2021 WINTER NEWS
Nantucket Land Council
PLANNING
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PROTECTING
INSIDE
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PRESERVING
ISSUE
Clean Water: Topics on Tap—pg. 2 Harbor Health & Plastic Pollution—pg. 3 Create Your Own Pollinator Garden—pg. 4 ‘Sconset Beach Geotube Project—pg. 6 Save the Dates—pg. 8
Nantucket Land Council PO Box 502, 6 Ash Lane Nantucket, MA 02554 508.228.2818 www.nantucketlandcouncil.org BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Lucy S. Dillon, President Paul A. Bennett, Vice President William Willet, Vice President Neil Marttila, Treasurer Susan E. Robinson, Clerk Matt Anderson Susan Baer Mary-Randolph Ballinger Larry Breakiron William S. Brenizer Christine Donelan Joshua Eldridge Thomas V. Farrell Robert Friedman Nancy Gillespie Nathanael Greene Charles A. Kilvert III Laurel Ried Langworthy Lucy Leske Peter McCausland Keltie Donelan McDonald Carl H. Sjolund H. Brooks Smith Lars Soderberg David Troast Peter Watrous
HONORARY DIRECTORS William M. Crozier, Jr. Eileen P. McGrath
SCIENTIFIC ADVISOR
James W. Sutherland, Ph.D.
STAFF
Emily Molden, Executive Director emily@nantucketlandcouncil.org RJ Turcotte, Nantucket Waterkeeper rj@nantucketlandcouncil.org Meg Browers Development Director meg@nantucketlandcouncil.org Shari Santos, Bookkeeper
GENERAL COUNSEL Peter R. Fenn Fenn & Associates
Design by: Gioiosa Design Harvard, MA, www.gioiosadesign.com Printed On Recycled Paper
EDUCATION NEWS
Clean Water Series The NLC is excited to launch a special Winter Edition of our Clean Water: Topics on Tap webinar series starting March 18. Please join us for a monthly presentation on important Nantucket water-related topics. This winter’s series will focus on “Clean Water for All”. On March 18 join local fisherpeople Simon Edwardes, Josh Eldridge and Melanie Kotalac for a panel discussion and Q&A about the health and sustainability of Nantucket’s fresh and ocean waters. Tara Riley, Shellfish Biologist with the Town of Nantucket Natural Resources Department, will join to discuss current and future projects to improve our marine and freshwater resources, and give input on ways to protect and preserve our harbor to maintain a fishable, sustainable part of our critical year-round community. In April, we welcome David Prescott, South County Coastkeeper for Save The Bay (RI) and as the North Atlantic Regional Representative on the Waterkeeper Alliance Council representing the 20+ Waterkeeper programs in the region. David will help us understand how clean water affects all sections of our community and how we each play a role in protecting and preserving this critical resource. Thaïs Fournier, Town of Nantucket Water Resource Specialist, will join to discuss everyday practices that all Nantucket residents should abide by to keep our waters safe and healthy. Each monthly webinar will be held via Zoom. Check our website and social media for more info and registration links. Sponsorship opportunities are available; please contact meg@nantucketlandcouncil.org for more info!
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RESEARCH NEWS
Harbor Health Nantucket Harbor is in many ways the heart of our island. It is our primary point of access, the physical center of our economic and cultural space. Unlike Madaket harbor which benefits from greater connectivity and flushing with the ocean beyond, Nantucket harbor waters are more restricted, taking upwards of 90 days to circulate from the head of the harbor. The deteriorating health of the Nantucket harbor ecosystem is not new news. The Town has been monitoring harbor water quality for decades and many other organizations and groups, including the NLC, have rallied their efforts around the implications of this continuing decline. There have been many initiatives and policies adopted by the Town and community to improve conditions, and there has been a huge increase in research conducted on harbor health as well as restoration efforts to support the important ecosystem functions and services we are at risk of losing. The Land Council is working with the Town to bring these partners together to improve coordination, collaboration and the sharing of resources around these efforts. Education initiatives and coverage from our local media has significantly improved awareness of how important the health of our harbor is to the ongoing sustainability of our island in the face of climate change and sea level rise. The Town will be facilitating an update to the 2009 Municipal Harbors Plan, providing a perfect opportunity to reevaluate our local harbor and harbor watershed uses, policies, and regulations. The NLC looks forward to participating in this process to make some decisions about needed change, and choose a direction for the harbors’ future. Stay tuned for updates on the NLC’s eelgrass research and other harbor initiatives, including our Nantucket Waterkeeper boat use for healthy harbors campaign.
