Beaches

With over 250 miles of beaches and rocky shores, the coastlines of Buzzards Bay and Narragansett Bay are unlike any other area in Massachusetts. Rocky headlands jut out between the bays’ rivers and streams, and a sweeping arm of land stretches from Falmouth to the Elizabeth Islands — a glacial deposit that creates Buzzards Bay and provides partial protection from ocean waves.

In this region, the shorelines support recreation, commerce, fishing, scientific research, and extraordinary natural habitat. Beaches along the bays and islands provide habitat to migratory shorebirds and waterfowl including breeding habitat for the federally endangered roseate tern. Climate change, bringing rising seas, higher water temperatures, and more frequent and intense storms, may have undeniable impacts on this dynamic environment.

Compared to other regions of the state, such as the islands (Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket) and portions of the North Shore, erosion rates for the shorelines are relatively low. The exceptions are the beaches of Westport and Dartmouth at the mouth of Buzzards Bay, as they are more exposed to direct wave impacts from the ocean. At East Beach in Westport, for example, the shoreline has eroded over 150 feet in the last 120 years [CIT. 15], threatening over 30 homes and forcing several homeowners to relocate.

Approximately 23% of the shoreline is available for public access (26% in Buzzards Bay and 11% in Narragansett Bay) [CIT. 16]. Rising seas threaten a loss of these beaches as well as access to them where development leaves no room for the beach or the parking area to migrate inland.

The challenge of how to ensure the resilience of beaches and shorelines in this developed region is a difficult one. Much of the shoreline (72 miles or 35%) is hardened [CIT. 17]. Almost 1,800 bulkheads, seawalls, revetments, groins, and jetties have been installed by federal and state agencies, local communities, and private landowners to deter erosion and capture sand [CIT. 18]. These shoreline modifications disrupt the natural process of sediment transport and habitat migration, which allow beaches to adapt.

LOOKING AHEAD

Environmental organizations and municipalities can work together to ensure the future of our beaches and coastal habitats. These natural areas not only protect us from wave energy during storms and provide critical habitat for wildlife, they are the places we recreate, relax, run businesses, and harvest our food.

Let’s discuss ways to:

Conserve coastal lands: Acquiring and preserving coastal land for open space increases public access, reduces property and infrastructure damage, and improves the functioning of natural processes. Of the coastal habitat along the shoreline, only 23% is protected in Buzzards Bay and 10% along Narragansett Bay (study area only) [CIT. 19].

Restore beaches and dunes: In more erosive areas, short-term efforts to protect beaches could include beach or dune nourishment and restoration. For example, beach nourishment has been performed at East Beach in Westport and Little Harbor Beach in Wareham. As these projects can be costly and short-term, weighing infrastructure relocation and retreat from highrisk areas should also be considered.

Redesign or remove hard barriers: The Office of Coastal Zone Management’s StormSmart Coasts program recommends the latest design practices for seawalls and revetments to reduce impacts, minimize maintenance costs, and improve longevity [CIT. 20]. In addition, the program also recommends using plantings and natural materials as a method to help control erosion and stabilize soil and sediments. Proactive management of erosion with living shorelines can allow natural sediment accumulation processes to return, restoring habitat and protecting properties.