August 20th 2008 • HOME •
Beach and Dunes Issues
The geology of Fire Island is completely different from that of Long Island. The latter is largely a product of the Ice Ages, whereas Fire Island was created by the sea. Geologic history. The island's backbone is its dune system.
Overview of the issues: On Beach Management Environmental organizations on the best way to protect the beach: The Land Buy-out Proposal.
Driving on the beach: negotiated rule making.
The National Parks Conservation Association has included Fire Island National Seashore on its "Ten Most Endangered Parks" list because of the threat that the Army Corps' beach renourishment proposal poses to the park. Earlier NPCA statement on "Interim Project."
Excellent recent books are: Cornelia Dean, Against the Tide: The Battle for America's Beaches. See New York Times daily or Sunday reviews, other reviews at Amazon.com, or read Chapter 1 of the book.
..and Rutherford H. Platt, Disasters and Democracy: The Politics of Extreme Natural Events (with a chapter on Fire Island). Quoted on our "Erosion" or "Shoreline Change"? page.
Updated 6 March '03