Impact of Little Pike's Inlet on tides and salinity in Moriches Bay : final report

Abstract

from the conclusions, "Salinity and tides have been measured in Moriches Bay following the breach of December 1992 that resulted in the formation of Little Pike's Inlet. These measurements continued through the subsequent closure of this inlet in September 1993 and finished in early January 1994. These measurements allowed for the detection of some of the physical effects of such a breach on the environment in Moriches Bay. The first such effect was an increase in the transmission of ocean tides into the bay. At it's peak, the inlet permitted an additional 30% of the ocean tidal range to be transmitted into the bay. This increase was divided relatively evenly between higher highs and lower lows with a slight decrease (0.02 m) in the mean relative water level in the bay. These changes in tidal elevations in the bay did indeed result in a change in the salinity in the bay although this change was not constant throughout the bay. At Forge Point, directly north of the inlet, the salinity dropped 1.42%0 in the four months following the closure of the inlet. At the opposite end of Moriches Bay near the junction with Great South Bay, the salinity at Forge Point exhibited no significant change suggesting a geographic limit to the effects of Little Pike's Inlet."