Skelos And Weisenberg Announce Funding To Restore Point Lookout's Beaches

Long Beach Barrier Island Storm Damage Reduction Project

The Army Corps of Engineers’ feasibility report for the Long Beach Barrier Island Storm Damage Reduction Project was completed in February 1995 and the Preconstruction, Engineering and Design Phase was completed in September 1997.  The Project included the communities of Point Lookout, Lido Beach and the City of Long Beach.

The Project included construction of a 110-foot wide protective berm at an elevation of 10 feet above sea level backed by a 25-foot wide dune system at an elevation of 15 feet above sea level.  The Project also included the rehabilitation of sixteen existing groins in the City of Long Beach and the construction of four new groins at the eastern end of Long Beach Barrier Island.  The Long Beach Barrier Island Storm Damage Reduction Project was projected to cost $93 million.

Pursuant to a federal funding formula, the federal government was responsible for 65% of the Project’s total cost, with New York State providing 24.5%, the City of Long Beach 6.72%, the Town of Hempstead 3.57% and Nassau County .21%.

In 1997, the New York State Legislature provided three separate appropriations to fund the Project: $7.6 million toward the state share, $10 million toward the state share and a $7.6 million loan to the City of Long Beach toward its share.