Romaine says Smithtown dam to be rebuilt, addresses damage in Stony Brook

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Stump Pond will be back.

Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine made that clear on Tuesday, while hosting a press conference at Blydenburgh Park, standing in front of the pond that was emptied following a severe rainstorm that swept through the area Monday morning.

The intense weather caused the collapse of the park’s dam and concrete bridge, releasing millions of gallons of water into the Nissequogue River. The resulting floodwaters inundated nearby roadways, impacting homes, schools, and businesses. Additionally, a dam and road at Mill Pond in Stony Brook’s Avalon Nature Preserve also collapsed. The severity of the situation prompted the county to declare a state of emergency.

Stump Pond was dammed in 1798 to power a grist mill, according to Suffolk County Parks. In recent times, the body of water was used for recreational fishing, kayaking, and canoeing, as well as for a 5.7-mile loop trail for hikers.

Blydenburgh Park saw its Stump Pond emptied following a dam collapse after the severe rainstorm early Monday. pic.twitter.com/629UFDdMPM
— Greater Long Island 📰 (@Greater_LI) August 20, 2024

(GLI photojournalist Andrew Theodorakis visited the park early Tuesday, capturing photos and videos of the devastation.)

“We will restore Stump Pond,” stated Romaine. “Our commissioner of Department of Public Works has already begun the process of fast-tracking repairs, and we have been in contact with the Department of Environmental Conservation on the project.”

Romaine said that hydrostatic pressure broke both dams. “We’re going to have to reevaluate in light of the storms that we’re seeing now,” he said. “The once-in-a-hundred-year storms are coming more often. We’re going to have to take a look at our infrastructure.”

Romaine said he is working with Senator Chuck Schumer’s office to help bring in federal aid to restore the county-operated park in Smithtown, and he also called on Gov. Kathy Hochul to declare a state of emergency to begin the process of receiving state aid.

As for the Mill Pond in Stony Brook, plans for the future are still being developed, as the damaged area is jointly owned by the Town of Brookhaven, the Town of Smithtown, and the Ward Melville Heritage Organization.

“We’re going to address all of this,” said Romaine on the destruction caused by the storm. “We’re going to work with our partners in town government. More importantly, as we go forward, we’ll be looking at all our sumps and dams in Suffolk County, because, obviously, we’re in a new era where heavy rains can cause massive damage.”

It is estimated that it will cost $75 million to fix damage from Monday’s storm.

Suffolk County is urging residents to document any damage sustained during the storm. You can do so by clicking here.

Currently, Blydenburgh Park is open but part of its hiking trail is closed. The camping, picnic, and dog run areas remain available to the public. Avalon Nature Preserve in Stony Brook is shut for now.