UPDATE ON DITCH DUNE RECONSTRUCTION

PROJECT STATUS

At last Tuesday’s, 10/15 Town Board Work Session at Town Hall in East Hampton, we heard a presentation from Coastal Science & Engineering (CSE), the engineering consultant contracted to design the dune reconstruction project at Ditch Plains Beach.

CSE shared preliminary results from their October 2024 dune survey at Ditch that provided updated information needed for the design and recommendations for the project. Councilmember Cate Rogers emphasized the necessity to proceed with the project and the Town Board agreed. Click here for the full presentation and here for the work session recording.

To meet FEMA requirements for the dune size necessary to protect our community, the new dune at Ditch Plains will be approximately 20 ft tall. This would mean 54,000 cubic yards of sand higher than the projected flood water height projected in a 100-year storm, about 9 feet from mean sea level. Unlike the short-term beach replenishment in phase 1, the phase 2 dune is designed to establish a long-term dune.

BACKGROUND

This year East Hampton Town is carrying out a 2-phase Ditch Plains Beach Recovery Project to rebuild and strengthen Ditch Plains Beach and protect the Ditch Plains community. Phase 1 was completed in June, where the beach was replenished with 5,800 cubic yards of sand at a cost of $300,000 to prepare it for the summer months. We are now in the design stage for phase 2, focused on reconstructing the dune at Ditch. The Town is aiming to begin implementation before the end of the year.

East Hampton Town allocated $1.75 million in their capital budget for the project, and this summer successfully secured an additional $2.5 million from New York State and Governor Hochul, demonstrating a shared commitment to protecting our coastal community in the face of severe storms and increased climate risk.

Ditch Plains Beach is especially vulnerable to storm damage because it is low lying, within the FEMA floodplain, and most of the Ditch Plains community is below the high hazard flood zone.

CSE'S NEXT STEPS

Determine volumes needed for FEMA eligibility

Using updated elevation and imagery from October drone survey

Determine slope of dune profile

Longevity of the dune will be impacted by slope

Coordinate with adjacent properties

Town to obtain easements allowing construction

Apply for state permit

With final volumes from October 2024 survey

Identify sand resources, contractors

Verifying capacity of known resources with DEC permission

Construct the dune

Import the sand and sculpt the profile according to design

Post-project monitoring

Drone survey documentation of dune conditions alongside FEMA

Conduct routine (e.g. annual) monitoring to maintain FEMA eligibility for post-disaster coverage

Required for future federal reimbursements

WHAT'S ON OUR MINDS

To meet the challenge of climate change we will have to adapt our communities to protect people and the environment for generations to come. CCOM supports this critical opportunity to safeguard our community and strengthen the dune for its long-term use as a natural barrier for flood protection. However, recognizing that the new dune will be a significant visual change, and its size will be an adjustment for many, several questions remain to be answered including:

What is the life of the dune and its impact on the beachfront and its recreational use?

What steps should be taken to make sure the community is aware of the projected appearance of the beach and dune before construction?

In addition to the following next steps proposed by CSE we look forward to working collaboratively with the community and East Hampton town in advancing the understanding and environmental protections required for this cherished Montauk neighborhood.