• Miles of uncrowded white sandy beaches extend to the horizon, separating the clear blue ocean and undulating grass-covered dunes.

    Fire Island

    National Seashore New York

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  • More Park Facilities Reopen During May 2013

    Watch Hill and Sailors Haven marinas open May 10. Limited ferry service from Sayville to Sailors Haven resumes May 13 and ferries from Patchogue to Watch Hill start on May 18. Remaining park facilities to reopen by May 25, 2013. More »

Coasts / Shorelines

Breach on Fire Island at Old Inlet, looking east.
Breach through Fire Island created at Old Inlet during Hurricane Sandy on October 29, 2012.
NPS Photo/Dunphy
 
View of western end of Fire Island as seen from top of lighthouse.

The lateral movement of sand on Fire Island is evident as you look westward from atop the Fire Island Lighthouse, which was built near the end of the island in 1857.

Fire Island is a barrier island, which is believed to have developed as a spit of sediment formed from an eroding headland after the end of the last ice age. Its sand comes from two sources: the eroding cliffs and bluffs of Montauk to its east, and from offshore sources which were deposited by retreating glaciers and remain from earlier inlet deltas.

Fire Island's coastline is constantly being shaped and re-shaped by wind and water. Littoral drift, offshore bottom currents, wind, inlet formation, tidal delta growth, and occasional overwash are all essential to maintain a dynamic equilibrium on a barrier island.

This recent publication provides valuable background information to help you better understand the resources and natural processes of Fire Island National Seashore.

 
Man looks over salt marsh on the bay.

A back-barrier salt marsh is one of the most productive ecosystems on earth.

Barrier islands are one of the most common and distinguishable features of the Atlantic coast. These important environments protect the mainland from storm events and wave action, while providing a vital ecosystem for many species. Features such as sand dunes, maritime forests, inlets, lagoons, back-barrier marshes, and vegetation constitute these fragile coastal systems. Without intervention, barrier islands maintain a state of dynamic equilibrium between sediment exchange, wave energy, and sea-level rise.
 
Views of National Parks: Coastal Geology web page image.

NPS Natural Resource Program Center

For More Information

You can learn more about coastal processes at the NPS "Views of the National Parks" web site:

Global climate change is one of the critical natural resource issues that concerns the National Park Service. At Fire Island National Seashore, the major repercussion of changing temperatures lies in sea-level rise. The National Park Service and the United States Geological Survey are currently developing Coastal Vulnerability Index (CVI) maps for coastal parks to identify coastal areas sensitive to sea-level rise.

 

A series of Science Synthesis Papers was published in 2005 to support the preparation of a General Management Plan for Fire Island National Seashore.

 

Did You Know?

Ranger presents talk to group on beach.

A variety of ranger-guided programs are offered year-round at Fire Island National Seashore. Each activity provides an opportunity to learn more about the park and what makes it such a special place. More...