Voices From The Bluff
SBPF Speaks
An Independent Series
Jim Walker and family
104 Baxter Road

Editor's note:

ROB BENCHLEY/The Independent Jim Walker

This concludes the first half of The Nantucket Independent's Voices series examining the ramifications of the Siasconset Beach Preservation Fund's beach nourishment proposal. In our Sept. 19 issue, we will begin the second half of the series, this time hearing from 10 islanders with concerns and questions about the impacts of the project on their daily lives and the island environment.

Where is your house in relation to the bluff?

Our home is approximately 120 feet from the bluff edge, on the west side of Baxter Road, and in no immediate threat of loss or damage.

How long have you been a member of SBPF?

I have been involved with SBPF for four years.

Why did you join?

I joined SBPF for two reasons, personal interest and a strong belief in my community.

My family and I have been coming to 'Sconset since the mid-1990s, and we purchased our home on Baxter Road in 1997. I first came here in my college days and like many, have been back every summer since. Nantucket is in my blood, and will be for generations to come. We use our home throughout the year, plan to come to 'Sconset until our last days and expect our children to return to 'Sconset with their children. So we have a real interest in seeing the shoreline protected for future generations.

As a known supporter of this project, however, I want to make a very important point about this project. There are no assurances that the beach nourishment project will be successful. We know that it has worked in many other parts of the U.S. and abroad. In fact, many of Florida's most popular beaches have been nourished for decades.

Therefore, in my opinion, there is no good reason why our community and its leaders should not try to use this type of protection as a response to a growing island-wide problem, especially given the fact that it is privately funded and SBPF has successfully completed much of the rigorous state and federal permitting processes.

In regards to the village of 'Sconset, its people and its very unique history, I am a strong advocate for the preservation of 'Sconset's historical structures and safeguarding our village for many future generations. Unfortunately, I believe that the battle over the beach nourishment project in 'Sconset has exposed some very unfortunate and divisive elements of our broader islandwide community. I hope I am wrong about this.

I care deeply about the island of Nantucket, the village I live in, including its residents, many of whom I consider to be lifelong friends. When I hear from those opposed to this project that my neighbor's homes matter less to them than others on the island, it pains me to the core. This small-minded "us and them" argument is divisive and dangerous to all members of our community. I have personally experienced some of the hardship suffered by my neighbors who have had their homes threatened or lost due to erosion. The sense of loss when this occurs is real, distressing and devastating to those affected.

As an island community, I think we would all benefit by keeping the discussion for this project on its merits, and not the special agendas of a limited few.

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 successfully implemented throughout the eastern U.S., including such famous beaches as Palm Beach, Delray Beach, Miami Beach and countless others.

As previously stated, there is no guarantee that it will be successful here; however, the no-action alternative puts far too many historic structures at risk, and we are the generation that has the ability to determine whether this project can work, at no expense to the public! I don't believe that anyone believes that the forces of Mother Nature can be stopped. However, there have been many instances where man's intervention has had a positive effect for the protection of towns, public infrastructure, lighthouses, waterways, harbors, etc.

Nantucket has a long history of opposing projects that change the way things are being done, but can someone help me understand what the harbor would look like if the leaders of generations past failed to protect Nantucket Harbor with an east and west jetty?

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?

We were very fortunate to have had a lot across the road and moved our home across Baxter Road in 2003. Many of our neighbors are not as fortunate and do not have lots across the road. Specifically, there are approxi- mately 40 homes at risk and far too few available lots on the west side of Baxter Road, so moving houses inland is not a viable alternative. Notably, if the project is successful, it will serve as a model for many other parts of the island that are threatened from erosion, such as the sewer beds in 'Sconset and Miacomet, as well as for other coastal communities throughout New England.

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?

First, the use of toe protection and other bluff stabilizing measures are entirely separate and distinct from the beach nourishment project. Second, the terracing of the bluff on its own is meant to be sacrificial so that there is no loss of property at the top of the bluff. I believe that this system has worked effectively, albeit with some negative consequences such as debris found on other beaches. Although it is critical to note that had the beach nourishment project been complete prior to the Patriot's Day Storm, there would likely have been little to no damage to any of the toe terracing projects along Baxter Road. The residents that have installed toe terracing are in a race: can they mitigate loss of property long enough until a beach nourishment project is complete? I hope they can and do win the race.

Finally, I don't think anyone who has lived on the bluff thinks that they or anyone else can "stop" Mother Nature with a hundred percent effectiveness. These erosion protection measures, though, have proven effective for protecting property, and can only improve with time and experience.

