As emergency dredging of the Lake Montauk Inlet to a depth of 12 feet officially got underway this week, Representative Nick LaLota on Tuesday confirmed that plans are still on to dredge the inlet to a full depth of 17 feet later this year.
During a press conference packed to the gills with elected officials, Army Corps staff, and government aides, Mr. LaLota reassured members of the press that the dredging project's funding is intact despite the continued onslaught of cuts and changes occurring to federal money sources every day under President Trump.
"I'll stand against anybody's efforts to disrupt the productive things that we need to do here on Long Island. . . . Local projects like this are exactly what we need to get the return on investment of our federal tax dollars," Mr. LaLota said during the press conference, which took place at Inlet Seafood Restaurant overlooking the very inlet in need of emergency dredging.
Col. Alex Young of the Army Corps of Engineers said the project will see about 10,000 cubic yards of sand pulled from the shoals and deposited onto erosion-wracked areas to the west of the jetty. In combination with five other projects in New England and Fire Island, the dredge Murden will have processed 4.2 million cubic yards during this most recent dredge cycle.
"Four weeks ago," Colonel Young said, "we were told it can't happen, it had to wait until the fall." He now expects the emergency Montauk work to be done by week's end.
With a view of wind-whipped whitecaps serving as backdrop outside the restaurant, officials touted the dredging project as a marvel of modern management -- and of good governing. Every level of government took part in the effort, from East Hampton Town up to Suffolk County, the New York State Legislature and the State Department of Environmental Conservation, and Senator Chuck Schumer's backing Mr. LaLota up. Just four weeks elapsed from the time the need was identified until the arrival on Feb. 14 of the dredge Murden from the New England region.
It was practically warp speed, if you're keeping time on a government clock.
"We are here today because of a united effort from all levels of government to respond swiftly to a critical need in our community," Mr. LaLota said. "I am especially grateful to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for their swift response to our request for immediate action, as they are the ones doing the heavy lifting here, quite literally. The emergency dredge of Lake Montauk Inlet is not just about accessible waterways, it's about maritime safety preserving our commercial fishing industry and local economy."
In recent months, vessels returning from fishing trips were experiencing difficulties re-entering the inlet because it had become extremely shallow. Some had to find port and unload their catch elsewhere entirely because depth was an issue. Among the impacted fishermen was Capt. Dave Aripotch of the Montauk dragger Caitlin and Mairead, who said he's had to "leave fish on the table."
"There were numerous times this fall and winter I've had to sit with my trawler outside the jetties, and drive around burning extra fuel, and we've missed some marketing opportunities by not being able to get in when we should have been. . . . The dock is hurting because of it," he said.
Bonnie Brady, who heads the Long Island Commercial Fishing Association and is married to Captain Aripotch, lauded the swift actions of the officials who responded to her cries for help on behalf of the maritime industry. "When a boat runs aground, it can be life-threatening, and in some cases you only have seconds to react," she said in a statement.
At the press conference, she said she has advocated for and seen at least 10 previous dredging projects through. The typical maintenance schedule is dredging to a depth of 12 feet below the mean low-water level every three years, while every five years dredging is done to 17 feet below mean low-water. But the Lake Montauk Inlet hadn't been dredged since 2018, Ms. Brady said.
"The project that will go to 17 feet in the fall is what we need to get the job done," she said. "It seemed to get away for a bit, but now that the Army Corps is here, I think they've seen firsthand why it's so important for them to be here in the fall. . . . This town's beating heart is dependent on commercial fishing year round."
East Hampton Town Supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez lauded Councilman David Lys for his steadfast and timely advocacy on the dredging matter. She called the effort "what government should be: responsive, collaborative, and focused on making life better for the people we serve."
"Today is a great day for Montauk and for the people who rely on these waters for their livelihood, their recreation, and their way of life," Ms. Burke-Gonzalez said. "After a great deal of effort, persistence, and partnership across all levels of government, we are standing here to celebrate the start of a project that will make a real tangible difference in the daily lives of our residents. . . . This work is about keeping our community strong."
