North Hempstead Town Supervisor Judi Bosworth announced on Jan. 21 the town received a $1.8 million grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to remove aquatic sand from Leeds Pond in Manhasset.
Leeds Pond, owned by the town, is part of Nassau County’s 35-acre Leeds Pond Preserve, which overlooks Manhasset Bay.
“Superstorm Sandy certainly wreaked havoc on our town and especially on our ponds and waterways,” Bosworth said. “I thank senators Schumer and Gillibrand, Congressman Israel, and FEMA for providing this funding that will help us restore Leeds Pond to its pre-Sandy condition, and help protect one of our town’s main thoroughfares.”
According to the town’s press office, 90 percent of the grant was provided by the federal government, Schumer , Gillibrand and Israel.
The other 10 percent came from state funding.
“North Hempstead’s Leeds Pond was damaged by Superstorm Sandy, and this funding will make sure it is properly dredged,” Schumer said. “This federal funding will ensure that local taxpayers are not entirely on the hook for the restoration of Leeds Pond.”
The project will dredge and remove a mixture of sand and silt sediments from the pond and restore eroded marshland soils, the press office said.
The sediment removal will build up the wetlands, the press office said, and protect North Plandome Road from tidal surges in Manhasset Bay.
“I am pleased North Hempstead will get this federal funding to help cover the initial cost of repairing damages caused by Superstorm Sandy,” Gillibrand said. “Securing this funding through FEMA is the first phase in the process to remove the sediment build-up and finally restore Leeds Pond. These investments remain critical as renovation efforts progress and we continue rebuilding our infrastructure on Long Island.”
The area around Leeds Pond consists of nature trails, tulip trees and a stream that flows through a wetland and into the pond.
According to the press office, FEMA has approved the town for 33 projects totaling more than $43.9 million in funding since Superstorm Sandy.
