DESCRIPTION: Lake Montauk Harbor is located on the south fork of eastern Long Island, Suffolk County, NY. The harbor opens to the north into Block Island Sound through an inlet stabilized by two jetties. The original Federal project at Lake Montauk Harbor providef for 1) a channel 12 feet deep at MLLW and 150 feet wide, extending about 0.7 miles from the 12 foot contour in Block Island Sound to the same depth in the yacht basin east of Star Island, 2) a boat basin 10 feet deep, 400 feet wide, and 900 feet long, located northwest of Star Island, 3) east and west jetties and 4) sport fishing facilities on top of both jetties. Local interests expressed concerns about inadequate channel depths for larger commercial fishing vessels and erosion effects in the vicinity of the inlet. The US Coast Guard had also had difficulties responding to emergencies from the station at Lake Montauk Harbor due to shoaling. The new authorized plan now includes the deepening of the navigation channel to a new depth of -17 ft. MLLW.
AUTHORIZATION: Section 107 of River & Harbor Act of 1960 as amended (33 U.S.C. Section 577)
STATUS: A Feasibility Study was completed in partnership with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the Town of East Hampton to address concerns about inadequate channel depths for larger commercial fishing vessels and erosion effects in the vicinity of the inlet. A draft feasibility report was completed specifically for navigation purposes, and was released for public review in July 2019, with a Final Report approved in February 2021, and Environmental FONSI completed in March 2021. Since no storm damage reduction plans appeared feasible, the study was finalized to only consider navigation improvements.
The new plan for Lake Montauk Harbor utilizes the Corps’ Continuing Authorities Program, Section 107, and includes the deepening of the navigation channel to -17 ft.
A Project Partnership Agreement for project design & construction was executed September 2022 between the Corps and the Town of East Hampton, with all efforts being cost-shared at 90% Federal, and 10% non-Federal. Project design, including required real estate, was completed in 2025.
A construction contract to complete the new navigation deepening was awarded in September 2025, to H&L Contracting, with construction to begin Fall 2025. Construction will include channel deepening to -17 ft. MLLW (instead of the previous channel depth of -12 ft. MLLW), with placement of dredged sand material onto the eroded shoreline directly west of the inlet jetty, and disposal of excavated channel rock at a NYS offshore reef. When complete, the deepened channel will help ensure continued safe access for commercial, recreational, and Coast Guard vessels.
CONTACT:
Mr. Frank Verga
Project Manager
P: (917) 790-8212
Email: Frank.Verga@usace.army.mil
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District
26 Federal Plaza
New York, NY 10278
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS: NY-1