Town of Southampton
PEP is working with Southampton Trustees to establish a preliminary location to pilot a bulkhead removal viability study. Designs are looking to naturalize the shoreline while retaining a working waterfront and ensuring public access priorities.
Shoreline hardening through structures such as bulkheads, significantly alters the natural function of Peconic Estuary coastlines. This has led to habitat loss, increased erosion, degraded water quality, and heightened flood risk. Although bulkheads are often installed by shoreline stabilization, they frequently exacerbate these issues over time by reflecting wave energy and preventing the natural inland migration of tidal habitats.
Project Restoration
This bulkhead removal will demonstrate a shoreline’s long-term transitionfrom hardened shoreline structures to a natural shoreline system, in a location with a history of working waterfront and public enjoyment.
Expected benefits
By reestablishing the natural shoreline processes, the project will improve ecological function, enhance coastal resilience, and increase community access to the water.
