A two-phase project to rebuild and fortify a popular Montauk beach began Monday as crews started spreading about 5,800 cubic yards of sand, according to East Hampton Town officials. The dune and beach recovery project at Ditch Plains Beach, an iconic surfing spot, follows a bruising winter when several storms battered the area, causing ocean waters to surge over the dunes and damage at least one home. The approximately $1.
75 million project, financed from the town’s capital budget, aims to replenish the beach and rebuild the dunes that protect nearby homes. Town officials said in a statement that the project “will mitigate these impacts against the increasing threats posed by climate change.” A larger federal beach nourishment project completed in February in downtown Montauk — unrelated to the winter storms — didn't extend as far as Ditch Plains Beach.
The first phase of the new project is expected to finish by June 26, according to town officials. Southampton Excavation & Site Development, LLC began hauling in sand Monday, five days after the town board voted to accept the company’s bid during a special meeting. The first phase will cost a little more than $300,000 at a rate of $52.
72 per cubic yard, according to the town, which is seeking state assistance to offset some of the overall $1.75 million price tag that will include other dune fortifications. The work “will ensure that our residents can enjoy the natural beauty of Ditch Plains Beach this summer,” .
