Tag Archives: Coastal armor

Large Buildings Threaten N.C. Beaches

November 7, 2017 Karl Hungus Leave a comment

Orrin Pilkey, Professor Emeritus of Geology at Duke University, has been at the forefront of visionary thinking on coastal adaptation. Dr. Pilkey has authored multiple books examining coastal processes and government’s response to a moving coastline in the face of sea level rise. His recent article, Large Buildings Threaten N.C. Beaches, explains how coastal development–by transforming from small cottages to large-scale homes and development–has increased the demand for beach nourishment and inevitably leads to destructive seawalls.

We were very pleased to learn that the Quogue Village Trustees determined earlier this year that a beach nourishment project is not a prudent course of action at this time. Public education and participation was an important factor in their decision. Going forward, it’s essential that our Quogue community stay informed and remain part of the evolving conversation on the future of our beaches.

In the Media, Recommended Reading

A Long-Term Solution Is Needed For Quogue’s Beaches

August 7, 2015 Karl Hungus

The following editorial originally ran in The Southampton Press, Western edition, Page A11 of Thursday, August 6, 2015.

On Monday, August 10, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation will hold a public hearing in Quogue allowing local residents to air their views regarding the village’s permit application for a comprehensive $15 million beach nourishment project. (Click here to launch a pre-addressed email to the DEC, and let your voice be heard!) The application seeks approval to dredge 1.1 million cubic yards of sand from a “borrow area” located one mile offshore and place it, in various proportions, along the entire 2.7-mile Quogue beachfront. The stated purpose of the project is to replace the accumulated sand deficit, mitigate further erosion and maintain the integrity of the barrier island.

Not surprisingly, however, a thorough review of previously submitted written comments to the DEC indicates that the hearing will further highlight that opposition to this project is committed and widespread; in fact, if a voter referendum were held today it would probably be defeated by a substantial majority. Continue reading A Long-Term Solution Is Needed For Quogue’s Beaches →

Save the Structures, But Lose the Beach

November 7, 2014 Karl Hungus Leave a comment

In a recent article (click here to read), the East Hampton Star lambasted a highly contentious project planned by the Army Corps of Engineers to save ten beachfront properties in Montauk.

According to the article, the Corps is getting ready to install a 3,100-foot-long barrier of sand bags, which “would function as short-lived seawalls, resulting in the near-certain total loss of a passable beach.”

The $9 million project is a perfect example of the negative consequences we face when using engineering “solutions” to protect structures.

“The notion that someday money would be forthcoming to pump sand in from offshore is little more than fanciful thinking; it cannot be the cornerstone of real-world policy.”

Click here to read the entire article.