Press Releases

April 2, 1999
Comprehensive Study of Erosion Control and Beach Restoration on Long Island's East End Undertaken by a Conservation Alliance Group and Southampton College

Contact:
Jane Finalborgo
(516) 287 8313
Fax: (516) 283 4081

A multi-year study of beach erosion and methods of beach restoration along the eastern Long Island shoreline will be undertaken by The Eastern Long Island Coastal Conservation Alliance, Ltd. (ELICCA) in collaboration with Southampton College of Long Island University.

To accomplish the objectives of the study, the following people have been appointed to undertake the first year of the project: Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman, Professor and Director of the Laboratory for Coastal Research & International Hurricane Center at Florida International University in Miami; Dr. Sandra E. Shumway, Professor of Biology and Marine Science at Southampton College; and Douglas Crystal, a marine science major and one of the top three students in the 1999 graduating class at Southampton College.

"Beach erosion and the issues of control and containment are challenges that plague the End End as well as other shorelines around the world," said College Provost Tim Bishop. "The bulkhead controversy, the impact of jetties and groins, and dredging plans are all issues of major concern to beachfront property owners and to the general public."

Coastal preservation and environmentally responsible stewardship of the coastal environment are issues that East End policy makers and residents face on a daily basis. Too frequently, potentially damaging but well-intended decisions are made based upon mere public opinion and uninformed sources. Data are often lacking, and user groups are not kept abreast of current data and policies.

"The faculty and students of our Marine Science Department are looking forward to producing the kind of research that will enable interested parties to make wise decisions in this critical area of environmental protection," said Dr. Shumway, coordinator of the Marine Science Program at Southampton College.

Dr. Leatherman explained that the study will include a comprehensive review of the Hamptons beaches including a historical review of storm impact and shore changes; an evaluation of the impacts of beach erosion and stabilization approaches, and characterization of the current situation. A booklet entitled "The Hamptons' South Shore: The History of Beach Changes and Storm Impact" will be published by Labor Day, 1999 and will include illustrations, historical photographs, and maps that chronicle beach development, storm impacts and past responses to erosion problems. Dr. Leatherman has written or edited 14 books including the Barrier Island Handbook, Overwash Processes and Cape Cod: From Glaciers to Beaches., and over 100 journal articles. Known affectionately as "Dr. Beach," he was featured in the Maryland Public TV special "Ocean City: At War with Nature" (1986). He was the on-screen host and co-producer of the film "Vanishing Lands," winner of three international film awards including the Golden Eagle, and has appeared frequently appeared on the NBC Today show. He received his Ph.D. in Environmental (Coastal) Sciences from the University of Virginia. Dr. Shumway's continuing research on shellfish has led to publication of more than 100 articles. She is the editor of the Journal of Shellfish Research and the Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, and past president of the National Shellfisheries Association. She has edited several volumes including Toxic Algal Blooms, and Scallop Biology and Culture. A graduate of Southampton College, she attended the University College of North Wales as a Marshall Scholar where she received her Ph.D and D.Sc. In 1998 she received the Long Island University Trustees Award for Lifetime Scholarly Achievement.

The project has received $100,000 from a private sector donor toward the first phase of the study. It is anticipated that additional funding for the second and third phases of approximately $100,000 per year will be sought jointly from the private and public sectors.

During the second phase of the study, a state-of-the-art analysis of the causes and temporal-spatial distribution of beach erosion and definitions of the different modes of shoreline behavior will be produced. A summary of the study will be suitable for public distribution, and the technical paper will be published in the Journal of Coastal Research.

During the third phase of the study, a national survey will be conducted of the effectiveness of different approaches to the beach erosion problem including beach nourishment, dune building, seawalls, bulkheads, groins, offshore breakwaters, jetties, sand bags, geotubes, and subsurface dune restoration systems. As the project continues, an evaluation will be made with regard to further phases of the study.

For further information about the study, please contact Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman, (305) 348-1607, or Professor Sandra Shumway (516) 287-8407.