February 13, 2014

 

              REPORT ON BEACH ACCESS MEETING IN DENNIS ON FEB. 12, 2014

 

The meeting was scheduled by Dennis selectman Wayne Bergeron, Chatham selectman Sean Summers and Orleans Selectman John Hodgson, all of the Regional Beach Coalition, at 4:30 at the Dennis Senior Center.

 

In attendance were also selectmen from Truro, Sandwich, Barnstable, Plymouth and Wellfleet, the two town counsels from Barnstable, a representative from Nantucket Seal Abatement Coalition, the three founders of the Martha’s Vineyard Beach Access Coalition, Southeast Regional Director from TTOR, TTOR Property Manager Chris Kennedy from M’sV, the president and about 12 members of the Mass Beach Buggy Association, a reporter from the “Cape Cod Times”, and a reporter from radio station WXTK. Eastham, Falmouth and Duxbury were not represented by a town official but the hope is that each will have one at the next meeting.

 

The goals of the meeting were the following:

·         To meet one another.

·         Learn about the beach access issues facing each town.

·         Hearing the reports of any progress from the three hosts.

·         Plan how to move forward.

 

Shared issues are

·         Long periods of unnecessary beach closures over the years mandated by state bureaucrats citing the federal and state Endangered Species Act.

·         Finding ways to influence new policies that will insure the coexistence of birds and beachgoers instead of excluding people.

·         Loss of revenue for the towns. In M’sV case, it is mainly TTOR and the county who have lost revenue.

·         The lack of cooperation from state and federal officials re: “Take Permitting”, permits allowing beach enrichment and other erosion preventive measures, and reviewing and modifying existing regulations.

 

Moving forward

·         The next meeting will be held in two to three weeks. The Coalition has invited the Director of Mass Fish and Wildlife to discuss the need to streamline and simplify the permitting process.

·         Other issues that the group will address are

1.      Ways in which to pressure state and federal officials to review regulations, interpretation, implementation and enforcement in order to reach the goal of including the public in that process, i.e. gaining a voice in determining access to and management of our beaches.

2.      Ways in which to increase the numbers in the coalition, and to encourage more town officials and additional towns to join.

Mass.Gov Marine Fisheries
February 2014

Hello, Anglers!

Happy 2014! Even though it’s only February, we already have fishing on the mind. That means that the 2014 Massachusetts Saltwater Recreational Fishing Guide is now available.

Click here to go to the MA Marine fisheries website and Saltwater Fishing Guide.

The new OB Fishing Pier is now in the final stages of completion. The main decking is almost complete and the safety railings are being installed. The handicap ramp to the pier is also completed now.

Take a look at some new photos provided by Wally White. Simply click on the link below and then view the latest pictures in the photo album. The latest pictures posted are at the end of the photo album.

Click here to view the latest photos of the OB Fishing Pier.

Thanks to Ron for the latest update on the changing conditions on Chappy and Wasque Point. The two photos are showing a new sand bar off the Chappy shore and the latest condition of Wasque.
 
Ron reports the following:

"It's a view of the new sand bar that built and runs parallel to the Chappy shoreline. The point in the picture is less than a Hammer cast away."

"This is a shot of Wasque Point from the eastern end of the Chappy bathing beach. Wasque is about 200 yds. away"

Open the Word document directly below to see the photos.


Chappy-Wasque 011814.doc

The latest edition of the MVSA Newletter is now out. All of the latest updates are included such as Business updates, Events, Meetings etc...

The MVSA Newsletter is enclosed for your enjoyment.

MVSA Newsletter JAN 2014.pdf

Check out our first shot of using a GoPro camera with a kite for aerial photography! Our educators braved the frigid temperatures on Norton Point this morning to test out the rig, which will be used to monitor the breach. Stay tuned for more GoPro action!

Click here to see the awesome aerial photo of the Breach!

.
Cape Poge Wildlife Refuge was re-opened for OSV's at 1 PM. The northern beachfront of Leland Beach is also now open, however the southern beachfront at Leland remains closed due to ...overwashing up to the dunes. Norton Point Beach also remains closed today with high surf conditions overwashing the eastern half of the beach. We will reassess the situation at both Leland and Norton Point on Tuesday and make a decision to open or not based on current conditions.

Many of the interior OSV trails at Cape Poge and Leland are still heavily clogged with ice and flooding conditions. Remember: If in doubt, don't go out!

Click here to see the article and photo.

ORLEANS — Local officials and others interested in beach access believe they may have regulations in place by the summer that would reduce the amount of time vehicles are prohibited from off-road trails in Orleans and Chatham because of nesting shorebirds.

The new rules would allow vehicles to bypass nests and possibly lone chicks that, because of current guidelines, required the beaches to be closed to off-road access for much of the summer this past year.

Click here to read the full article.

The new Oak Bluffs Fishing Pier is almost completed. This is a great accomplishment for all islanders and visitors to enjoy! Check out the recently added photos to the OB Fishing Pier photo album under the PHOTOS tab on this website. Special thanks go out to Wally White for providing the latest photos and keeping us up to date on the progress.  

The pier looks great!

There are now over 50 pictures with captions showing the timeline of the fishing pier being built.

Check them out here at the direct link to the photo album.

As Breach Retreats, Erosion Picks Up Speed

Vinyeard Gazette
December 19, 2013
Tom Dunlop

Barely five months after the Schifter home on Chappaquiddick was moved back from a rapidly eroding bluff, dramatic changes are taking place again at Wasque where the Norton Point breach continues to have a mind of its own. The breach has retreated 800 feet since late September and as a result, the surf and tides have all but claimed the only other house standing along the same length of the Chappy shoreline, owned by Jerry and Sue Wacks of Lexington.

Read the entire article by clicking here.