Who’s ready for summer? It seems like almost everyone is ready. The weather is getting warmer, the trees are finally green, and the water’s warming up. But what isn’t ready is Tiana Beach in East Quogue.

Large amounts of beach erosion from storms throughout the winter, combined with the complete destruction of the dunes and beach from Hurricane Sandy, Tiana Beach is in very bad condition for the start of the summer.

The sand on Long Island drifts east to west. What this means is that all the sand on the East End of Long Island gets eroded away and flows to the western end of Long Island. This combined with storms has been deteriorating our south shore beaches forever.

In our area, ocean beaches are located on a barrier Island known as Dune Road.  A fact about barrier islands is that they are meant to shift over time. Inlets are supposed to form and the barrier island is supposed to widen or become skinnier. Town of Southampton ocean lifeguard Ryan Duca said, “The problems on Dune Road are only natural; our problem is that we built on Dune Road in the first place.”

Dune Road itself is built on a second Dune that rests on the barrier Island. The deterioration of this dune is what causes all the flooding and shortened beaches we have. For example, the bay side of Dune Road almost always floods. This is because of the wind blowing bay water onto the shortened barrier island.

Also, due to the deteriorated second Dune, there is a piece of beach to the east of Tiana that the ocean has breached multiple times this year, causing further damage to the barrier island and to the dunes.  Substitute teacher Mr. Mitchell, who is also a Town of Southampton ocean lifeguard said, “The water has gone up so far that Tiana has actually almost lost its pavilion. Also, all the snow fencing and beach grass is gone.”

Mr. Mitchell added that currently they are trying to do maintenance on the beach, but because of the spring tides that cause higher high tides, it’s making it more difficult. Junior Katy Parry, a Town of Southampton ocean lifeguard, said, “Since we can’t put a lifeguard stand up with the beaches current condition.  There is a lifeguard stand set up by the east entrance to the beach about 40 yards to the east of the pavilion.”

As for replenishing the beach, the town is hoping for it to naturally build up but Town of Southampton lifeguard and social studies teacher Mr. Bass said, “The town is going to try to bring sand in by July 4th weekend using local funds. As for the long term there is a federal project to help replenish all of Long Islands beaches in the next two years.”

For all of you wondering if the beach will be ready, Ryan Duca added, “Don’t you worry, Mr. Bass’s beach will be ready for the summer.”