the overall population we look forward to your input and comments during this
preliminary "Brain storming" effort.
HPS:ip
Attachments
Very truly yours,
He~r~ry P. Smith, President
Board of Town Trustees
* preliminary figures
2850 Cedar Beach Rd
S outhold, NY, !1971
July 29,1981
Mr Wit!lam Peli
Southold Town Supervisor
Town Hall
Southold,NY,1!9?l
Dear Mr Pell:
P~u.closed is ~ picture .of the Cedar Beach inlet that. was
taken in June 1981, approxzmately six weeks after the inlet
was dredged by the Cot~uty.
The County did a great ~ob-with tke dredging and upon'
completion the inlet was wide open from shore to shore.
As you can see from the picture, it has only taken six
weeks for the troublesome shoal to form from the west as it
has always done and.already block one-third of the opening.
As of this date, the shoal has progressed to the point of
i
blocking hail the nlet and is already making it hawardous
to navigate the inlet.
i This points out the u~.ique probt.em we .have with this '
nlet and why we ~1 submitted a petition to you last November
to reques~t ~he County. to place a Jetty to stabilize the inlet,
which it a~ears~hey will do ~i~h no cost to Southo!d ~own-
Un~o~ately] the study that was requested by Southold
Tgwn has~.n9~ been c~mP~ete~d as yet and we are hopping that it
will be i~ the near future.
We.understand t~at Professor Smith ~t ~he_~Ce~ar~BeaQh
Extensi~n~i~'.to pe~6rm th~~ Study ahd we are present.ly1
contacting~ ~zm to discuss it.s' progress. W.e are confident
the stud~.w~li Show that a Jetty w$ll stabilize the inlet, a~
we have wi~.eSse.d the shoal- formatmon from t.he west for years.-
In addition, we are also concerned .that if some action
$s not taked in the near future to stabilize the inlet it
will be unnavigable again Aext year as it has been the past few.
We are al~ ~cgncerned th.a~ the County may. f~i~d the cost of
annual dredgia[g prohibitive and that the inlet m~y even close,
causing the ru~_nation of a beautzful harbor and wetland comple×
with environmental amd finanoial consequences causiR~g the
lowering of 1.~d val~es in the ar~a. .
. _We k~ow tsar you ~are approachi~ this ~ subject with an
op. en mind and w0?ld ~ot ~ke a dec~sion one way or t.he othe~
wmt.hout ~irst. ~being appri~ed of ali the facts, which we are
hopzng~you Wmil receive Without too much delay. $*e also hope
we can cGunt onyour c~nt~nued
once and for all. Thank you.
cc:Southotd To~m Councilmen
Southo!d Town Trustees
Rep Greg Blass
Mr Jo~hn Guldi DPW
~Mr Fred Adler,
support to resolve this problem
Ver~v truly~ours~
~obert G~zza?.. .
Pres., Cedar Beach Civic Association