Conservation Foundation Working To Free Excavator Stuck In Bog

On Monday, we reported that an excavator had become stuck and partially submerged in the former Windswept Cranberry Bog off Polpis Road, and later that day, we received an update on the situation from the Nantucket Conservation Foundation.

The excavator is one of numerous pieces of heavy equipment working on the ongoing wetland restoration project at the bog. Karen Beattie, the vice president of science and stewardship at the Nantucket Conservation Foundation, replied to an inquiry from the Current about the excavator:

"The process of doing wetland restoration work can be hazardous and this type of situation has occasionally occurred on similar cranberry bog restorations off-island," Beattie said. "The equipment was working to remove previously deposited material from the surface of the bog to reconnect to a layer of deep peat saturated with groundwater. Although the excavator was sitting on a 'marsh mat' to disperse its weight, it began to sink because the underlying substrate was so saturated. The operator, who has over 16 years of experience doing these types of specialized projects, quickly decided to vacate the equipment and recruit assistance. No one was injured."

"Our contractor, SumCo Eco-contracting, is in the process of building a temporary access across the bog by laying down several layers of large, heavy interlocking mats," she added. "This will enable a large wrecker to access the excavator and pull it out. There are no local contractors on Nantucket that own these mats, as they are highly specialized to this type of project. SumCo has been working with the Steamship Authority since the incident took place to get the mats and necessary equipment to the island, but recent boat cancellations and lack of reservations delayed this process. Work is now currently progressing, and it is estimated that the excavator will be removed by the end of this week."

Beattie stated that the excavator was undamaged and that there was no sign of fuel or hydraulic fluid leaking.

"These sealed systems are not submerged, so we do not expect any environmental damage," she said. "We are in communication with the Nantucket Fire Department, who is monitoring the situation. SumCo is one of the most qualified cranberry bog restoration specialists in the industry, having completed hundreds of acres of successful projects. While this incident is unfortunate, it is a minor setback to what has been a very successful, well-executed project with tremendous ecological benefits to this portion of the island."

Beattie emphasized that the Windswept Bog property has been closed to the public since November 1 and will remain off limits until March 15, 2015, during the construction phase of the project.