A plan to reconfigure the town beachfront at Squibnocket could be a model for future coastal restoration projects, concludes a report by Greg Berman, a coastal scientist with the Woods Hole Sea Grant Cooperative Extension. But he advised a go-slow approach and said more study is needed.
In Chilmark, selectmen discussed voter approval regarding the the Squibnocket Beach improvement project. The board also reaffirmed its vote to turn down a dredging project in Menemsha channel.
A public-private improvement project now on the drawing board for Squibnocket Beach was the subject of more discussion this week, with some questioning whether the cost is worth it as natural forces continue to assault the shoreline.
The long-term viability and environmental sustainability of a public-private improvement project proposed for Squibnocket Beach were subjects for debate at a public forum this week.
The large, multimillion-dollar project would rebuild the Squibnocket beach and parking lot in Chilmark, where heavy storms and erosion have taken their toll in recent years. Transferring beach land, removing the stone revetment and building a causeway are key parts of the plan.
The storm-ravaged Squibnocket Beach parking lot will be repaved this spring while a newly-formed beach committee considers long-term solutions to address increasing erosion at the town beach and abutting development of Squibnocket Farm, the Chilmark selectmen said this week.
Oyster season in Chilmark is set to begin on Monday after the board of selectmen approved the opening of the short season.
At the selectmen’s weekly meeting on Tuesday, the board approved a recommendation from the shellfish committee that permits two heaping bushels a day, Monday through Wednesday. The season ends April 30. Shellfish constable Isaiah Scheffer said half a dozen oystermen had expressed interested in permits — “a controlled amount,” Mr. Scheffer added.
On Sunday, March 30 from 1 to 3 p.m., The Trustees of Reservations will sponsor a Squibnocket Point walk.
The walk will feature two miles of scenic shoreline and more than 140 acres of dunes and maritime habitat which have been protected by a conservation restriction. No dogs will be allowed. The walk is free to members of The Trustees of Reservations, and $15 for non-members.
Call for directions. