Bayville residents invited to take survey on storm protection plan

Bayville could be protected against superstorms like Sandy by new flood walls, sand dunes, pumping stations and other measures under a state-sponsored plan.

Village residents are being invited to comment via an online survey on the newly completed New York Rising Community Reconstruction Plan developed by a local planning committee and consulting firm CDM Smith of Manhattan after a series of community meetings.

Vincent Moscato, co-chair of the planning committee and president of the Bayville Chamber of Commerce, said the state has allocated $3 million for Bayville projects, and other programs and grants might pay for additional work. So "some of this will definitely happen," he said.

"Some of the projects to keep Bayville dry are very doable," he said, "and others are way down the line, and they will have to look for additional funding" for work such as burying utility wires and constructing sewers.

Moscato said the committee will prioritize the projects before it sends its report to the state by the end of March.

The report lists eight possible priority projects that could be paid for by the program and implemented immediately, including:

Constructing a tidal surge barrier along Long Island Sound by Pine Lane.

Replenishing or constructing dunes along the Sound shore on the east end to prevent tidal surge flooding.

Constructing four new pumping stations to drain water from the east end.

Possible longer term projects include:

Constructing a barrier to prevent Mill Neck Creek's tidal surge from flooding the southern center of the village.

Floodproofing the mechanical and electrical equipment of the Bayville Bridge.

Constructing a flood protection measure to mitigate tidal surge erosion and flooding of the Centre Island Causeway.

Relocating -- or temporarily relocating -- fire department vehicles and ambulances outside the flood zone.

Elevating utility connections at critical service locations.

Constructing a sandbar along West Harbor Drive to prevent tidal surge flooding.

Residents can take the survey online at svy.mk/1fEe0be.

The report can be found at http://bayvilleny.gov/pdf/Bayville% 20Project%20Posters%20for% 2011x17.pdf.cq bit.ly/MsddOY.

Mayor Douglas Watson has said his highest priority would be getting several million dollars from the program to construct a bulkhead along the north shore of Mill Neck Creek -- an area where homes on streets named for presidents were flooded by Sandy in 2012 and Tropical Storm Irene in 2011.