Meeting Minutes
March 24, 2006 Meeting
Approximately 50 members of the Eastern Long Island Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation squeezed into Spinnaker’s Restaurant in Sag Harbor for our annual Welcome Spring meeting. The full agenda stimulated a lot of lively conversation!
Chapter chair, Tom Naro, introduced our guest speakers.
- Southampton Town Trustees: Jon Semler, Scott Strough, and Fred Havemeyer.
- East Hampton Town Trustees: William Mott and Lynn Mendelman.
Mr. Semler opened the discussion by identifying “beach access” as one of the key challenges confronting the Trustees and the town. He reviewed the status of the lawsuit regarding access at the end of Surfside Drive, which the town recently lost. However, he indicated that the town is considering an appeal. He also discussed the current lawsuit designed to limit beach access in the F and G Streets picnic area (also known as Stovepipes). Mr. Semler asked the chapter if it would consider filing an “amicus brief” in support of the town’s position.
Mr. Strough suggested that the recent lawsuits represent a change in culture in Southampton and East Hampton. Until these recent lawsuits, residents recognized the rights of individuals to unencumbered access to our beaches. He indicated that if these lawsuits are successful that the entire culture and environment of the East End would dramatically change. Mr. Strough added that the success of any one of these suits could be precedent setting for all beaches in New York State.
Mr. Strough then shifted gears and spoke about the Trustees’ role in managing the beach environment by addressing such topics as planting beach grass and managing beach driving.
Mr. Havemeyer reiterated the beach access and environmental challenges confronting the Trustees.
Discussion then shifted to the role and function of the East Hampton Trustees. Mr. Mott opened the discussion by highlighting the various topics the Trustees address:
- Erosion
- Beach access
- Water quality
- Beach ordinances and enforcement
- Shellfish seeding
- Mr. Mott indicated that last year, the Trustees seeded 350,000 clams which had an impressive 90% survival.
Ms. Mendelman concluded the presentations by outlining the challenges, successes, and opportunities for the Trustees. Among the challenges is public awareness regarding a broad range of issues such as pollution, proper beach driving, and environmental management. Recent successes include open space acquisitions, preserving beach access, and development of pump-out stations for boaters. A terrific opportunity is to develop collaboration with Southampton College/Stony Brook and their oceanography and hydrology programs. She also sees opportunities for collaboration with organizations like Surfrider on topics of mutual interest such as beach access, beach driving, and beach clean-ups.
Chapter members peppered the Trustees with provocative questions focused on beach access and beach driving.
Thomas Muse, the chapter’s environmental director made an informative presentation regarding the status of the Army Corps of Engineers’ final “environmental impact statement” for the proposed Montauk Lighthouse revetment. Thomas indicated that the Corps used extremely conservative assumptions regarding the anticipated rise in sea level over time. In fact the assumption employed is fourteen times lower than that projected by the US Geological Survey! Thomas also spoke with the International Chimney Company which maintains the Montauk Lighthouse and which has been retained by the Corps to move four other historic lighthouses. The International Chimney Company reported to Thomas that the Montauk Lighthouse can be moved. Interestingly, the Corps has estimated that the cost of the revetment will be $14 million and the cost to move the lighthouse would be $28 million. He then indicated that the Corp is required to conduct a cost-benefit analysis and that such an analysis could demonstrate a strong business case for re-locating the lighthouse rather than constructing the revetment which might have a limited life or might prove to be less effective than anticipated. (After all, the current revetment is less than 20 years old.)
Thomas indicated that the Corps would like to initiate work on the revetment in 2008, pending availability of funding. He also indicated that the revetment project could be viewed as precedent setting since it represents the Federal Government erecting hardened shore line structures to protect real estate. This could open the issue of property owners undertaking similar initiatives to protect their ocean front real estate.
At the conclusion of his presentation, Thomas solicited the views of chapter members regarding the two options (revetment or re-location). Chapter members overwhelmingly supported the re-location strategy.
