Field Notes
by Peter B Brace
COCKTAIL SAUCE PROSPECTS Rob Garrison's grant application to grow oysters just off the beach of Pimney's Point and inside the inlet behind that barrier beach is on hold while the town gathers more information.

Garrison presented his aquaculture lease of town property to the Shellfish & Harbor Advisory Board at its meeting on March 20. Despite receiving the board's support for his venture by a vote of 6-1, Garrison is hanging back for about month.

Garrison ran into opposition from outgoing SHAB member Ken Kelley at the meeting. Kelly said he worried that Garrison's outside location is known to be a productive scalloping area. Before Garrison can start his oyster farm, the state's Division of Marine Fisheries must determine that there are no shellfish, eelgrass or habitat that should not be disturbed at this location.

Another concern raised at the meeting came from Selectmen Chairman Whitey Willauer who wondered out loud about the risk to sailboats and residents of the area. Chad and Anne Gifford of 22-26 Rabbit Run Road and the Abrams Point Realty Trust both sent letters to the Board of Selectmen expressing concern, and asked that hearings be postponed until late spring so they could attend.

That request is likely to be met halfway as Garrison's reasoning for withdrawing his application for now is to allow the selectmen more time to learn about this part of the harbor, and for the DMF to inspect the site. Garrison said he expects to resubmit his application in April.

ALLIANCE CRIES SOS OVER CAPEWIND'S FEIR Citing numerous omissions in Cape Wind Associates Final Environmental Impact Statement filed with the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act office, the Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound is calling for a supplemental review to be done and submitted to MEPA.

In brief, the Alliance believes that Cape Wind's FEIR should be filed after the Minerals Management Service issues its draft environmental impact statement, does not explore alternative sites and the no-action alternative, and that the FEIR does not adequately deal with impacts to fisheries, visual issues, the bottom of Nantucket Sound, rare and endangered species, birds, aviation, air quality, telecommunications and defense radar, noise, waterways, navigation, water quality, public health, socioeconomics, electricity ratepayers and mitigation.

To read the Alliance's entire executive summary, go to www.saveoursound. org/node/553.

UP THE SANDBOX Get your seat cushions ready and brew some coffee, the Sconset Beach Preservation Fund beach nourishment road show is coming to the Large Group Instruction Room in April. The proponents for the island's only beach nourishment project - 2.6 million cubic yards of sand mined from a shoal offshore to rebuild three miles of beach - filed their notice of intent with the Conservation Commission last week. The ConCom, in the interest of having enough time to review this application, scheduled two public hearing dates; April 11 and 25 at 4 p.m. in the LGI at the Nantucket High School at 10 Surfside Road. Call 228-7230 for details.

IF YOU SEE THIS BIRD… Spring actually begins on Nantucket when the first osprey is spotted, not on March 20 nor when the first daffodil cocktail is poured. This, according to birdwatchers around the island and Dr. Bob Kennedy, Director of Natural Science at the Maria Mitchell Association, who are now patiently scanning the skies for the honor of spotting the first fish hawk to alight on the island and telling Quentin the Quahog where to go.

Nantucketer Rob Earley sighted the first osprey on March 29, 2006 and Dorothy Bartlett spied hers on March 25, 2005. If you spot an osprey in this unofficial extended winter period, call Kennedy at 228-1782.

PLANET EARTH The 11-part series, "Planet Earth," is being shown on the Discovery Channel from March 25 through April 22.

The series includes episodes on the earth's varied biomes and wildlife inhabitants including, mountains, deserts, deep oceans, shallow seas, polar ice caps, great plains, jungles, freshwater, forests and caves. The Discovery Channel is

Channel 39 on Comcast. I