Suffolk lawmakers are fighting to get the dune replenishment program restarted on the South Shore.

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone joined town and village officials in Fire Island Wednesday to announce that the county is filing papers with the U.S. District Court to intervene in a lawsuit brought against the Army Corps of Engineers by the Audubon Society.

Last month, a federal judge granted a restraining order on parts of the dune project, which is aimed at protecting homes from future storms and natural disasters. Audubon Society officials claim the project would destroy the nesting areas of the endangered piping plover.

The plan was to construct dunes 13 to 15 feet high that stretch for 19 miles. Officials say the plan also calls for 98 acres of piping plover habitat, which is more than they have now.

A spokesperson for Audubon New York says they are still reviewing the legal documents and have no comment.