Work To Restore Tobay Beach Pumps 90,000 Tons Of Sand Into Beach

MASSAPEQUA, NY — U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is rebuilding the shoreline at Tobay Beach. It's part of a dredging project off the Fire Island inlet.

Contractors have worked around the clock to pump 90,000 tons of sand back to the beach, helping to safeguard the shoreline from storms and tidal surges, while also protecting critical infrastructure, including the main pavilion and access roadway.

"Our shoreline has taken a beating over the past few years, as Mother Nature has been [relentlessly] eroding our beaches and putting our infrastructure at risk," said Supervisor Joseph Saladino.

The work is part of a $1.69 million investment in Tobay Beach.

The beach suffered a direct hit from Superstorm Sandy in 2012, and serves as a critical asset toward protecting the mainland, its property and population.

"I convened the Army Corps of Engineers and the Towns to find a solution for these beaches, and I am happy to see this project—that will revitalize Tobay and Gilgo beaches—get done at limited cost to our towns and taxpayers," said U.S. Senator Charles Schumer.

Town officials will continue to push to develop a long-term solution that hardens the shoreline with additional sand and shields the primary nesting areas of protected species known as piping plover.