Erosion on the Island’s coastline — a process as old and familiar as the Island itself — has accelerated to a point of critical concern this winter, battering South Beach, flattening dunes in Katama, flooding key intersections and roadways and crumbling cliffs at Lucy Vincent and Squibnocket.
About 35,000 cubic yards of sand have been deposited on the beach below Sea View avenue in Oak Bluffs, out of a total of nearly 85,000 yards scheduled to be placed on the beach to rebuild it as part of a $400,000 federal erosion control project now under way.
In addition to the beach buildup, a 570-foot stone groin is being built perpendicular to the shore out into Nantucket Sound to reduce further erosion of the town bathing and recreation area.
Volunteers carrying large feed bags dotted the Island’s beaches Saturday as they collected trash for the Vineyard Conservation Society’s 24th annual Earth Day Beach Cleanup.