Construction could begin as early as this fall on a new, Federal Emergency Management Agency-compliant, 20-foot-high dune at Ditch Plain in Montauk following the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's approval of a permit for the coastal restoration project.
The dune will require 20,000 cubic yards of sand and span 2,200 linear feet of shoreline.
Councilwoman Cate Rogers, who has been spearheading the project for the East Hampton Town Board, said the town can now put the project out to bid to find a contractor.
"We are fully funded," she said in a phone call. "The governor gave us $2.5 million for the project, and we've contributed a matching amount. We're hoping to start in the fall, weather permitting. It's just awesome we've received this permit."
Plans for the dune were prepared by Coastal Science and Engineering and L.K. McLean Associates and authorized under the D.E.C.'s Tidal Wetlands and Coastal Erosion Management program. Designing the dune to be FEMA-compliant was important, Patrick Barrineau, a project manager for Coastal Science and Engineering, told the town board in October, because in the event of a declared disaster the town can apply for FEMA reimbursement.
Considering that the beach has been hammered by successive storms in just the last few years, diminishing the dune, the investment now could pay off in the future.
The height of the dune means that even in a 1-percent probability storm, where the ocean rises nine feet, the neighborhood would theoretically still be protected by the dune.
Ms. Rogers acknowledged that the dune's height will alter the beach's appearance, but said local residents have been supportive because of the protection it provides.
"Right now they're completely exposed. We're calling it a dune reconstruction project because at one time, there was a dune there. That dune got wiped away. The dune we're constructing will be set back far enough not to be in a tidal zone."
That complicates matters somewhat because portions of the dune will extend onto private land. "We're still working through some of the easements," she said. "Everybody is really cooperating because they understand the dune is essential to protect their property."
In a town press release, Supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez said, "Ditch Plains has always been an important part of life in Montauk. It is a place where generations have come to surf, swim, and spend time together. This work is part of how we show up for Montauk. We are protecting its shoreline, supporting its economy, and caring for the neighborhoods and natural beauty that make it such a special place."
Initial work at Ditch Plain began with the town's June 2024 beach recovery project, which added 5,800 cubic yards of sand to the beach ahead of the summer season.
That effort followed a harsh 2023-24 winter, when three unnamed storms hit Montauk and significantly eroded that beach and others. Ocean water overtopped diminished dunes and beach access points and flowed onto neighborhood roads, leaving parking lots covered in a thick layer of sand.