Photo by Gretchen Gigi Callahan
Plastics Pollution As microplastics research between NLC, DPW, and the UMass Field Station moves into its second year and the Nantucket Plastics Ban approaches its one year anniversary, the Nantucket Land Council is teaming up with the Nantucket DPW, Sustainable Nantucket and the Nantucket Land Bank to educate our 5th graders on the importance of recycling, reducing waste, and transitioning from single-use plastic items to reusable ones. The NLC is also pleased to fully fund the 2021 plastics research via the NLC Water Fund with a $10,800 grant. The 5th grade plastics and pollution education program was originally slated for March 2020 but has been postponed until 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The students will learn about where our household waste goes once we’re done with it, what kind of toll each item has on our waste management systems and the environment, and how they can get together to make a difference. The end of the plastics education program will be marked by a spring field trip to a Land Bank property to celebrate open space and receive reusable Kleen Kanteen water bottles (pictured at left) to help reduce their impact and stay hydrated. 3
COMMUNITY NEWS
Pollinator Garden Project This spring the NLC will be releasing pollinator garden kits to promote the installation of gardens that support some of our most critical six legged friends. These do-it-yourself guides will include all of the information you need to create a valuable and beautiful patch of pollinator habitat in one of three sizes, the smallest being an easy 10’ x 10’ plot. Many pollinator populations are in decline due to a significant loss in feeding and nesting habitats. Widespread use of chemicals, development and climate change all contribute to this loss. While habitat fragmentation and chemical use can be problematic in suburban and urban environments, home gardeners are uniquely positioned to create habitat and adopt pollinator friendly practices in their own yards. While our island partners, NCF and LLNF are actively monitoring pollinator populations on island, we hope Nantucket residents and business owners will join us in building a network of this critical habitat across the island and spend some time with family and friends creating new beautiful chemical-free spaces to enjoy in our own backyards! Stay tuned for the release of our pollinator garden kits this spring!
REDUCE YOUR MOWING & DO MORE GROWING!
Spring Tip for Landscapers & Gardeners
Do you love Nantucket’s beautiful natural landscapes and waters? Do you want to contribute to the long-term health of these valuable places? Consider reducing the size of your lawn! Turf grasses, many of which are native to Europe, require fertilizer, and water and chemicals are often used to keep them green and weed or pest free. In addition to the resources they take to maintain, they provide little to no habitat for wildlife. Replant an area of lawn, big or small, with native vegetation…or better yet, replace it with a low maintenance pollinator garden…it will cost you less and do so much more for the health of our island environment.
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EDUCATION NEWS
NLC in the Schools Although this school year has produced many challenges to our traditional education methods, we are continuing to reach Nantucket’s bright students through multiple channels. Whether it be creating supplemental videos or simply joining the students on Zoom, NLC is continuing to use Nantucket as a living classroom and learning tool for environmental education. Here, RJ discusses Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) on Nantucket with New School students. We plan to expand this as restrictions allow to include educational walks downtown and along Nantucket Harbor with the Boys and Girls Club in early 2021.
Karen K. Borchert Educational Grants NLC is proud to continue its tradition of awarding environmental education grants through its Karen K. Borchert Environmental Education Grants program. NLC awarded two grants in 2020—one to the Cyrus Peirce Middle School for purchase of Open Science Education program materials and equipment and one to the Nantucket New School to improve its student greenhouse with hydroponics equipment. The 2020 grants program will continue to accept applications throughout the 2020-2021 school year on a rolling basis to assist faculty members with meeting their education goals during this difficult school year. For more information, please visit our website or reach out to RJ Turcotte, rj@nantucketlandcouncil.org.
Member
S P O T L I G H T—Matt Haffenreffer The Land Council is involved in an enormous number of projects and education initiatives across Nantucket, all for the sake of protecting and preserving Nantucket’s wonderful natural resources. Our tiny staff of three, while mighty, could not accomplish all of the Land Council’s important work without the help of countless others. One of these incredible volunteers is Matt Haffenreffer. Matt’s family are proud owners of a beautiful property overlooking Madaket Harbor, where they spend much of the year. Matt’s grandmother Jean Haffenreffer served on the NLC Board for decades, and in 2020 Matt continued the family tradition and joined the NLC Associates. In his role with the Associates, a group of enthusiastic young environmentalists dedicated to planning and executing our annual Friends Fete, Trashtag, Bioblitz and more, Matt has made an enormous contribution to our environmental protection efforts in one year. As if this weren’t enough, he has also thrown all of his experience and enthusiasm behind our green crab efforts and is now working with us on our “harbor to table” plans for green crabs. Matt, we cannot thank you enough! 5
Image by Grey Lady Aerials
ADVOCACY NEWS
Sconset Beach Geotube Project On December 1st, 2020 Nantucket’s Town Counsel submitted its written defense of the Conservation Commission’s 2019 denial of SBPF’s proposal to expand the geotube array beneath Sconset Bluff to a total length nearing 4,000 feet. The legal brief is short and to the point—it features months of expert testimony, much of it provided by NLC and our expert coastal engineers at Applied Coastal, as well as a detailed review by Greg Berman, a Coastal Processes Specialist for Woods Hole Sea Grant.
