The Beach belongs to everyone

We want Long Island to be a place where this, and the next generation can surf, windsurf, sail, swim, sunbathe, fish, kayak or just soak in Long Island's Natural Beauty.

Long Island is losing its waterfront and wet lands to private homes at an alarming pace. Beach Access is disappearing right along with it. In addition, many NYS laws concerning Beach Access are archaic at best.

It is not LIBAG's intent to take away any existing rights of NYS Beach users. Only to add to them.

We are fortunate, to be working with the Long Island Regional State Parks Commission towards solutions that would allow all beach user groups equal access to all NYS Parks Beaches, with out excluding or taking away any access rights from any user groups.

The Long Island Beach Access Group is most commonly known for its four core programs;

1- The Beach Access program whose research and advocacy programs support the maintenance and expansion of access to those remote beach locations on Long Island for all users.

2- Also, our Beach Preservation program works to sponsor, participate and encourage those activities that ensure the healthy maintenance of our beaches and barrier islands, such as beach grass plantings.

3- Our Beach Clean-up program works to sponsor, participate and encourage continual beach clean-ups in conjunction with the America Littoral Society. This includes the adoption of Gilgo Beach.

4- But also, Long Island Beach Access Group is known for our Beach Actions program which seeks to encourage and reward proper behavior when enjoying the beaches. This includes following the official rules and regulations of each of the beaches and areas that provide access to those beaches, promoting the “Carry in, Carry out more” philosophy, and in a more informal fashion, instructing people on safe enjoyment of our natural resources.


Remember: it is not LIBAG's intent to take away any existing rights of NYS Beach users. Only to add to them.

LIBAG is honored to work with New York State Park officials, as we continue to connect the Parks to the People.


We look forward to our continued work with New York State officials in order to implement solutions that encourage more diverse use of NYS’s Beaches.


CONTACT US email me libaginfo@gmail.com


Sunday, September 23, 2012

Coast Guard: Fire Island inlet too shallow for rescue boat - U.S. - Stripes




LIBAG believes this inlet is important? This is why we have been meeting with the office's of United States Senator Sen. Gillibrand, and Schumer. We will continue our work with the Governor's office, the NYS Parks leadership, and the Town of Babylon.


As mentioned in previous posts. Several members of LIBAG  met with Commander Tim Woody, of the Fire Island Coast Guard Station. In addition, they took a ride aboard the 47 foot  United States Coast Guard rescue vessel. While going for a boat ride in a Coastie RIB Rescue boat certainly is fun; this trip was all business. We helped the Coast Guard in their assessment of the Inlet. 
 Unfortunately " The Coast Guard's $1.2 million Motor Lifeboat, designed for rescue operations in hurricane-force winds and rough seas, will be transferred from Station Fire Island to the Shinnecock station." 

This makes this situation more urgent. This is not just an economic situation... this is about the safety of our fellow  recreational and commercial watermen.
By continuing to work with all the various Fed, State, and local parties we hope to be able to help find a solution to what has now clearly become more complicated than just a beach access issue.

The following are two news stories on the subject.

Coast Guard: Fire Island inlet too shallow for rescue boat - U.S. - Stripes

Fire Island shoaling impacts Coast Guard response ability

Station Fire Island’s boat crews’ response capabilities are greatly affected by severe shoaling, which has been reported to extend the entire width of Fire Island Inlet and in the vicinity of buoy #4 and #5. There have been reports of water depths as low as four feet at high tide, and less than one foot at low water in these areas.
As a result of the shoaling, Chief Warrant Officer Timothy Woody, commanding officer of Station Fire Island, temporarily suspended the unit’s offshore response capabilities utilizing the unit’s 47-foot Motor Lifeboats, since it draws more than four feet. The smaller 25-foot response boats from Station Fire Island are still able to transit the inlet to respond to emergencies.
“While there is concern about our response capability, we are still able to patrol the area and advise mariners to operate their vessel safely,” said Woody. “Since the shoaling may limit the Coast Guard’s response, other local agencies may be available to render assistance.”
The station, whose crews respond to an average of more than 200 search and rescue cases annually, will work with nearby resources, including Stations Jones Beach and Shinnecock, N.Y. to assist in responding to mariners in distress.
In the meantime, the Coast Guard is taking preventative safety measures to ensure mariners are informed of the risks when transiting the inlet.
“We are relocating aids to navigation to mark best safe water,” said Lt. Ben Duarte, Waterways Management Division chief at Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound in New Haven, Conn. “We recommend transiting Fire Island Inlet at high tide and proceeding with extreme caution. Pay close attention to the Local Notice to Mariners and daily broadcasts made over VHF-FM channel 16 for the latest information on channel conditions.” The inlet remains open for vessel traffic, but mariners are reminded to consider the dangers of operating a vessel near shallow water and to have all required life jackets and safety equipment aboard their vessel before transiting the inlet.

