NEWSBRIEFS:

New Funding for FI Ferry Terminals in Patchogue , Ocean Beach and Bayshore

Joe Vetri of USACE talks abut hurricanes

LIPA Offering Cash For Refrigerators

Ginnie Fields requesting grant for Fire Island

Suffolk County officials have detected the West Nile virus in two crows.

New Funding for FI Ferry Terminals

 $850,000 in new federal funding for two terminals: $600,000 to replace the 1937 Ocean Beach terminal  (not on the mainland but at Ocean beach) and the Saltaire terminal in Bay Shore is being repaired and improved as well for $250,000.

The ferries take visitors to Fire Island beaches. Rep. Steve Israel (D-Huntington) says they’re also essential to small businesses on both sides of the Great South Bay.

The project is in the planning stages and construction is expected to begin late next year

 

New Terminal for Fire Island Ferry in Patchogue

The Patchogue terminal, which has been in the planning stages for years, will open by Jan.1, 2010 according to Federal officials at a cost of $4.6 million. These funds come from more than $10 million in federal investments allocated to improve Patchogue, including $6.3 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

The new terminal will require the services of 40 construction workers and will end up double the size of the current Patchogue-Watch Hill Ferry Terminal

Congressman Tim Bishop said “This funding will create jobs and promote economic growth in Patchogue while improving access for tourists and boaters to the natural beauty of Fire Island and the surrounding waterways.” Christopher Soller, superintendent of Fire Island National Seashore, will be unveiling the plan for the new Terminal.

  Water Temperature and Hurricanes
JOSEPH VIETRI, USACE Director Nat Plng Center for Costal & Storm Damage Chief of Policy and Planning for the North Atlantic Division of the US Army Corps of Engineers

"As many of you have experienced recently, the Ocean has been especially warm. So warm in fact that the water temperature in Maine is in the low to mid 70's and along the Delaware coast it has been in the mid 80's. Florida is boasting Water temperatures in the 90's.

The cause of this warming of the Ocean, a number of factors from El Nino, currents, and more ominous perhaps signs of climate change.

While this has made swimming here on Fire Island especially pleasant (especially with no Jelly Fish) it hides a much larger problem. These include, dying coral reefs, increased melting of the Ice Cap and of course the increased probability of severe Hurricanes.

Hurricanes need fuel to grow and that fuel is derived from warm water. Warm water along and up the east coast could mean sustaining a storm along a much further northern tract. As we seen this weekend with Hurricane Bill these storms do not even have to touch land and they can have a large effect on the fragile sand bar we call Fire Island.

Beaches typically enjoy the benefit of south westerly winds during the summer. Given Long Islands orientation relative to the rest of the east coast this allows beaches to build material by the on shore movement of sand before the winds shift in the fall. This on shore/offshore movement of sand provides a large gently sloping beach in the summer and of course a steep and narrow beach in the winter months. What is somewhat troubling is late summer storms that erode the beach prior to the fall and winter season leaving our beaches vulnerable to the next storm or storms.

Historically, late summer and early fall are our busy hurricane season here in the Mid Atlantic Region. This is followed by a fall and winter which of course features our Nor’easter season. Typically October thru December and then March and April are very active Nor’easter months. All of these systems play havoc with our coastline and Infrastructure and an eroded shoreline increases the risk of future physical damage dramatically.

So Hurricane Bill Thanks for nothing beyond some great surf and for missing us completely. Should this have not occurred - well perhaps I will discuss that at a later date”.

Thanks
Joe Vietri
Chief Planning & Policy
Director Nat Plng Center for Costal & Storm Damage
North Atlantic Division

LIPA Offering Cash For Refrigerators

 LIPA says the refrigerator is the single highest energy-consuming kitchen appliance.

Starting in December the Long Island Power Authority is applying the Cash for Clunkers program to old inefficient refrigerators in the form of a $75 rebate when they purchase a standard-size Energy Star refrigerator larger than 7.5 cubic feet, and an additional $30 to help remove and properly dispose and recycle the old fridge.

Energy Star-qualified refrigerators are 40 percent more efficient than models sold in 2001.

For more information call your customer care rep at LIPA or go to http://www.lipower.org

Suffolk County officials have detected the West Nile virus in two crows.

Health officials said they are the first two birds to test positive for the virus this year. They were found in the towns of Huntington and Huntington Station earlier this month.

The virus is transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito, and can be fatal.

Health officials say residents who find dead birds should report them to their hotline at 631 787-2200. 

ASSEMBLYWOMAN GINNIE FIELDS REQUESTING TIGER GRANT FOR FIRE ISLAND

Hi Jeannie,
This is the letter I sent to the State DOT stating that I will be working with the towns and other entities to apply for funding for various projects that will help Fire Island.  If you have any further questions, feel free to contact me.
Best regards,
Assemblywoman  Ginny Fields 

July 31, 2009

 

Governor David A. Paterson

State of New York

Executive Chamber

Albany, New York 12224

 

Dear Governor Paterson:

 

Thank you for informing me of the federal funding opportunity Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) program.  Long Island has been affected by the downturn of the economy and I believe a project affecting the south shore of Long Island (Fire Island) would fall under the funding criteria that has been listed and would help our communities to recover from the current fiscal crisis and make a major lasting investment to our infrastructure.

