East Hampton Town has begun its long-term and costly commitment to protect the future of downtown Montauk, after signing the Project Partnership Agreement for its Montauk Coastal Storm Risk Management Project on Friday, Oct. 24.
Pictured Above: Members of the East Hampton Town Board signed the contract to plan Montauk’s future on Friday, Oct. 24. |. Patrick Derenze photo for East Hampton Town
In the winter of 2024, Army Corps of Engineers contractors pumped 450,000 cubic yards of sand onto Montauk’s downtown beaches as part of the agency’s Fire Island to Montauk Point (FIMP) Project, which has been studying the best way to protect the 83-mile South Shore and South Fork coastline since 1960, and received $1.7 billion in federal funding in 2021.
The $11.25 million project was paid for by the state and federal government, with the understanding that an array of partners would maintain it for the next 30 years.
Under the agreement signed Friday, the Town of East Hampton will reimburse the State of New York for 30 percent of the non-federal share of costs associated with work to maintain federal shoreline stabilization projects within the town.
The town’s estimated total share of periodic renourishment over 30 years is $27.6 million, subject to adjustment based on actual costs of restoring the shoreline, with the first payment due in 2027.
“It’s taken years of hard work, difficult conversations, and strong partnerships to get here,” said East Hampton Town Supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez in a press release announcing the agreement. “FIMP has been talked about for decades, and today, Montauk finally has the long-term commitment it deserves. This agreement means Montauk will have continued protection, not just after the next storm, but for the next generation.”
“New York State, together with the Town of East Hampton and the Federal Government, is dedicating a total of $184 million to stabilize Downtown Montauk over the next 30 years as coastal flooding and storm erosion continue to threaten our fragile shoreline,” said New York State Assemblyman Tommy John Schiavoni.
“The signing of the FIMP PPA is a historic moment for Montauk,” said Leo Daunt, President of the Montauk Chamber of Commerce. “This commitment means our downtown beaches, the heart of our town and our economy, will be cared for and protected for the next 30 years. We’re deeply grateful to our elected officials and partners in government whose leadership and collaboration made this moment possible. It gives our community real peace of mind that Montauk’s shoreline, and everything it supports, will be here for future generations.”
Councilmember Cate Rogers said the project underscores the need to address the impacts of climate change through long-term planning and collaboration.
“Our coastlines are changing before our eyes, and we have a responsibility to meet that reality head-on,” she said. “This agreement is part of building resilience, protecting Montauk’s beaches, dunes, and community from the effects of stronger storms and rising seas. It’s about preparing for the future in a way that respects both the environment and the people who depend on it.”
“For 55 years, CCOM has worked to protect Montauk’s environment. Today, we know that the effects of climate change, rising seas, stronger storms, and increasing erosion demand both immediate and long-term action,” said Jessica James, Board President of Concerned Citizens of Montauk. “We urge the town to build on the momentum of this agreement and swiftly advance its long-term resilience planning goals, including the priority strategies outlined in the Coastal Assessment Resiliency Plan (CARP, developed through collaboration with CCOM, expert partners, and the community.”
Concurrent with this agreement, East Hampton Town is also working on a long-term plan for Montauk’s waterfront known as the Sustainable Planning in Coastal Communities: Risk Reduction, Revitalization and Restoration, or SPCC in short.
This $600,000 project is funded through a grant from the New York State Environmental Protection Fund’s Local Waterfront Revitalization Program. The town recently hired JLP+D to embark on community engagement and resilient land use planning, building on the CARP and The Nature Conservancy’s Montauk Business Community Consensus Building Project.
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