FROM LI NEWSDAY

Coast Guard: Inlet too shallow for rescue boat

September 21, 2012 by BART JONES / bart.jones@newsday.com
A boat navigates around a buoy in the
The Coast Guard will no longer allow a specialized 47-foot rescue boat to use Fire Island Inlet because it's become dangerously shallow, but some charter fishing boat operators said Friday they're not letting the shoaling stop them.
The Coast Guard's $1.2 million Motor Lifeboat, designed for rescue operations in hurricane-force winds and rough seas, will be transferred from Station Fire Island to the Shinnecock station. Fire Island Inlet has become too difficult to traverse, the agency said in a statement.
The boat draws more than 4 feet of water, while water in the Fire Island Inlet is as low as 4 feet at high tide and less than a foot at low tide, the Coast Guard said.
"It's not safe for our vessel to transit in and out of there," spokesman Lt. Jeff Janaro said.
Janaro said two 25-foot rescue boats based at the Fire Island station will still use the inlet.
Those, along with Motor Lifeboats at Jones Beach and Shinnecock stations and Coast Guard helicopters and aircraft, will be adequate to handle any rescue operations, officials said, adding that local agencies may also assist.
On Wednesday, the Coast Guard issued an advisory instructing boaters to seek alternate routes to the inlet due to sand buildup.
Captains of charter fishing boats based at Captree State Park said Friday the Fire Island Inlet is in dire need of dredging, and some of the buoys need to be moved to more accurately mark deep water since sands in the area have shifted.
But most said they've a found a way to avoid the most shallow parts of the inlet by going outside of some buoys, and they've been operating their businesses as usual.
"We have no problem getting in and out of the inlet," said Neil Delanoy, captain of the Laura Lee. "We safely go in and out three or four times a day with a 72-foot boat."
"I've seen it a lot worse years ago," said Robert Andresen, captain of the 85-foot Captree Princess, which, like the Laura Lee, took fishing parties out to the Atlantic on Friday.
But Andresen said "you have to proceed with caution." He praised the Coast Guard for transferring its Motor Lifeboat, noting that the self-righting boat is taller than the inlet is deep and could be damaged.
"It's safe and smart to not let that boat go out," he said.
While the Coast Guard said it's in the process of moving some buoys, Andresen said he won't stop using the waterway in the meantime.
"I do this for a living," he said. "I'll find a way out."

Saturday, September 22, 2012

2012 Gilgo Beach clean up results

Thank you to everyone who helped at Saturday's clean-up, on 9/15/2012.
                                                                                                                                   We picked up 451 lbs of trash, with over 50 volunteers, in 3 hours, covering 2.5  miles of beach. Here is the final tally. 
290 plastic bags
155 balloons
277 plastic bottles
143 glass bottles
617 caps/lids
477 food wrappers
216 straws/stirrers
18 bait containers
20 buoys/floats
21 fishing lines
11 fishing lures/light sticks
63 ropes
905 cigarettes
32 cigar tips
13 car parts
We hope you did as well at your local beach clean ups.

Remember: carry in; carry more out, every time you visit the beach.

Thanks again. LIBAG

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Gilgo Beach Clean-up, Saturday 9/15, 9-noon

Subject: Gilgo Beach Clean-up, Saturday 9/15, 9-noon

Come join us Saturday for this clean-up at Gilgo town Beach. The waves are supposed to build again by Saturday, and the LIBAG people forgot what you look like, kinda.
 
This is the real deal clean-up where every cigarette butt and bottle and cap and plastic fork, etc. are accounted for, and weighed. We are partnering with New York State, The American Littoral Society and Town of Babylon.
Rain date is Sunday, but the weather looks great for Saturday.
 
BTW, Free entry into the lot with a small sign on your dashboard saying that you are there for the Clean-up.
 
Hope to see you.
 
PS: Have you checked out our website lately? We have been busy working with NYS and have gained some more access. We will continue to advocate for increased access to our Oceans, Bays, and Estuaries.

As always...we appreciate your support.

Thursday, September 6, 2012

So we are being asked nicely by the State to respect the local authorities (lifeguards etc) when it comes to ocean access with this weeks swell. So be good and have fun.

The following is from Ron Foley, Director NYS Parks Long Island.

I checked with parks where swimming is being sporadically prohibited due to the current Oceanfront conditions. At this moment swimming is allowed at RM and JB as are the other water activities, but Hither Hills is closed to swimming. As to surfing and related activities, these are being allowed or prohibited as local conditions dictate. Lifeguards and other park staff are making the determinations as conditions change. We will not be making a universal decision unless widespread conditions deteriorate to a point where that is justified. So – be ready for anything when you visit a park and please be understanding of the local expertise where the decisions are being made.

Ron

Ronald F. Foley

Regional Director

New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation