DESCRIPTION: The existing Moriches Inlet Federal Navigation Project provides for a channel, 10 ft. deep, 200 ft. wide, extending from that depth in the Atlantic Ocean to Moriches Bay, at a length of approximately 0.8 mile, and a channel, 6 ft. deep, 100 ft. wide, to the Long Island Intracoastal Waterway, length approximately 1.1 miles. In addition, the project includes a deposition area at the entrance of the channel, 14 feet deep plus 2 feet overdepth, 350 feet wide, and 3,000 feet in length. This project is cost-shared with the State of New York.
AUTHORIZATION/PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The Moriches Inlet Project was authorized by the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1960 and the 1985 Supplemental Appropriation Act.
COMMERCE: Authorized critical Harbor of Refuge and critical USCG Search and Rescue Station inside the inlet. USCG receives on average 1000 calls for help on the South Shore of Long Island each year. Moriches is one of 6 coastal inlets providing access to the Atlantic Ocean.
BACKGROUND: In 2018, an “Emergency” dredging was accomplished, Approximately 153,000 CY of sand was removed which opened a 200-ft wide path through the inlet. During the prior dredging activity the inlet was used as a borrow source of sand to close the breach at Cupsogue Beach that was created by Hurricane Sandy removing approximately 200,000 CY of sand.
The prior maintenance dredging cycle occurred during the winter of 2009. Approximately 460,000 CY of material was removed by Suffolk County Department of Public Works and placed at Cupsogue Beach, Smith Point and other areas.
Prior maintenance dredging of the inlet last performed by the USACE was in February 2004 using Federal/non-Federal cost-share funds. Approximately 250,250 cubic yards of material were removed from the channel and deposition basin and placed along the shoreline west of the jetty.
STATUS: During FY22, funding will provide for commonly performed Operations & Maintenance (O&M) work including monitoring of the channel shoaling conditions, coordination with the users and stakeholders. The inlet will be maintenance dredged under the FIMP project with the dredged sand being beneficially reused. 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/) is also scheduled for this fiscal year.
CONTACT:
Edward Wrocenski
Project Manager
P: (917) 790-8636
Email: edward.wrocenski@usace.army.mil
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District
26 Federa1 Plaza
New York, NY 10278
http://www.nan.usace.army.mil
District Area: NY # 1