How does groundwater and/or runoff influence nutrient processes in eelgrass beds located in Madaket Harbor?

Friends Fête The Nantucket Land Council and Almanack Arts Colony are excited to announce the date for this year’s Friends Fête—Friday, July 10, 2020! Please join us for a fun night of live music and delicious food & drink for a great cause! This event is designed to connect NLC & AAC to the next generation of environmentalists, artists, and philanthropists who understand the pressing issues we must tackle on Nantucket to ensure a sustainable and vibrant future for our beautiful Island. For more information, or to join our 2020 Friends Fête Host Committee please email meg@nantucketlandcouncil.org and follow our instagram-@nantucketlandcouncil.

EVENT N E W S

spring tip

Tell your landscapers: “Don't Fertilize Before Daffy ...it's pointless.” Lawns and garden plants can't uptake nutrients when the ground temperature is below 55˚F because they aren't actively growing. Applying fertilizer too early in the season will result in surface runoff into wetlands or leaching into groundwater. Protect our waters...wait until May!

ADVOCACY N E W S

SBPF

Over the course of 2019, SBPF missed multiple reporting requirements specified in their permit for their existing geotube project, and dumped sand suspected of contamination over the bluff and onto the beach below. These infractions led to an enforcement order from the Conservation Commission—all work on the project has been halted until the issues with fill are addressed and the project is back in compliance.

In addition, after initially having their proposed 3,000+ foot geotube extension denied by the Nantucket Conservation Commission, SBPF appealed the decision under both state and local regulations. MassDEP handed down a permissive order of conditions overturning the original decision. The Town of Nantucket appealed MassDEP’s denial, continuing to argue the original position of the Conservation Commission. Ironically, SBPF also appealed the DEP decision because it did not grant them the full extension of the project. NLC staff and consultants opposed the extension as proposed, and are currently working closely with counsel to determine how best to support the Town in its appeal.

SBPF also appealed the original Conservation Commission denial under the Nantucket Bylaw to Superior Court, although this case has not yet been heard.

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