Letters

A few weeks ago, the Magdalen appeared out of nowhere. At first, I lightheartedly thought she was a Navy frigate sent to investigate the drone sightings. When I realized she is a “hopper dredger” and saw some tracking information on her, I thought she was simply doing surveys for the Fire Island to Montauk Point project, between Westhampton and Quogue.

When I heard, and then witnessed for myself, her sucking away our sandbars, I was gutted. I thought they were sand pirates.

After Surfrider Eastern Long Island and a group of concerned neighbors looked into it, it turned out that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in their wisdom, has decided to “borrow sand” from Quogue to fill in areas at Cupsogue and in West Hampton Dunes. This sand is supposed to come from at least a mile offshore. However, the Magdalen is taking sand directly from our outer bars, a quarter mile or less offshore.

Is the contractor cutting corners, or is the Army Corps allowing this insanity? It’s hard to come to terms with what is happening here.

Personally, this area has been my home beach for over 20 years. We have all been blessed with these sandbars that protect the beach, properties, village beach, private beach clubs, Dune Road, and even the properties on the bay. Besides the great surf, they attract sea life; I have witnessed an inordinate amount of activity here, including the bait fish to the predators — the dolphins, whales and the birds — that follow all of them. The fishermen often take advantage of this area as well.

What will happen when our sandbars are removed?

In the meantime, we have been reaching out for assistance — the town, the village, the Trustees and our legislators.

Kevin Cirincione

Quogue