State, federal funding clears way for Harbor Road repairs, mill pond restoration

Harbor Road and the Stony Brook Mill Pond finally have the money to move from a stalled dispute toward repair, with New York State set to contribute $6.5 million and the federal government adding $5 million.

The funding package is the clearest sign yet that the collapsed road and dam in Stony Brook are no longer stuck in limbo after the Aug. 18-19, 2024 storm that drained the pond, severed Harbor Road and sent more than 11,000 cubic yards of water into Stony Brook Creek. Brookhaven officials said $2.5 million of the federal share is specifically earmarked for the Harbor Road and Mill Pond project, giving the work a defined pot of money after months of uncertainty over who would pay.

For residents who have lived with the damage since the storm, the practical payoff is straightforward: the funding unlocks engineering, permitting and eventual reconstruction of a key local connector that links Stony Brook and Head of the Harbor and sits near NY Route 25A. Officials have estimated repair costs at anywhere from $4.5 million to $10 million, a range that shows how large the project had become and why outside help was essential.

Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassay said the project was her biggest budget request for the district this year, and she credited her advocacy with helping lift the state commitment by another $3.75 million on top of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s earlier $2.75 million discretionary pledge. Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich said the community had gone through a long and frustrating process but was finally seeing “real momentum, real coordination and real investment.”

The delay was driven in part by a fight over ownership and responsibility. The Village of Head of the Harbor sued the Ward Melville Heritage Organization in 2025, arguing the nonprofit owned the collapsed road and dam and should repair them. Mayor Michael Utevsky said the collapse deprived residents in the eastern half of the village of a primary access road and caused substantial delays for emergency vehicles.

WMHO later submitted a FEMA disaster relief application in September 2025 and provided title reports saying it owns the property. If the organization is deemed eligible, federal reimbursement could cover up to 75% of reconstruction costs. Brookhaven officials also said they went to Brookhaven Town Supreme Court to gain access to 48 Main Street for inspection and remedial work, while the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is involved in expedited permitting.

The money now appears to have cleared the biggest financial hurdle, but residents will not see relief from closures, flooding risk or deterioration until the engineering design, permit approvals and construction schedule are locked in.