nourishment material (sand), it acts exactly as any hard structure would, reflecting wave energy and accelerating erosion at the front and ends of the geotubes. Thus, by using a similar project design for the proposed expansion project, SBPF did not satisfactorily meet the burden of proof required of projects before the Conservation Commission. To further illustrate this point, Mr. Berman and our experts at Applied Coastal have reviewed SBPF’s 2019 Annual Report, and the data provided indicates that SBPF had not only placed contaminated, unsuitable fill on the template, but that they have come up short on providing the required nourishment material for the past three years—a staggering 20,000 cubic yards of sand has not been provided to the littoral system. This is causing undue harm to Nantucket’s coastline to the north. In order for the Conservation Commission’s decision to be overturned, it must be found through Superior Court proceedings that the decision reached by the Commission was “arbitrary and capricious”—the months of expert testimony and data analysis indicate that the Commission’s decision was anything but.
The basis of the brief is that SBPF did not meet the legal Burden of Proof necessary to receive a permit allowing the expanded erosion project to proceed. SBPF, as part of the permitting process before the Conservation Commission, needed to show that the expansion project would provide at least the same amount of sediment to the littoral system, or more so than the Sconset bluff would naturally provide if it were not armored. However, time and again SBPF’s own annual reports have indicated that the existing geotube array has not performed as advertised. Both Applied Coastal and Mr. Berman repeatedly go on record stating that the geotube array consistently contributes less sediment than required during storm events, and by SBPF’s own admission they are not able to supply more sediment for 5-7 days after the storm system has moved through the area. Each day that the geotube array is exposed, uncovered by
The Superior court case is ongoing, and we will keep you up to date as the case moves along. If you’d like to learn more, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
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Docks & Piers COMMUNITY NEWS
Annual Town Meeting The 2020 Annual Town Meeting (ATM) was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and was eventually held on June 25, 2020. In an effort to minimize duration and attendance, a majority of the warrant articles were held over to 2021. As planning for the 2021 ATM began it was proactively scheduled by the Town for June 5, 2021 to allow for an out of doors event. 22 citizen articles have been carried forward from 2020 and 34 new articles have been submitted.
Emily Molden, the NLC Executive Director, has submitted a citizen’s article to amend the existing bylaw regulating docks and piers in our harbors. The Bylaw currently prohibits new residential docks and piers and allows lawfully existing docks and piers to be maintained, repaired and reconstructed—provided there is no net increase in its overall footprint. As written, this allows for an existing dock or pier to be reconstructed as a narrower and longer structure that may extend into important shellfish and eelgrass habitat without a net increase in its footprint. The amendment as submitted requires the special permit granting authority, the Zoning Board of Appeals, to also determine that the reconstruction will not be more detrimental to the marine environment than the existing structure. The ZBA is referred to the Harbormaster and the Natural Resources Department for comment and recommendation. The original bylaw provision was approved by ATM in 2008 following the drafting of the Municipal Harbors Plan in an effort to reduce future negative impacts from docks and piers to fishing, navigation and the harbor environment. While these projects would all require a permit from the Conservation Commission under state and local wetland regulations, this amendment ensures that appropriate Town departments can provide relevant input on the specific environmental interests that the existing moratorium on docks and piers was intended to protect.
Support the NLC today! Scan the flowcode above or visit us at www.nantucketlandcouncil.org to make a donation.
Photo by Gretchen Gigi Callahan
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2021 WINTER NEWS
Nantucket Land Council PLANNING
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PROTECTING
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PRESERVING
Post Office Box 502 Nantucket, MA 02554 www.nantucketlandcouncil.org
SAVE THE DATES
Clean Water Series: Topics on Tap Winter Edition March 18, April 15, 4:30PM via Zoom See page 2 for more details! Planting for Pollinators on Nantucket Thursday, March 25, 3:00PM via Zoom Visit www.nantucketlandcouncil.org to register.
Food for Thought with the NHA Nantucket Waterkeeper Wednesday, April 21, 2021 More details to come!
Town of Nantucket Annual Town Meeting Saturday, June 5, 2021 Private Oyster Farm Tours Weekday afternoons at 3pm, July & August (COVID regulations & safety permitting) Email meg@ nantucketlandcouncil.org for more info!
Established in 1974, the Nantucket Land Council is the only environmental watchdog group on Nantucket Island. The NLC works to protect Nantucket’s natural resources in three major areas— planning, protecting, preserving. PLANNING: The NLC monitors development proposals, offers educational programs, grants and scholarships, and makes recommendations to voters on issues which affect the environment. PROTECTING: The NLC conducts scientific research to support the protection of our natural resources such as native species, wildlife habitat, and water quality. PRESERVING: The NLC specializes in holding conservation restrictions. CRs allow the property to remain in the owner’s hands, while ensuring that the land remains preserved.
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