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

First, all bluff homeowners who installed the terracing are responsible for cleanup and have made every good faith effort to retrieve debris that washes up on other beaches.

As a fisherman, I am familiar with many beaches on the island, and I find debris of all sorts, including boat parts, plastic containers, fishing nets, as well as the occasional shipwreck. We had a large wooden trawler wash up directly on our beach several years ago. The rigging is still on the beach and no one came to remove it or made any attempt to clean the beach. We try to keep things in perspective. We do live on an island and are very fortunate to be so close to the sea. The material used for the terracing is biodegradable and SBPF has made every attempt within reason to retrieve any debris following a storm. Cheryl Bartlett, Executive Director of SBPF, can be called at any time for the retrieval of any material resulting from toe terracing. I believe that this system has worked reasonably well, although if there are other alternatives that make sense, please contact Cheryl and we will take them into consideration.

Again, it is critical to note that with a new nourished beach in front of the terracing, it is highly improbable that any storm would do the type of damage to existing toe terraces sustained from the Patriot's Day storm.

Much of the opposition to this beach nourishment project is coming from charter and commercial fishermen concerned about losing their livelihood and from wildlife advocates 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?

Let me respond by carefully separating the interests of the fishermen and wildlife advocates - I consider myself one - from those that oppose the project with no direct interests, but seem to be very skilled at opposing various projects on the island. This group has successfully used fear, the "us and them" argument, and most recently the threat of litigation to achieve their objective of stopping this project.

I feel strongly that this project should be argued on its merits and not the emotions or "special" agendas of a limited few. Many other coastal communities, including some in Massachusetts, have erosion problems at their beaches and are in great need of beach nourishment, but do not have the funds to pay for them. Nantucket may be the only community in the U.S. that has an offer for a project of this scope to be privately funded, but may lose the opportunity to see if it works.

Let me address the fear argument, which has been used not only by those who have spearheaded the opposition, but other media channels. Earlier this year, another island newspaper ran an editorial opposed to the beach nourishment project. So be it, we are all entitled to our opinions. But to imply that this project will negatively affect tourism generally because of the negative impact on fishing charters is absurd and a great distortion of facts.

To imply that visitors will not come to Nantucket because of a potential short-term disruption to one fishing area, albeit an important one, is a great distortion of facts. In fact, if I were a local business owner or other individual dependent on tourism, I would be more concerned that the Town of Nantucket stays on the cutting edge for protecting one of its most valuable assets - its beaches! It is no surprise that Florida spends approximately $100 million annually on beach nourishment.

But please don't imply that this project is not critically important to the welfare of the fishermen. I not only fish, but care deeply about the fishing off of Sankaty, where I have fished for almost 20 years. I do not want to see the fishing community negatively affected. Not surprisingly, SBPF is working closely with the fishermen, and is taking all of their concerns into consideration.

Additionally, let me also point out that the fishermen directed SBPF coastal engineers to the current borrow site, which is in 30 to 50 feet of water, not on a shoal, and not currently fished. In various other ways, the fishermen have had great influence on the project to date. We are all well aware of the consequences to the project if SBPF does not address the legitimate concerns of the local fishermen.

As for the impact on shorebirds, their habitat has been severely impacted by development as well as many other factors. It has been widely understood that creating a "new" nourished beach would actually increase habitat for many shorebirds including the piping plover. Hundreds of acres of piping plover habitat have been lost over the past several decades, and this project would restore some of the lost habitat.

As an avid conservationist, I would not support this project if I thought it would be damaging to the environment. My home is in no immediate threat of loss or damage; I am supporting this project because I think it is an environmentally sound solution to a growing problem on the island. I strongly believe that the benefits to 'Sconset and the island of Nantucket are significant, and at no cost whatsoever to the public. In summary, I am hopeful that the fishermen and those that are opposed to this project argue their case on legitimate, well-founded concerns and avoid using fear, intimidation and other divisive measures to advance their own special interests.

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

Both the 'Sconset and Miacomet sewer beds, and potentially Smith's Point access.

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 am hopeful that all of those involved in the decision making process show the leadership necessary so that the correct decision is made for future

Nantucket generations. I

This concludes the first half of The Nantucket Independent's Voices series examining the ramifications of the Siasconset Beach Preservation Fund's beach nourishment proposal. In our Sept. 19 issue, we will begin the second half of the series, this time hearing from 10 islanders with concerns and questions about the impacts of the project on their daily lives and the island environment..