SBPF Speaks Out On Geotubes After Defeat At Town Meeting

To the editor: The recent coverage of the Sconset geotube project leaves readers with an incomplete picture of a complex and long-running effort to protect one of Nantucket’s most vulnerable stretches of coastline.

It is important to recognize that the project now sits in a period of real uncertainty following the Town Meeting vote and an unsettled legal framework. These are not minor hurdles. They directly affect SBPF’s ability to move forward with repairs, maintenance, and long-term planning in a responsible and compliant way. The Conservation Commission has acknowledged this by granting an extension through the end of June for SBPF to determine next steps.

The current condition of the geotubes has understandably raised concerns. However, the suggestion that SBPF has simply failed to meet its obligations overlooks the broader reality. This project has operated within a shifting regulatory, legal, and environmental landscape for years, and multiple factors, not inaction, have contributed to where things stand today.

SBPF has been clear and consistent, it is prepared to repair and maintain the existing system, but only in a way that aligns with a viable long-term solution. Investing significant resources into short-term fixes, without clarity on whether the project can ultimately move forward, is neither practical nor responsible.

What should not be lost in this discussion is what is at stake. Coastal erosion along the Sconset Bluff is ongoing and accelerating. Without a coordinated and workable plan, the likely outcomes include increased pressure for road relocation, impacts to homes and infrastructure, and potentially significant costs for the Town.

SBPF has also made clear that it is willing to come to the table. Constructive dialogue among the Town, regulators, and stakeholders is the only path toward a solution that avoids unnecessary escalation and achieves the shared goal of protecting this critical shoreline.

This is not a simple issue, and it deserves a full and balanced conversation.

Meridith Moldenhauer
Sconset Beach Preservation Fund