VOICES FROM THE BLUFF
SBPF Speaks AN INDEPENDENT SERIES
John Osborne
75 Baxter Road
This week The Nantucket Independent

ROB BENCHLEY/The Independent John Osborne

continues a series of interviews with

members of the Siasconset Beach

Preservation Fund to get behind the meeting rhetoric and to learn why they

joined the fight to slow erosion of the

Bluff in 'Sconset.

Where is your house in relation to the Bluff?

Our family lives at 75 Baxter Road, near where Bayberry Street comes into Baxter from Sankaty Road. We are about 20 houses down from the lighthouse, on the ocean side of the Bluff. We had come to the island for many years, renting houses in various spots. We finally purchased our home in 2001, and although it was clear at that time that erosion of the Bluff was a concern, it became much more severe during the next several years.

Even with the erosion risk, though, we have enjoyed the house and are determined to protect it.

How long have you been a member of SBPF?

We joined the organization several years ago, in 2004, I believe. I was asked to join the board of trustees shortly thereafter. As difficult as the erosion issue has become, it is worth noting that there has been a very positive community building aspect of this that is apparent to all the residents of Baxter Road and to many others in 'Sconset and around the island as well.

For example, last year Cisco Brewers introduced their Sankaty Light beer with a slogan related to the Bluff, and they agreed to donate proceeds from that fundraising to support both the SBPF and the Sankaty Lighthouse project.

Why did you join?

Because it is devoted to the protection of the historic houses of 'Sconset. Our house is a bungalow style, and it was built in 1923.

One of the aspects of the ongoing debate over beach re-nourishment that I think has not been given adequate attention is the significant historic legacy of the older bluff houses. It is not as if we all came out here and constructed big, new houses on an eroding bluff; these houses represent a critically important part of one of the earliest summer colonies in America. For us, Nantucket is special because of the natural beauty and the historic architecture, and beach nourishment is an effort to honor the legacy of the architecture in 'Sconset.

Respond to the following statement in whatever way you feel is appropriate: You're wasting your money - Mother Nature is going to take your property no matter what.

Beach nourishment has been effective in many communities around the world. It is worth trying here as well, primarily because there does not seem to be an alternative. We are not trying to defeat Mother Nature, only to neutralize its impact over time. If people are opposed to any sort of activity that attempts to address the impact of natural forces, then we ought to remove the jetties as well.

Why isn't moving your house or the houses of those on the ocean side of the Bluff to a new lot inland an option?

Some have that option, but there already is a house located on the other side of the road from ours. More to the point, this is not just about saving the houses on the ocean side of Baxter Road. The erosion will eventually affect all of 'Sconset, including the central village, roads, utility lines, etc.

The costs associated with the continued deterioration of 'Sconset as a whole will be quite substantial in the coming decades if we don't do anything now to arrest the progression of erosion. Others on the island need to consider this reality as they evaluate their position on the renourishment plan.

The Patriot's Day storm this year proved fairly convincingly that terracing of the bluff is no match for wind and waves. Is it prudent to stop using this form of bluff stabilization or keep going with it and why?

In a major storm, there will be damage to the terracing, but remember that the terraces installed most recently, such as those in front of our house, were not damaged to the same extent. These terraces are an important interim measure that will protect the bluff until we can move forward with the beach renourishment.

When the terracing components get washed down the bluff, the waves scatter the timbers and jute fiber matting to beaches north of you and pretty much everywhere around the island. What do you have to say to the people who own those beaches?

SBPF cleaned the debris promptly, and we take responsibility for doing so. Those terraces that were installed more recently, such as the one in front of our residence, did not fare badly and very little debris broke loose.

Much of the opposition to this beach nourishment project is coming from charter and commercial fishermen concerned about losing their livelihood and from wildlife advo- cates who, along with the fishermen, are worried about how the dredging of sand from the shoal, construction of the new beach and long shore drift of the sand over time is going to impact shorebirds and their food - what do you say to these people?

There is no credible evidence that I am aware of that demonstrates any adverse impact on fishing or the broader environment as a result of dredging sand from the bottom of the ocean.

The sand used to be on our beach, after all, and if it once again is redistributed back into the ocean or around the island that will be part of the natural forces at work.

Having said that, SBPF is working with others in the community to ensure that all concerns are addressed.

If the beach nourishment project works, which parts of the island should it be applied next to?

I would think that those residents on the south shore and in the Madaket area would do well to consider it. The point raised by your question, though, is extremely important: all parts of coastal

Nantucket, indeed, Massachusetts, are prone to erosion. That is why there has been such an interest in the SBPF project by our state legislators on Beacon Hill. We need to address this issue for many reasons, including historic preservation, tourism and public finance. There is no alternative that I am aware of that will enable us to protect our shoreline.

Is there anything you want to say that I haven't talked about today, anything else on your mind that concerns SBPF and its efforts?

I sincerely hope that this effort succeeds, as it represents in, our view, the best opportunity to protect 'Sconset

and its future. I

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Nantucket, Mass., 02554