LaLota secures money for Port Jefferson Harbor dredging

Rep. Nick LaLota (R-Suffolk County) has secured $1.5 million for the Town of Brookhaven’s Port Jefferson Harbor dredging and wave wall construction projects.

“This funding will cover the costs of much-needed structural improvements to maintain the Harbor,” said LaLota. “Infrastructure projects like dredging in Port Jeff Harbor are vital to boosting our waterfront economy and quality of life for Long Island families.”

“The dredging and wave wall construction at Port Jefferson Harbor is a priority, and now that this $1.5 million in funding has been secured, we are ready to move forward,” added Brookhaven Town Supervisor Daniel J. Panico.

“While a lot of emphasis and attention has been focused on south shore erosion, it is important to recognize that our north shore has challenges as well.”

The funding for the Town of Brookhaven is provided by the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Appropriations bill, which was signed into law last month.

Funding for this project will allow for the necessary improvements to Port Jefferson Harbor, specifically dredging and structural improvements within the Town of Brookhaven Marina.

Port Jefferson Harbor is maintained to a depth of 26 feet to provide passage from the harbor entrance to the Village of Port Jefferson, an economic hub in the Town of Brookhaven.

It is estimated that 14,000 cubic yards of sediment must be dredged from the Town Marina and adjacent lands. Between 40,000 and 50,000 cubic yards of additional dredging is needed within the larger harbor.

A 2022 study of Port Jefferson Marina found that portions of the breakwater are in inferior condition and have essentially failed.