N.Y. CNT Law § 280

§ 280. Declaration of policy and purposes. Whereas beach erosion along\nthe shoreline of this state and especially along the shoreline in the\ncounty of Suffolk causes loss of life and damage to property and\nconstitutes a menace to the health, safety and welfare of the people of\nthis state in general and the residents of Suffolk in particular, it is\nthe sense of the legislature that in order to arrest erosion and\nalleviate or prevent damage resulting therefrom and as protection from\nstorms, the governing body of the county of Suffolk is hereby authorized\nto establish or extend county hurricane protection, flood and shoreline\nerosion control districts in the manner hereinafter provided for the\npurpose of constructing and reconstructing dunes, bluffs, bulkheads,\ndikes, groins, jetties, fills and other works and improvements upon\nlands and lands under water owned by such county, or any town, village,\npark, or existing hurricane protection, flood and shoreline erosion\ncontrol district or private lands upon which the county has obtained\neasements or a fee title. No county district shall be established\nhereunder which shall consist wholly of territory within one town or\nvillage.\n