Dredge Jones Inlet Now - The Fisherman

Dredge Jones Inlet Now

There has been much chatter and outrage about the status of Jones Inlet. Over the last fishing season, it became quite apparent how dangerous this inlet is for boaters. After speaking with several captains and private boat owners, the consensus came down to the same thing—Jones is a major navigational hazard for all boaters. Extreme shoaling between the red and green cans often results in heavy swells and breakers making for a white knuckle—and sometimes downright life threatening passage. Most have resorted to taking a different route that comes with its own hazards. The problem at Jones has been made worse by the fact that its buoy marks have been removed from electronic nautical maps due to the continual change.

Right now, the earliest date for a potential dredging project to begin would be the fall of 2022, which is completely unacceptable This means Jones will be, pretty much, impassable for the entirety of the 2022 season. It’s a threat to the economy, local jobs and the safety of anyone that attempts to navigate the inlet. Nothing good is going to come from putting this off.

Senator Schumer secured 19 million dollars in funds to dredge Jones Inlet. However, at the same time, the Fire Island Inlet budget is 1.7 billion dollars and that project has already begun. Also included in the Fire Island budget is raising coastal summer homes for some of the wealthiest people on Long Island at the government’s expense.

It’s a FACT that boaters have perished due to the rough water caused by the shoaling at the entrance of Jones in recent years. Now let’s add in the FACT that the inlet has become worse from winter storms over the past two months. Waiting to begin the dredging project until the fall, instead of getting it done now, is just inviting a tragedy.

While no one can single-handedly do anything about this situation, there’s power in numbers. Together we can express the severity of the situation and demand that this project begins NOW. Our priority should be keeping our boaters safe from what is—right now—a life and death situation.  I urge all of you to spread the word, write letters, share it on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Don’t forget to join the Facebook group named “Jones Inlet DANGER and DEATH.” Another great way to demonstrate urgency in numbers is to email the people who can make a difference on our behalf, use the email list below and send your messages with the subject line: JONES INLET MUST BE DREDGED.

Politicians

mike_iannelli@schumer.senate.gov

gerry_petrella@schumer.senate.gov

michael_scheid@gillibrand.senate.gov

invite@gillibrand.senate.gov

liz.amster@mail.house.gov

steven.coyle@mail.house.gov

kevin.devlin@mail.house.gov

countyexecutive@nassaucountyny.gov

kaminsky@nysenate.gov

mike.florio@mail.house.gov

geoff.goldfeder@mail.house.gov

Army Corps of Engineers

scott.a.spellmon@usace.army.mil

william.h.graham@usace.army.mil

jodi.m.mcdonald@usace.army.mil

steven.a.koch@uscg.mil

thomas.creamer@usace.army.mil

alexander.fgregory@usace.army.mil

david.a.caldwell@usace.army.mil

james.c.dalton@usace.army.mil

peter.r.blum@usace.army.mil

Henry.w.gruber@usace.army.mil

Danielle.m.tomasso@usace.army.mil

annmarie.r.harvie@usace.army.mil

US Coast Guard

eva.vancamp@uscg.mil

Please join us in trying to deliver this very important message; lives and livelihoods are at stake.

 

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