The Coastline Is Being Mutilated By Human Intervention.

To the editor: I have seldom seen anything so ugly - at least in an environmental sense - as the geotubes at the foot of what used to be the beautiful ‘Sconset Bluff. Nantucket rightfully prides itself on its environmental beauty. It has been gifted by nature with a beautiful and accessible coastline. Yet, to save a few houses, and a road, the coastline is being mutilated by human intervention.

It has become increasingly evident who rules the roost in Nantucket—those with private wealth. They get their way often at the expense of the rest of the community.

I also note the inconsistency between the original objection to the wind farm, which was aesthetic. It was going to ruin the beautiful view, or so it was thought. I suppose only those in boats will view the ugly geotubes—a reverse view if you will.

I also have to wonder if the geotubes are now so large that they can be seen from space.

Coastal resilience has become an urgent matter for an island that is losing parts of itself to the sea. The sea encroaches with growing strength in town. Whatever is done to keep the sea at bay may it not distort the natural beauty of the coastline. Nantucket can arm itself against the sea but it may sacrifice what makes it beautiful in the process.

Maureen Searle