Cover photo: Stump Pond’s broken dam in August 2024 at Blydenburgh Park (Credit – Matt Meduri)
Nearly one year after the historic Stump Pond Dam was destroyed during the severe storm surge of August 19–20, 2024, Suffolk County Legislator Leslie Kennedy (R-Nesconset) is offering a comprehensive update on the dam’s reconstruction timeline. In response to growing community inquiries, Kennedy has been in regular contact with the Suffolk County Department of Public Works (SCDPW) to monitor the project’s progress and help keep constituents informed.
The destruction of the Stump Pond Dam in Blydenburgh County Park, a vital piece of Suffolk’s natural and historic infrastructure, has left both an ecological and recreational gap in the area. Since the event, Kennedy has worked closely with engineers, environmental experts, and county officials to ensure the dam’s timely and secure reconstruction.
According to the most recent briefing from SCDPW, all essential survey data, LIDAR scans, and geotechnical boring data have been collected and are now being processed through modeling software to assess various design alternatives. These models will help determine the best structural solution for the new dam, one that meets both modern safety standards and environmental requirements, such as fish passage accommodations.
Kennedy reported that a draft of the Final Design Report has been received from the county’s consulting engineers. The report proposes several potential alternatives for dam and spillway restoration and is currently under review by the Department of Public Works. Final selections will be based on accurate hydrologic modeling and detailed analysis of the soil and foundational conditions surrounding the dam site.
“All parties have been engaged, and the funding has been secured. While two years seems like a long time, it’s ambitious for a government project. The current timeline allows for a proper and sturdier structure to be built. If all goes to plan, that dam will stand for well over another 200 years,” said Legislator Kennedy on the timeline of the project.
The next steps in the process include finalizing the design and initiating the regulatory permitting phase. Once an alternative design is selected, a formal presentation will be made to the Suffolk County Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) in accordance with the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA). The project is expected to be classified as an Unlisted Action under SEQRA guidelines.
The CEQ presentation is currently projected to take place during either the September 10 or October 8, 2025, meetings. Following SEQRA review and public input, the project will move forward with state and federal permitting applications, including a critical permit from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).
In terms of funding, Kennedy confirmed that adequate financing for the design phase has been secured, including the reallocation of an additional $500,000 from a separate capital project. FEMA reimbursement processes, coordinated through the Suffolk County Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Services (FRES), have also been underway since the beginning of the project.
If the permitting phase proceeds as scheduled, with an estimated four-month review period, the county plans to advertise for construction bids by March 2026, with construction anticipated to begin in June 2026. The DEC’s work-in-water window, which typically spans from March 15 to October 15, will dictate the timing of on-site construction activities.
Should all steps progress on schedule, the new Stump Pond Dam is expected to be completed by October 2026, just over two years after the original dam’s collapse. The timeline reflects the County’s commitment to not only restoring this vital structure, but also ensuring that it is more resilient, environmentally sustainable, and built to endure for generations to come.
“This project matters to everyone who lives near the park, who walks its trails, or who remembers the old dam as part of their childhood,” Kennedy added. “We’re on track, and we’re committed to bringing it back stronger than ever.”
As construction planning continues, Legislator Kennedy pledged to provide further updates to residents and maintain open lines of communication throughout the duration of the project.