Eugene Alper provided a brief up-date regarding on-going discussions with State Parks about surfing access at the Lighthouse. He summarized a preliminary meeting in early March with Mr. Tom Dess during which we suggested a preliminary approach to opening the area to surfing. The preliminary approach might include open access to surfing for nine months (ie, December through the following August) and development of an “interim strategy” for the remaining three months. The interim strategy could possibly be similar to the one adopted at Camp Hero a couple of years ago, when surfing was allowed in designated areas until 11:00 AM, during September, October, and November. The Camp Hero strategy was quite successful in that after one year we were able to demonstrate that surfers and fishermen could share the beach! A follow-up meeting with others a State Parks will be scheduled, shortly.
Tom Naro then introduced Ms. Jackie Timmes who is a student at Stony Brook and a member of a university committee involved with the development of academic programs at Southampton College. Ms. Timmes described the preliminary plans for emerging programs at Southampton College, including marine sciences and related engineering programs. She indicated that several faculty have research interests in topics that are similar to topics of interest to our chapter. Further, students at the Southampton campus will seek opportunities to expand their community involvement in areas that are complementary to topics of interest to Surfrider. Consequently, Ms. Timmes, suggested that there will be opportunities for Surfrider to collaborate with faculty and students at the Southampton campus on a range of technical and scientific topics as well as issues of policy and strategy. Chapter members enthusiastically embraced the notion of collaboration with the college!
At the conclusion of her presentation, Tom Naro provided Ms. Timmes with a student membership in Surfrider and an invitation to participate in future chapter meetings and activities!
Before the meeting wrapped up, Jay Levine provided a brief up-date on the coalition formed by our chapter to address environmental preservation at Turtle Cove. Earlier in March, representatives of Surfrider, Concerned Citizens of Montauk, and East Hampton Trails Preservation Society met to develop a joint strategy regarding Turtle Cove. That strategy calls for review of a document being prepared by the office of the Federal Land to Parks Program. This document is being developed to guide East Hampton in its development of an Environmental Assessment which is a component of the town’s effort to amend its Plan of Utilization. The coalition will review the document and then conduct private meetings with selected town officials to assess their reaction to the document and to gauge their position regarding the management of Turtle Cove.
A date and location for our next meeting will be set shortly. Check www.surfriderli.org for details.
Meeting Minutes
March 24, 2006 Meeting
Approximately 50 members of the Eastern Long Island Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation squeezed into Spinnaker’s Restaurant in Sag Harbor for our annual Welcome Spring meeting. The full agenda stimulated a lot of lively conversation!
Chapter chair, Tom Naro, introduced our guest speakers.
- Southampton Town Trustees: Jon Semler, Scott Strough, and Fred Havemeyer.
- East Hampton Town Trustees: William Mott and Lynn Mendelman.
Mr. Semler opened the discussion by identifying “beach access” as one of the key challenges confronting the Trustees and the town. He reviewed the status of the lawsuit regarding access at the end of Surfside Drive, which the town recently lost. However, he indicated that the town is considering an appeal. He also discussed the current lawsuit designed to limit beach access in the F and G Streets picnic area (also known as Stovepipes). Mr. Semler asked the chapter if it would consider filing an “amicus brief” in support of the town’s position.
Mr. Strough suggested that the recent lawsuits represent a change in culture in Southampton and East Hampton. Until these recent lawsuits, residents recognized the rights of individuals to unencumbered access to our beaches. He indicated that if these lawsuits are successful that the entire culture and environment of the East End would dramatically change. Mr. Strough added that the success of any one of these suits could be precedent setting for all beaches in New York State.
Mr. Strough then shifted gears and spoke about the Trustees’ role in managing the beach environment by addressing such topics as planting beach grass and managing beach driving.
Mr. Havemeyer reiterated the beach access and environmental challenges confronting the Trustees.
Discussion then shifted to the role and function of the East Hampton Trustees. Mr. Mott opened the discussion by highlighting the various topics the Trustees address:
- Erosion
- Beach access
- Water quality
- Beach ordinances and enforcement
- Shellfish seeding
- Mr. Mott indicated that last year, the Trustees seeded 350,000 clams which had an impressive 90% survival.
