Long Island’s coastlines are getting a boost in resilience thanks to new federal grants aimed at protecting vulnerable areas with nature-based solutions. The Town of East Hampton and Little Neck’s Udalls Cove are among the recipients of a national initiative using vegetation, mussels, and oysters to defend coastal communities from erosion and flooding.
The funding, part of a $136 million effort from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, supports 88 projects nationwide that use ecological measures to strengthen natural shorelines and mitigate storm damage.
In East Hampton, a $350,000 grant will help reinforce low-lying sections near Lake Montauk and Fort Pond, areas prone to flooding during major storms. The project will plant vegetation and add mussel reefs to absorb wave energy, reduce inland flooding, and improve water quality. Supervisor Peter Van Scoyoc noted that this initiative stems from the town’s long-term flood risk study, adding that the installation of vegetation and mussel beds will also help remove nitrogen, a common pollutant following heavy rainfall.
In Little Neck’s Udalls Cove, a $2.38 million project led by Save the Sound will install oyster “castles” — environmentally friendly concrete blocks stacked offshore to form natural wave barriers. These structures will help protect the shoreline, restore salt marshes, and foster new oyster growth. Over time, the castles trap sediment and encourage marshlands to rebuild, strengthening the coast’s ability to withstand storms.
Additional funding through The Nature Conservancy will support oyster reef restoration at sites including Shinnecock Bay and Oyster Bay, planting millions of oysters to improve water quality and enhance shoreline protection.
These efforts represent a growing movement to use living systems — rather than concrete walls — to defend against climate change and coastal erosion. By restoring natural habitats, East Hampton, Little Neck, and other coastal communities are building a more sustainable and storm-resilient future.
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