Moriches Inlet

Between 1933 and 1938 Moriches Inlet widened to 4,000 feet (1,200 m) wide and deepened with sand being deposited on both the bay and ocean.

In an attempt to stabilize the deterioration of the barrier island, local authorities built groynes on the inlet between 1952 and 1953.

Local authorities have consistently urged for the inlet to be kept open to allow boats from the mainland of Long Island to have access to the ocean.

The Corps, in turn, ran into controversy with claims that the groynes and jetties were blocking the natural east to west longshore drift that replenished sand.

The inlet and groynes were to be blamed for a loss of 8–10 million cubic yards of sand on Fire Island, representing a loss of 100 feet (30 m) of beach and a depth of 12–16 feet along the entire 32-mile (51 km) Fire Island beach zone.