A crowd turned out early Saturday morning for the annual meeting of the Kenny’s-McCabe’s Beach Civic Association, where Rep. Lee Zeldin and Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell were onhand to discuss issues ranging from Goldsmith Inlet to helicopter noise and short term rentals.
Resident Bill Higgins began the discussion on the most pressing issue facing Kennys and McCabe’s beach residents, who, he said, “are victims of what I call the ‘great sand robbery.’ For 50 years, sand that should have been moved to Kennys and McCabe’s has been diverted into the inlet” by the jetty.
He asked if Congressman Zeldin and Russell could work together and create a coalition aimed at having the inlet dredged to remove 50 years of sand, that could then be deposited on Kennys and McCabe’s beaches.
Zeldin said he was certain the federal share of $1.5 million for a feasibilty study could be secured but said the state and county would need to come up with the remaining 1.5 million to complete the study and move on to the next phase.
Russell said the town is aware of the issues surrounding the jetty. “We all realize the idea of the jetty coming down isn’t happening any time soon.” Instead, Russell said the goal is to begin to discuss other options and and resources for beach restoration.
While beaches on the South Fork are also challenged by jetties — and the jetties are not being taken down — beach restoration is ongoing with the help of the United States Army Corps of Engineers, he said.
A sand restoration study will require a coalition of state, county and town, he said. “No single agency will pick up the cost,” Russell said, although Suffolk County has a “great vested interest” because they own the badly eroded property. Erosion has eclipsed the beach so badly that sand intrusion into the pond has fundamentally changed the ecosystem, Russell said.
Zeldin said residents present should work with elected representatives to secure the remainder of the $3 million necessary for a study; he said all ideas regarding what should be studied were important and all voices should be heard.
Resident Sue Geitz said the past winter was “horrendous” and said Suffolk County, which owns the Peconic Dunes camp, should be concerned, because it was impossible to even have a boat on the beach, with water coming right up to the dunes. If the dune is breached, their homes would be swept away. “As you keep doing study after study, inevitably, I will lose my home, which breaks my heart,” she said.
Zeldin said the $3 million feasibility option was not just a “study to to a study”, but a way to determine the best route for resolving challenges. “We just have to come up with the money.”
“Its a ticking clock,” one resident said. “We’re losing more of our beach every year.”
“The immediate problem is how to stop those houses from falling into the water,” one resident said.
John Betsch, president of the civic group, said Russell was just trying to be realistic and explain that the chance of the jetty coming down was “nil,” with the best action to study other alternatives.
“Let’s come up with pragmatic solutions now,” Russell said. “We need immediate relief and we need it now.”
One resident asked about the possibility of building another jetty. “It will never happen, Russell said. “I’m not going to tell you things you want to hear. Every jetty built is problematic. We need sand and we need it now. The best thing we can do is to focus on what tactic we can take to get it there now.”
Beth Anello has had her house for 18 years. “Everyone in this room is afraid of losing their house and no one cares,” she said. “I am so frustrated right now. We’re all going to walk out of here and I feel like nothing is going to happen.”
Zeldin took exception, saying he was a new congressman but stating that the issue had been part of his campaign platform; both he and Russell said they are committed to addressing the issue.
The best idea, Russell said, is to pursue alternatives. The supervisor said he would coordinate the process and work with New York State Senator Ken LaValle as well as Suffolk County Legislator Al Krupski and set up a meeting. Zeldin said he’d do anything he could to help.
For years, Goldsmith Inlet has been a hot button topic as many say the environmental health of the inlet is suffering; the issue has led to legal disputes, and public outcry.
According to Russell, the original EIS, which examined alternatives for the western jetty at Goldsmith Inlet and whether it should be shortened by a third or a half, or just left as is, was paid for but never adopted.
The jetty, Geitz has said, is, according to a study done by the United States Army Corp of Engineers, impacting shoreline all the way to Hashamamock Cove.
Initially, Geitz said she was all for the jetty, so that her neighbors at Peconic Sound Shores did not lose their beach. “Now they have 250 feet of sand and we have nothing,” she said.
Last year, McCabe’s and Kenny’s Beach residents flooded a town board meeting and begged the Southold Town board to save their beachfront homes from dramatic erosion.
At the town board meeting, Betsch said the active group has been “diligent” with working with the town to protect its beaches, embarking on beach plantings and other initiatives.
Members of the group, who live to the east of the jetty, stand in favor of shortening the jetty, which they said has dealt a heavy blow to the shorefront.
Devastating storms have wreaked havage on the beaches. “Both beaches are much smaller than 50 years ago,” Betsch said. “We hope action will be taken to remedy the destructive nature of the jetty to these beaches before they disappear forever.”
Horton’s Point Lighthouse is a town treasure that could disappear, if nothing is done, he said.
In response to those residents from Peconic Sound Shores, to the west of the jetty, who have spoken out against updating the EIS — those residents are not in favor of shortening the jetty, for fear of the damage to their homes — Betsch countered, “Goldsmith Jetty has an effect to points east. We will lose this lighthouse,” he said. “Do not accept action of a few vocalists from Peconic Sound Shores who are trying to prove this jetty has no affect.”
He reminded that Kenny’s-McCabe’s Beach civic group had won a past lawsuit, filed by property owners who said the jetty stopped sand from flowing and had resulted in damaging erosion.
One by one, residents from the McCabe’s and Kenny’s beach area stood at the podium and painted images of beautiful sandy stretches that have decreased dramatically in size.
“We do not want to lose what we have,” one resident said.
Despite the fact that the civic group won the lawsuit, residents reminded the town, nothing has been done.
Geitz, a year-round resident, said her family has lived on North Sea and Leeton Drive for 60 years. “When I was a teenager we used to ride in a beach buggy from Horton’s Point to the inlet,” she said. “People who lived on the inlet used to be able to come in on their boats and tie up at the entrance to the inlet.”
Geitz added that the past winter has been “horrendous,” stripping the beach of sand and leaving boulders exposed.
Her voice breaking, Geitz said, “I don’t want to lose my house. It breaks my heart to see what’s happening. It would be a godsend for us, to get some of that sand back.”
