Napeague, a narrow strip between the Atlantic Ocean and Gardiners Bay, derives its name from the Montaukett word for "overflowed by the sea," a nod to the devastating 1938 hurricane that submerged the area. Napeague Harbor, once renowned for its pristine waters teeming with shellfish, eelgrass, and marine life, has gradually become shallower due to sand accumulation from natural causes. This change in depth has led to warmer waters and a subsequent decline in the harbor's rich biodiversity, leaving it a mere shadow of its formerly thriving ecosystem.