4/6/2018 Beach Report from Chris Kennedy
We recently met with the Edgartown Conservation
Commission agent to lay out the new trail for Norton Point entrance and have
subsequently had the ecology staff walk it to make sure we are avoiding buried
salt marsh. It sounds like the approval process will be straightforward
given the emergency nature of the request. Bad news? The
nor'easters have created plover nesting habitat between Left Fork and the NP
Gatehouse. How's that for a kick in the pants? Also, our Norton
Point Gatehouse is getting close to the outside beach berm. We are
requesting permission from the Town to relocate the gatehouse further
back.
Speaking
about the Town, the Acting Edgartown Police Chief has ordered changes in
the Norton Point Air Station for this upcoming season. He felt that the
mass exodus we saw last summer from OSV's all wanting to leave the beach from
3-5 PM created a dangerous situation for traffic at the intersection of
Atlantic Drive and Katama Road. To address that concern we will be
working with the Highway department to expand the number of air hoses from 3 to
9 hoses stretched upwards along Katama Road (Left Fork). The town will
relocate the bike racks to the opposite side of the road where the current
deflation lot is located and we will relocate the tire deflation area higher up
on Katama Road opposite Mattakeeset. We will assign rangers to assist
OSV's to get into an orderly line if they want to re-inflate and to move
those who do not intend to re-inflate their tires to be able to avoid the line
which can sometime reach 20-30 vehicles long.
The
rest of Norton looks good, Wasque is in good shape and East Beach is coming
back slowly but sections continue to be really short and steep. Again,
nothing unusual for winter. The old lighthouse foundation has slid down
the Cape Poge banking so that it effectively blocks access around the outside
at high tide. We have an off-island construction crew coming out here
next weekend to break up the foundation and move it out of there with the
appropriate equipment.
The
Army has finished their work out on Little Neck at Cape Poge Wildlife Refuge
and we are reopening access around the outside beaches of Little Neck for
public access for the first time in 70 years! We are removing the fencing
and signs which the Army put into place and I imagine we will have a re-opening
ceremony at some point this summer but in the meanwhile, fishermen are welcome
to fish the shoreline of the peninsula. In total they removed more than
20,000 live and inert practice bombs from Little Neck and the waters
surrounding Little Neck over the last two years. They have moved their
efforts to Long Point Wildlife Refuge in West Tisbury and they estimate that
work will be wrapped up by summer, 2018.
The
breaches in the Elbow are pretty much healed at this point but the nor'easters
have made the outside beach from the Lighthouse to the Windmill House nothing
but rock. Not a comfortable ride but the sand should begin re-appearing
on the outside beach as we move closer to summer.
Permits
are expected to arrive in the Vineyard Haven office from the printer in the
next week or so. Prices are the same as last year. I am urging
hesitant prospective permit holders to wait to see what the nesting situation
looks like for this year if they are the least bit worried about potential
shorebird closures. As you all know, its not a matter of if
they'll nest but how many and where they'll nest. For most
fishermen its not an issue as they will be accessing the beach pre and post
nesting season but for vacationers they can hold off and purchase a permit once
they arrive on the island.
The
Brickyard at Menemsha Hills Reservation is in the process of being cleared and
a trail cut to connect it with the Lower Loop Trail at MHR. Expect to
hear more from us in the coming months but access will be limited to foot
access as we have no deeded vehicle access to the Brickyard.
I
want to express my continued appreciation for the support of the Martha's
Vineyard Surfcaster's Association!
All
the best,
Chris
