Army Corps to host public meetings for Nassau County Back Bays study

Published May 28, 2019
Nassau County Back Bays Study Map

Nassau County Back Bays Study Map

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and its partners, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and Nassau County, are hosting public meetings regarding the Nassau County Back Bays Coastal Storm Risk Management study on June 12 in the Village of Freeport, NY and on June 27 in the City of Long Beach, NY.

The Army Corps, in partnership with the state and county, is conducting a feasibility study for coastal storm risk management problems within the Nassau County Back Bays area, which extends approximately 30 miles in the east-west direction, primarily in Nassau County, but also in adjacent portions of Queens and Suffolk Counties. The study area includes all of the tidally influenced bays and estuaries hydraulically connected to the south shore of Nassau County on the Atlantic Ocean. The objective of the study is to investigate problems and solutions to reduce damages from coastal flooding that affects population, critical infrastructure, critical facilities, property, and ecosystems.

The Army Corps released a status report on April 30, which includes information on work completed to date, potential alternatives under consideration, an overview of the study process, and details on next steps. Some of the measures that will be discussed at the public meetings include structural solutions such as storm surge barriers, tide gates, levees, and floodwalls; non-structural solutions such as elevating homes; and natural/nature-based features such as marsh restoration and the creation of living shorelines. The final plan may also include recommendations of actionable and policy implementable items such as floodplain management and Community Rating System enhancement opportunities.

The general public and other stakeholders are invited to attend the meetings to learn more about the study process and current status. In addition, the public will have an opportunity to provide feedback on the study and interact with project team members. Additional public meetings may be scheduled in July and/or August. The meeting details are as follows:

  • Public meeting from 5-7 p.m. on June 12, 2019 at Freeport Village Hall, Main Conference Room, 2nd Floor, 46 N. Ocean Avenue, Freeport, NY 11520
  • Public meeting from 5-7 p.m. on June 27, 2019 at City Hall (6th floor), 1 West Chester Street, Long Beach, NY 11561
  • Agenda for meetings:
    • 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Welcome/sign-in and poster/open house session
    • 6:00 PM – 6:30 PM: Presentation by study team
    • 6:30 PM – 7:00 PM: Audience question and answer session

For more information or to read the status report, visit: https://www.nap.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Nassau-County-Back-Bays-Study/


Contact
Steve Rochette
Stephen.Rochette@usace.army.mil

Release no. 19-011