Suffolk County’s Coastal Communities Battle Rising Seas: How Professional Restoration Strategies Are Saving Homes and Shorelines
Suffolk County’s extensive coastline faces an unprecedented challenge as sea level rise has led to accelerated coastal erosion worldwide and is of particular concern to Long Island, with threats of destruction to Suffolk County’s 980 miles of coastline. With average erosion rates of 1-2 ft/year in Suffolk, coastal communities are implementing innovative restoration strategies to protect their properties and preserve their way of life.
The Scale of the Challenge
The impact of coastal erosion in Suffolk County is staggering. Average shoreline positions in parts of Long Island have fluctuated over the past 160 years but overall have receded approximately 350 feet. Recent severe weather events have intensified these concerns, with Long Island’s south shore impacted by a number of major storms that have resulted in serious flooding and erosion in many communities, with estimates of the value of public and private structures and property in these south shore areas prone to erosion and flood upwards of $10 billion.
Climate projections paint an even more challenging picture for the future. Research from US-based climate research organisation Climate Central has laid bare how Suffolk County could be impacted by rising water levels by the middle of this century, with a map produced by Climate Central predicting which parts of Suffolk could be below the projected annual flood level by 2050.
Government and Community Response
Recognizing the urgency of the situation, Suffolk County has taken proactive steps to address coastal erosion. Suffolk County has established a coastal erosion and sea level rise task force proposed by North Fork Legislator Al Krupski to develop strategies for dealing with severe storms, coastal erosion and rising sea levels, with the resolution unanimously approved by the county legislature.
State-level support has also been substantial. Governor Kathy Hochul announced key resiliency investments to stabilize communities from shoreline erosion and severe weather driven by climate change, including new State funding to the town of Babylon from the historic $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act, a new partnership with Suffolk County to replenish sand and help stabilize the Fire Island shoreline.
Innovative Restoration Strategies
Communities across Suffolk County are implementing diverse adaptation strategies. The Town of Brookhaven was awarded the National Coastal Resilience (NCR) Grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) to develop restoration plans for coastal saltmarsh and scrub shrub habitat, with the Southern Mastic Beach Ecological Restoration project seeking to protect and enhance the marsh ecosystem while offering mechanisms for climate resilience and flood protection to safeguard inland residential communities.
Beach nourishment projects represent another critical strategy. Fortification work includes the dredging of the Fire Island Inlet and the placement of approximately 1.25 million cubic yards of sand at Gilgo State Park, Tobay Beach and Overlook Beach. These efforts are complemented by vegetative planting and sand fencing to stabilize or entrap sand in order to maintain or increase the height and width of dunes.
The Role of Professional Restoration Services
When coastal storms and flooding damage properties, professional restoration companies play a crucial role in helping communities recover. Green Island Group, a leading restoration company Suffolk County, exemplifies the type of expertise coastal communities need. Green Island Group Corp. has successfully completed over 5,000 restoration services projects in the New York State area, with a team of knowledgeable professionals with years of experience as a first responder contractor, restoring properties with damages from floods, fires, and other major environmental events.
The company’s commitment to community service aligns with the urgent needs of Suffolk County’s coastal areas. Their mission is to help as many homeowners return to a safe, secure environment as possible, which is particularly relevant as Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine noted that each year they face the dire reality of losing more shoreline, creating a public safety emergency while affecting billions in tourism dollars generated by hundreds of thousands of visitors.
Long-term Adaptation Planning
While immediate restoration efforts are essential, Suffolk County is also planning for long-term adaptation. Environment bosses acknowledge that protecting Suffolk’s coast will be “a combination of building better flood defences and maybe moving some communities,” as it will not be possible to protect all of the coast from erosion. This reality has led to comprehensive planning efforts, with the county task force conducting a comprehensive study on the challenges created by sea level rise and issuing written reports recommending regional coastal resiliency policies.
Community engagement remains central to these efforts. Forums held in Nassau and Suffolk Counties brought together 90 attendees, including state and local decision makers, working to address coastal erosion along the Long Island Sound shoreline, with participants sharing information on best practices and discussing challenges to increase resilience.
Looking Forward
The challenge facing Suffolk County’s coastal communities is complex and ongoing. There is still much to learn about how the coast works and how the North Sea is shaping it in the face of rapid coastal change and sea level rise, making it important to understand what is at risk to help communities become more resilient.
Success will require continued collaboration between government agencies, restoration professionals, and communities themselves. As Suffolk County continues to implement innovative restoration strategies and adaptation measures, the expertise of professional restoration companies becomes increasingly valuable in helping coastal communities not just survive, but thrive in the face of rising seas.
The fight against coastal erosion in Suffolk County represents a broader challenge facing coastal communities worldwide. Through strategic planning, innovative restoration techniques, and the dedicated work of professional restoration services, these communities are demonstrating that adaptation and resilience are possible, even in the face of unprecedented environmental challenges.