USA: Corps Awards Contract for Phase II of Plumb Beach Project

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District has awarded a $2 million contract to Village Dock, Inc., of Port Jefferson, N.Y., to complete the second and final phase of construction at the coastal storm risk reduction project at Plumb Beach in Brooklyn along the Belt Parkway.

Phase I was completed in late 2012 and involved placing approximately 127,000 cubic yards of sand in the severely eroded Plumb Beach area along the Belt Parkway, a busy highway and a critical piece of the city’s infrastructure. The sand was placed just prior to Hurricane Sandy’s arrival and helped prevent serious damage to the Belt Parkway. Phase I also involved the installation of a temporary geotube groin structure to help mitigate the loss of Phase I sand while the Corps awaited the ability to award Phase II.

Phase II involves the construction of two permanent stone groins at each end of the beach to help mitigate erosion in the long run. It also involves the construction of a permanent stone breakwater in the water off of the severely eroded area essentially parallel to the beach to mitigate future sand loss. Phase II also involves planting vegetation in sand dunes to help strengthen them as well as the installation of sand fencing to trap sand blowing landward.

While Phase I provides immediate coastal storm risk reduction benefits to both the Belt Parkway and the frequently used bike path along it, Phase II is designed to keep the coastal storm risk reduction benefits in place longer by managing the movement of sand and greatly reducing the need for future renourishments at the project site.

“The Army Corps of Engineers is excited to be able to work with the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation and the National Park Service to complete the second and final phase of this important work at Plumb Beach,” said New York District Commander Col. Paul E. Owen. “We saw how the first phase helped prevent what could have been extensive damage to the Belt Parkway during Hurricane Sandy and this second phase will help strengthen that original coastal storm risk reduction work and provide additional risk reduction for many years to come.”

The local cost-sharing sponsor for both phases of the project is the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation with 65 percent of funding being federal and 35 percent being local. Phase I was completed through a $3.5 million contract with Great Lakes Dredge and Dock based out of Oak Brook, Ill., and beneficially reused sand dredged from Ambrose Channel as part of ongoing efforts to deepen the navigation channels associated with the Port of New York and New Jersey.

“Parks is pleased to continue our partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the National Park Service to replenish sand and restore the shoreline at Plumb Beach,” said Parks Commissioner Veronica White. “This project will help to both preserve a recreational resource, and protect the Belt Parkway.”

The project includes work on National Park Service land. The Corps and New York City officials worked closely with NPS during the planning of the project and the sand placement phase and will continue to do so during Phase II.

“The National Park Service believes that this project will protect the Belt Parkway while respecting important park natural resources and visitor access to Plumb Beach” said Linda Canzanelli, Superintendent of Gateway National Recreation Area.

Phase II work is likely to be completed this fall, which also takes into account environmental work restriction windows to respect the local marine life.

[mappress]

Press Release, February 7, 2013