A major dredging project deemed critical to Long Island's fishing industry and boater safety is now complete.

The Army Corps of Engineers finished a $15 million dredging project for Moriches Inlet. Sand was also dredged from a nearly 3-mile stretch of the bay where the water was extremely shallow, and Smith Point County Park and Great Gun Beach of Fire Island also received deposits of sand from the dredging project.

Elected officials say the project was necessary after the area was hit hard by a string of nor'easters. Officials say many out-of-town boaters were avoiding the area last year, which hurt the local economy.

Webby's Beach is a town beach in Center Moriches where some of the sand from the dredging was dumped. Before the project water was all the way up to an area by the parking lot.

Other roadways would also see flooding whenever there was heavy rain that would bring the encroachment of the bay onto the roads.

The dredging is welcome news for many in the area, including fisherman and Center Moriches resident Gregg Lavazoli, who's looking forward to a very busy summer both by the water and on the water.      

"We're going to go out there every day, weather permitting," Lavazoli says.