Schumer Urges USACE to Finish Nassau Back Bays Work

New York Senator Charles Schumer has announced that a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ effort to study Nassau’s Back Bays and protect countless Long Island communities from storm surges, flooding and more, could simply cease on September 30th unless the feds move to extend and fund its completion.

“All the federal work thus far on Nassau’s Back Bays would be for naught if the feds simply left the resiliency project unfinished, to collect dust on some shelf while the threat of major storms and hurricanes that might impact Long Island remains on the table,” said Senator Schumer yesterday.

“That’s why the feds must green-light a modest three year extension of this critical study that scrutinizes thirty miles of coast, and several communities to find ways to mitigate the threat of future storms.”

Schumer said that the ongoing Back Bays study is sorely needed to prevent millions-upon-millions of dollars in future damage to the Island and that $3 million has already been rightfully and wisely spent.

He also said that 30 miles of the Long Island coast depends on the USACE finishing this work as he made the case for the feds to green-light an appropriate three-year extension ASAP.

The Nassau Back Bays study began in the Fall of 2016 and is exhaustingly examining ways to reduce the risk of surges, flooding, coastal erosion and even wind—the exact elements of Sandy that proved so much local vulnerability.

Schumer said that an extension of the study—until 2022—would cost another $6 million. The Senator explained that the swath of the Bays that includes places like Reynolds Channel, Hewlett, Middle, South Oyster and more demand and need this comprehensive planning if millions-upon-millions in future storm damage might be avoided.