DESCRIPTION: This navigation asset is at tidal inlet located on the north shore of Long Island Sound, about 85 miles by water east of the Battery, New York City; and provides for a channel, 7 feet deep, 100 feet wide at the entrance and 80 feet wide thereafter, from the Long Island Sound, extending southward about 2 ¼ miles, to Mattituck, Town of Southold, Suffolk County, New York. There are two riprap jetties at the channel entrance. The east jetty was completed in 1906 with a length of approximately 775 feet, and the west jetty was completed in 1938, with a length of approximately 1,100 feet. The original navigation channel construction was completed in 1914.
AUTHORIZATION: Rivers and Harbors Act of 1896 (29 Stat. 202), modified in 1935 (P.L. 74-409) and 1964.
COMMERCE: This asset serves as a Harbor of Refuge during severe storms. The harbor also supports recreational boating, including several commercial marinas.
BACKGROUND: The most previous maintenance dredging occurred during Fall 2024 with the removal of approximately 5,000 cubic yards of silty dredged material from the inner reach and anchorage area of the federal channel with the material transported by barge to a processing facility to then be transported to landfills to be beneficially re-used as alternate daily cover.
In FY 2014, the Corps using Continuing Authorities Program Section 111 appropriations, dredged the channel and surrounding areas in the inlet to remove approximately 100,000 cubic yards of sand for a one-time action to mitigate shoreline erosion at Baillie Beach Park in Mattituck, New York.
Prior to that, the channel was maintenance dredged in FY 2004, when approximately 14,000 CY of dredged sand was beneficially re-used along the shoreline of Baillie Beach Park. During FY 1996, a rehabilitation of the west jetty was completed.
STATUS: During FY 2026, funds will provide for commonly performed Operations & Maintenance (O&M) work including dredging the inlet with beneficial re-use of the material along the shoreline of Baillie Beach Park using the Government Dredge Multi-Purpose Vessel Brandy Station during Fall 2026. Additionally, during FY2026, work also includes coordination with USCG, waterway users and stakeholders; production of an annual hydrographic condition survey; and publication of the Controlling Depth Report on the District’s website. (https://www.nan.usace.army.mil/Missions/Navigation/Controlling-Depth-Reports/)
William T. Bruno
Asset / Project Manager
P: (917) 790-8516
Email: William.Bruno@usace.army.mil
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District
26 Federal Plaza
New York, NY 10278
District Area: NY #1