Bishop: $2.2 Million Mattituck Inlet Dredging Project Set To Begin

Mattituck residents who have been fearful of erosion threatening their homes for over a decade will soon see relief in sight.

Congressman Tim Bishop announced on Wednesday that the United States Army Corps of Engineers is set to commence a project that includes dredging of Mattituck Inlet, addresses significant beach erosion that has occurred east of the inlet, and removes sand build-up to the immediate west of the inlet’s jetties.

“I am pleased to announce that this long awaited project is now moving forward. I want to thank the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the Town of Southold for their hard work and cooperation to make this project a reality,” said Bishop.

The project is 100 percent federally funded at a cost of $2.2 million, Bishop said. The USACE plans to begin mobilizing for the project this week, with work to start on or about Jan. 21. The project is scheduled to be completed by Feb. 28.

“With strong community support, we accomplished this project. Our beaches will be replenished with sand that will again naturally flow eastward along the shore. Keeping nature and man-made structures in harmony is important to our community,” said Doris and Ronald McGreevy of Mattituck.

Studies have shown that the jetties, which are part of Mattituck Inlet, interrupt the natural movement of sand eastward. To provide relief for this, a total of roughly 100,000 cubic yards of sand will be placed east of the inlet for beach replenishment purposes, Bishop said.

“I am pleased that the long overdue dredging of Mattituck Inlet is finally taking place. I also want to thank Congressman Bishop for all of his hard work and efforts that made this project come to fruition for the benefit of the residents of the Town of Southold," Supervisor Scott Russell said.

The project was initially set to begin in the fall.