 

Fire Island is a barrier island on the south shore of Long Island.  It is approximately 31 miles long and varying between approximately 0.1 mile to 0.25 mile wide.  It passes through Suffolk County, New York is and southeast of Long Island approximately 5 ½ miles south of the main land of Long Island separated from the main land by the Great South Bay (South Shore Estuary).  The projects I will be requesting funding for would be of a long term regional statewide significance and would bring jobs and tourism dollars to what is already one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations and which draws people from a wide area. 

 

Fire Island is reachable by ferry or boat.  The island has very limited access by automobile for day use.  Motor vehicles are not permitted on the approximately 20 miles in between except for utility, construction and emergency access and with limited beach driving permits in winter.  Essentially the island and its resort towns are accessible only by the numerous ferries.  Driving is only allowed by permit.  There are only rescue or service vehicles on the beach during the summer months (Memorial Day through Labor Day).  There are approximately 491 people, 138 households and 77 families residing on Fire Island year round.  There are approximately 4,200 privately owned homes on Fire Island within 17 communities.  During the summer months the island is visited by approximately 2.2 million people, either into one of the 17 private communities, to the county park, on waters surrounding the island, or to one of the national seashore facilities.

 

Fire Island National Seashore was established on September 11, 1964 by Public Law 88-587.  Within the park boundaries there are almost 15,000 acres of open water, 26 bay islands, approximately 101 miles of coastline, including 72 of Fire Island’s 84 miles of Atlantic Ocean and bay shorelines, and 1,380 acres of federally designated wilderness (perhaps the only wilderness area that is accessible by public transportation-ferry).  Within the park boundaries are 17 preexisting private communities and Smith Point County Park.  The three mainland terminal sites are from Patchogue, Sayville and Bay Shore.  Historic resources include two National Historic Landmarks (the Fire Island Light Station and the William Floyd Estate) and six archeological sites. 

 

 

·       Since the only way to visit the barrier island is by ferry or boat, there are many ferry terminals and docks on the north side of Fire Island.  Foot travel is by boardwalk in some of the communities and cement sidewalk in others.  On the mainland side (the Great South Bay (South Shore Estuary), there are ferry terminals which bring tourists, residents and visitors.  Boating, swimming, surfing, and fishing are the predominant recreational pursuits which attribute much of the revenue for the tourism industry in addition to restaurants and bars.  Many of the channels for ferry and boat navigation is in need of dredging to maintain the channel for the ferries and boats.   

 

·       On the western portion of Fire Island is Captree Boat Basin, part of Captree State Park, which is a major fishing area—the largest fishing port in New York State or the entire eastern seaboard.  Approximately 2 million people come to Captree State Park which lies at the eastern tip of Jones Beach Island in the heart of the fishing grounds.   It is accessible via the Robert Moses Causeway by car. The park features a boat basin with open and charter boats available for fishing, as well as scuba diving, sightseeing and excursion boats.  Access to the ocean is through the Captree Channel and the Fire Island Inlet.  Both of these areas are in need of dredging to maintain the channel for boats.  The dredge spoil could be placed on the east end of Captreee State Park which would stabilize the shore-line.  In addition, the Marine Pump Out station for Open and Charter Boats should be repaired or replaced and the water filtration plant should be upgraded.

Decking and staving throughout the basin and on outer docks

 

·       On the mainland of Long Island and the docks of Fire Island are boardwalks and ferry terminals in need of repair and replacement.  These are the only mode of transportation by bicycle, walking or golf cart and are an extension of the mainland highways.  Many of the boardwalks and sidewalks throughout Fire Island are in need of repair or replacement. 

 

Since Fire Island is governed by two towns (Town of Brookhaven and Town of Islip), two villages (Saltaire and Ocean Beach), and the Fire Island National Seashore, each has requested projects that would help their port infrastructure, sidewalks, boardwalks and associated navigable waters and marina or dock repair or replacement.   As I expressed previously, this barrier beach destination cannot be driven on.  Therefore, the ferries and boats carrying freight and passengers must be able to traverse the Great South Bay in order to approach the island.  Once on the island, its roads are an extension of our roads on the mainland and can be crossed utilizing carts, wagons, bicycles, and specialized emergency equipment.  In addition, since emergency access is extremely difficult, a heliport pad would be necessary to transport victims of illness or injury from the island to the mainland. 

 

I have enclosed letters and an Excel spreadsheet with a generalized request for the various projects for Fire Island and the mainland in Suffolk County.  In addition, I have a report that was produced by the Budget Review Office of the Suffolk County Legislature named the “Impact of the Atlantic Ocean Beaches to the Economy of Suffolk County”   from 2003 discussing the importance of Fire Island.  The report gives an account of direct spending or output from Suffolk County’s south shore beaches stating that they contribute an estimated $255.7 million dollars annually to the county’s economy in tourism.  An estimated 11.3 million people are estimated to visit the south shore beaches each year.  Out of these, more than 500,000are estimated to be tourists.  The report also states that the level of spending generates $341.0 million in total sales and supports 3,855 jobs. 

 

The TIGER grant would certainly go a long way to keep Fire Island (one of the top ten beaches in the world) a tourist destination in maintaining or improving travel conditions by dredging adjacent to the marinas;  improving the “roads” (sidewalks and boardwalks) for the visitors and residents; improving the emergency access via sidewalks, board-walks and heliport,