It’s true. All the discussion about Tashmoo eelgrass, all the meetings and formation of an eelgrass committee, was all a waste of time, as discussed in the minutes and video (mvtv.org) of the Oct. 19 Tisbury harbor management meeting. The Tisbury selectmen voted at their Nov. 15 meeting to not allow any anchoring in any eelgrass in Tashmoo. This will go to public hearing, but that is also a waste of time. It was never going to be any different.

The chairman of the selectmen said that no anchoring in eelgrass will protect Tashmoo. Some may cheer this decision. I certainly believe that eelgrass is important, but I also believe that it is a compromise that will ultimately protect Tashmoo. This has to be about protecting and managing all of Tashmoo, not just eelgrass. The closed-door plan developed over two years ago has always been to stop anchoring in eelgrass and install transient moorings or allow the use of private moorings to make up for lack of anchoring. (Selectmen denied this was part of the program.) I believe installing transient moorings is a mistake. When boaters know there are moorings available, they will come. This was proven this summer when a private homeowner was able to implement his own version of a no-anchoring policy, despite public protest. There are a limited number of moorings, which will attract more boaters. So what happens when they are full? More anchoring. More boats, more anchoring, more crowding. Harbor management voted against transient moorings in the past.

My proposed compromise is to expand the anchoring area a little ways south of the northernmost eelgrass area. Phil Colarusso, a state eelgrass expert, said at an eelgrass committee meeting that this would be okay. Eelgrass is sparse and strong there. A majority of the eelgrass would be protected, and this allows a little more space for anchoring and for cruisers to enjoy Tashmoo. Use this as a test area. There is some evidence short-term anchoring does not damage eelgrass. No transient moorings of any type will help protect Tashmoo from its own popularity. I don’t like preventing cruising boaters from enjoying Tashmoo, or pushing cruisers to anchor in the crowded day anchorage, but I really don’t want to see Tashmoo become a marina, or strained beyond its limits. It is strained enough now with almost 300 moorings. I hope this will be part of the public discussion, and not a closed-door decision.

It’s become quite clear that public opinion or majority recommendations from knowledgeable committee members are simply not important to the current selectmen. One person who supports their agenda is all they need. To leave the management of Tashmoo to the harbor master and a homeowner, as threatened by the chairman of the selectmen at the Nov. 15 meeting, would be a disaster. The chairman also threatened to use the power of the harbor master to do whatever the selectmen want. There will be no turning back. The management of the Lagoon was left to the shellfish constable, and is now a prime example of the selectmen refusing to listen to public concerns. After several years of mismanagement, the Lagoon is now the saddest disaster this town has ever seen. Is this the legacy the selectmen want to leave? Is ignoring public opinion and exerting power really more important than truly protecting Tashmoo?

Lynne Fraker
Vineyard Haven