Ms. Mendelman concluded the presentations by outlining the challenges, successes, and opportunities for the Trustees. Among the challenges is public awareness regarding a broad range of issues such as pollution, proper beach driving, and environmental management. Recent successes include open space acquisitions, preserving beach access, and development of pump-out stations for boaters. A terrific opportunity is to develop collaboration with Southampton College/Stony Brook and their oceanography and hydrology programs. She also sees opportunities for collaboration with organizations like Surfrider on topics of mutual interest such as beach access, beach driving, and beach clean-ups.
Chapter members peppered the Trustees with provocative questions focused on beach access and beach driving.
Thomas Muse, the chapter’s environmental director made an informative presentation regarding the status of the Army Corps of Engineers’ final “environmental impact statement” for the proposed Montauk Lighthouse revetment. Thomas indicated that the Corps used extremely conservative assumptions regarding the anticipated rise in sea level over time. In fact the assumption employed is fourteen times lower than that projected by the US Geological Survey! Thomas also spoke with the International Chimney Company which maintains the Montauk Lighthouse and which has been retained by the Corps to move four other historic lighthouses. The International Chimney Company reported to Thomas that the Montauk Lighthouse can be moved. Interestingly, the Corps has estimated that the cost of the revetment will be $14 million and the cost to move the lighthouse would be $28 million. He then indicated that the Corp is required to conduct a cost-benefit analysis and that such an analysis could demonstrate a strong business case for re-locating the lighthouse rather than constructing the revetment which might have a limited life or might prove to be less effective than anticipated. (After all, the current revetment is less than 20 years old.)
Thomas indicated that the Corps would like to initiate work on the revetment in 2008, pending availability of funding. He also indicated that the revetment project could be viewed as precedent setting since it represents the Federal Government erecting hardened shore line structures to protect real estate. This could open the issue of property owners undertaking similar initiatives to protect their ocean front real estate.
At the conclusion of his presentation, Thomas solicited the views of chapter members regarding the two options (revetment or re-location). Chapter members overwhelmingly supported the re-location strategy.
Eugene Alper provided a brief up-date regarding on-going discussions with State Parks about surfing access at the Lighthouse. He summarized a preliminary meeting in early March with Mr. Tom Dess during which we suggested a preliminary approach to opening the area to surfing. The preliminary approach might include open access to surfing for nine months (ie, December through the following August) and development of an “interim strategy” for the remaining three months. The interim strategy could possibly be similar to the one adopted at Camp Hero a couple of years ago, when surfing was allowed in designated areas until 11:00 AM, during September, October, and November. The Camp Hero strategy was quite successful in that after one year we were able to demonstrate that surfers and fishermen could share the beach! A follow-up meeting with others a State Parks will be scheduled, shortly.
Tom Naro then introduced Ms. Jackie Timmes who is a student at Stony Brook and a member of a university committee involved with the development of academic programs at Southampton College. Ms. Timmes described the preliminary plans for emerging programs at Southampton College, including marine sciences and related engineering programs. She indicated that several faculty have research interests in topics that are similar to topics of interest to our chapter. Further, students at the Southampton campus will seek opportunities to expand their community involvement in areas that are complementary to topics of interest to Surfrider. Consequently, Ms. Timmes, suggested that there will be opportunities for Surfrider to collaborate with faculty and students at the Southampton campus on a range of technical and scientific topics as well as issues of policy and strategy. Chapter members enthusiastically embraced the notion of collaboration with the college!
At the conclusion of her presentation, Tom Naro provided Ms. Timmes with a student membership in Surfrider and an invitation to participate in future chapter meetings and activities!
Before the meeting wrapped up, Jay Levine provided a brief up-date on the coalition formed by our chapter to address environmental preservation at Turtle Cove. Earlier in March, representatives of Surfrider, Concerned Citizens of Montauk, and East Hampton Trails Preservation Society met to develop a joint strategy regarding Turtle Cove. That strategy calls for review of a document being prepared by the office of the Federal Land to Parks Program. This document is being developed to guide East Hampton in its development of an Environmental Assessment which is a component of the town’s effort to amend its Plan of Utilization. The coalition will review the document and then conduct private meetings with selected town officials to assess their reaction to the document and to gauge their position regarding the management of Turtle Cove.
A date and location for our next meeting will be set shortly. Check www.surfriderli.org for details.
