Shinnecock Inlet facts for kids
Shinnecock Inlet is a special opening that connects a big bay to the Atlantic Ocean. It's found on the south shore of Long Island, New York. This inlet is like a natural gateway for boats. It also helps separate two parts of the land: Westhampton Island and a peninsula from Southampton Village.
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What is Shinnecock Inlet?
Shinnecock Inlet is one of five main openings along a long, narrow strip of land called the Outer Barrier. This barrier stretches for about 100 miles from New York City to Southampton. The inlet gets its name from the Shinnecock Indian Nation, who have lived in this area for a very long time.
How Shinnecock Inlet Was Formed
This important inlet was created by a powerful storm. It happened during the Great Hurricane of 1938. This huge storm caused the ocean to break through the island near Hampton Bays, New York. This break became the permanent inlet we see today.
Why Shinnecock Inlet is Important
The inlet is very helpful for people who use boats. It saves boaters in the Hamptons a lot of travel time to reach the Atlantic Ocean. The inlet also lines up almost perfectly with the Shinnecock Canal. This canal connects Shinnecock Bay to the Peconic Bay. This means boaters from the north side of Long Island can also use the inlet as a shortcut to the ocean.
Dealing with Sand and Erosion
Keeping the inlet open for boats is a big job. Sand naturally moves along the coast, usually from east to west. Shinnecock Inlet has stopped this natural flow of sand. Because of this, the beaches on the west side of the inlet have lost a lot of sand. This problem is called beach erosion.
For example, a big storm in November 1992 caused a lot of damage. It washed away much of the beach in West Hampton Dunes, New York. This movement of sand along the coast is known as longshore drift.
Protecting the Beaches
To try and stop the erosion, people built structures called groins. These are walls built out into the ocean. However, these groins sometimes just move the erosion problem further down the coast. This has caused serious beach erosion problems on Fire Island.
In 1993, the town of West Hampton Dunes was officially created. One reason was to have a legal voice in discussions with the United States Army Corps of Engineers. This group helps manage waterways and coasts. They work on projects like dredging. Dredging means removing sand from the bottom to keep the inlet deep enough for boats. In 2010, the inlet was dredged, and the sand was placed on the beach at Road K to help rebuild it.
Other Important Inlets
Shinnecock Inlet is one of several major openings along the barrier beach. Here are some of the others:
