A Mile-Long Seawall: Embarrassment, Catastrophe, Both?

To the editor: Nantucket’s reconstituted Conservation Commission (ConCom) appears ready to approve the phased construction of a mile-long seawall along Nantucket’s eastern shoreline. When complete, the structure will displace more than three acres of a public beach that is a legacy gift from the Proprietors to the inhabitants of Nantucket.

Seawalls have been prohibited in Massachusetts since 1978 because of their harmful impacts. The science is irrefutable: seawalls destroy beaches. That’s why tens of thousands of dump-truck loads of sand will be required to try to lessen the damage to the beach, as well as to downdrift beaches.

There are two laws intended to protect Nantucket’s beaches: the State Wetlands Protection Act and the local Nantucket Wetland Bylaw. It is the Conservation Commission’s job to uphold these laws. However, waivers can be granted. That’s what four Commissioners have indicated they are prepared to do: grant a waiver to permit the construction of the seawall, despite undisputed evidence in the record that the current geotube seawall is causing harm, and that there are reasonable alternatives to expanding it.

How can this happen? First, because several of the Commissioners with the expertise required have been removed, and another resigned in protest. Second, because of the political pressure exerted by a group of individuals intent upon using public property to protect their private real-estate investments.

We will oppose this action at Town Meeting, in the courts, wherever necessary to protect Nantucket’s beaches, especially our public beaches.

The permitting of a mile-long seawall would be an embarrassment for our community, with its proud history of environmental stewardship. Even worse, it would set a catastrophic precedent for our miles of open, natural beaches. Today Sconset, tomorrow Cisco?

Sincerely,

Burton Spruce Balkind
President, Nantucket Coastal Conservancy