Every boating season, Jones Inlet stands as both a lifeline and a hazard. For thousands of boaters in the western bays of Long Island – those launching out of Freeport, Merrick, Baldwin, and Bellmore – it’s the gateway to the Atlantic. But for just as many, especially those less familiar with its volatile nature, Jones Inlet is also a recipe for disaster.
Locals know the deal. They’ve seen the capsized boats on the evening news. They’ve heard the Coast Guard calls and panicked maydays as vessels founder on the outer bar. They’ve seen emergency flares arc across a churning horizon and watched the inlet go from calm to chaos in the span of a tide cycle. Yet despite the dangers being well-documented, not enough is being done to make this critical waterway safer – and the most glaring shortcoming is the continued lack of effective, sustained dredging. In speaking with local charter captain Joey Leggio he told me “Now with every boater requiring the new boater safety course they teach you red buoy on the left heading out and if you follow those rules you will run into some of the shallowest water in the inlet.” He followed up by saying that “the shoaling is causing surf-like waves in the middle of the channel which causes breaking waves in the inlet, creating another huge boating hazard.” He knows of multiple boats that have hit the bottom already following the markers that are in place right now.
Jones Inlet has long been a shifting puzzle of sand and current. Unlike deeper, rock-lined passes like Shinnecock or Moriches, the Jones Inlet channel is a dynamic system. The outer bar – where ocean meets inlet – moves constantly. Winter storms and seasonal tides deposit sediment across the federal channel, narrowing the entrance and forcing boaters to navigate blind around an ever-changing layout. And while some temporary dredging is occasionally done, it’s almost always too little, too late.
The issue has become more urgent in recent years. Increased boating activity, spurred by the pandemic-era spike in recreational boat sales, means more inexperienced operators are hitting the water. Many of these new boaters rely entirely on GPS – following old tracks or charts that no longer reflect reality. And with the marked channel often not matching the safest water, boats end up grounded on the shoals, swamped in confused surf, or worse, capsized in breaking waves that build fast when wind and tide collide.
Marine towing companies and first responders are often stretched thin during summer months. Local captains can recall multiple weekends where two or more boats needed assistance at the same time near the inlet’s mouth. Engines overheat in shallow troughs. Panic sets in when crews realize they’re caught in a washing machine with no clear exit.
What’s most frustrating is that these dangers aren’t unsolvable. Jones Inlet doesn’t need to be a death trap. It needs consistent dredging – a comprehensive, well-funded effort that goes beyond quick-fix sand removal and addresses the inlet’s long-term navigational needs.
For years, dredging efforts have been reactive, not proactive. The federal channel is technically maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, but appropriations have been spotty. While Nassau County and the Town of Hempstead have made some strides in working with state and federal agencies to dredge and reposition buoys, those efforts are often undermined within months by Mother Nature.
If Jones Inlet is going to continue serving as the western bays’ primary ocean access point, it’s time we treated it like the critical maritime asset it is. We need a recurring dredge schedule – one that anticipates shoaling before it becomes a problem. And we need better real-time updates on channel markers and shoal movement so boaters can adjust accordingly.
In the meantime, boaters must take matters into their own hands when it comes to safety. Know the tides. Avoid running the inlet when a strong southwest wind pushes against an ebbing tide. Monitor VHF channels for local reports. Don’t blindly trust your GPS. If the seas look angry, consider rerouting through Debs or even Fire Island Inlet. A longer trip is always better than a dangerous one.
As the busy season ramps up, let this be a reminder that Jones Inlet is not just a gateway – it’s a responsibility. A responsibility shared by boaters, local governments, and federal agencies alike. And if we’re serious about saving lives and protecting property, then real dredging –sustained, smart, and frequent – needs to be the priority.
