in direction of transport is somewhat greater in the eastern than in the 

 western part of the study area, with a corresponding decrease in the net 

 rate of westward littoral transport in the former. The ocean mean tidal 

 range increases from 2.0 feet at Montauk Point to U.l feet at Fire Island 

 Inlet. The highest ocean level of record, about 10 feet above mean sea 

 level, occurred during hurricanes in 1938 and 195U. Moriches and Shinnecock 

 Inlets were both opened by natural forces during storms^ the former in 

 1931 and the latter in 1938. Moriches Inlet migrated westward and closed 

 in 195l» Local interests constructed stone jetties on both sides of 

 Moriches Inlet and performed dredging on the bayward'side in 1952-53. The 

 inlet reopened during a storm in 1953 while this work was in progress. In 

 1952-5U local interests also constructed stone jetties on both sides of 

 Shinnecock Inlet. Satisfactory stabilization of the inlets was not accom- 

 plished as a result of these measures. Both inlets are the subject of a 

 recent Federal study as a result of which improvements thereof for 

 navigation were recommended. Included in the recommendations were 

 provisions for transferring the littoral drift westward across Moriches 

 and Shinnecock Inlets. 



The District Engineer concluded that the most practical plan of 

 protection consists of a dual-purpose plan for widening of the beach 

 along the developed areas between Kismet and Mecox Bay to a minimum 

 width of 100 feet at an elevation of lU feet above mean sea level, 

 raising of dunes to an elevation of 20 feet above mean sea level from 

 Fire Island Inlet to Hither Hills State Park, at Montauk and opposite 

 Lake Montauk Harbor, supplemented by grass planting on the dunes, 

 interior drainage structures at Mecox Bay, Sagaponack Lake and Georgica 

 Pond, and possible groin construction if experience indicated the need 

 therefor. An alternative plan was developed for shore protection alone. 

 It consists of placing beach fill where required to provide a berm 100 

 feet wide at an elevation of 10 feet above mean sea level from Kismet 

 to Bridgehampton and deferred construction of groins. Maintenance of 

 the stability of the shore would be accomplished by periodic replenish- 

 ment of sand losses under either plan. The District and Division 

 Engineers made economic analyses of the foregoing plans of shore and 

 hurricane protection and concluded that the dual-purpose plan of 

 protection is amply justified by evaluated benefits. They found that 

 public benefits justify Federal aid to first and periodic nourishment 

 costs for shore protection projects in the Flood Control Act of 1958 

 (Public Law 85-500, 85th Congress). Accordingly they recommended 

 adoption of a dual-purpose project by the United States, the United 

 States paying 5l percent of the first costs thereof and U.3 percent 

 of the annual costs for periodic nourishment for a period of 10 years. 



The Beach Erosion Board concurred with the reporting officers in 

 the view that the combined improvement is a technically practicable 

 plan for the area and will provide the degree of protection contem- 

 plated. Accordingly, subject to determination by the Chief of Engi- 

 neers, after review by the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors, 

 that the dual-purpose plan is suitable and economically justified, the 

 Board recommended adoption of the improvement, essentially as proposed 



52 



