We at the Chappaquiddick Island Association have watched with concern for more than two years as the Trustees of Reservations and the Edgartown Conservation Commission have wrestled over the appropriate stewardship of our barrier beaches of Wasque, Leland and Cape Pogue.

The Chappaquiddick Island Association works to promote the best interests of the Island of Chappaquiddick and of those who make it their permanent or seasonal home. We aim to preserve the beauty and charm of the island, and to maintain its ecological and environmental character by directing progress into channels which will retain its uniqueness without causing hardships to its residents.

We all agree that these beaches are a treasure to all Chappaquiddickers, and we welcome their intelligent enjoyment by anyone — including visitors — who seek to swim, fish, drive, or hike their beautiful shores.

But such intelligent enjoyment demands intelligent management and leadership. But we have, regrettably, seen very little of both of late from the Trustees.

The Trustees of Reservations was once widely respected across Chappaquiddick as a good neighbor and careful steward of our beaches. Now, sadly, the widespread perception is that they have become more the problem than the solution. Like the beaches themselves, oversight has deteriorated. Trails and infrastructure have fallen into disrepair, workforces are trimmed, plans are declared then abruptly withdrawn, permits go missing, leadership changes at the drop of a hat.

Our concern was heightened last week by an opinion piece published in the Gazette, in which Trustees CEO and president blamed the Edgartown Conservation Commission for “seeking to appease a small group of private landowners who are determined to convert Cape Pogue into a private beach.”

To the contrary, we know of no one on Chappaquiddick who seeks anything other than a fair, balanced, data-based and pro-active management of one of our greatest resources. The claim made in that commentary is both untrue and unfair, not only to the conservation commission, but to all of us on Chappaquiddick who work daily toward meaningful, studied solutions to our biggest problems.

The Chappaquiddick Island Association recently constituted a barrier beach committee to address this complex and troubling situation. It will do what the Chappaquiddick Island Association has done so well for over 60 years on all matters of ecology and environment: provide sound data, convene public debate, gather people of differing views, and encourage all voices to be heard.

We trust that Trustees of Reservations will take part in our efforts in good faith. We welcome their participation.

Pete Taft

The writer is the president of the Chappaquiddick Island Association.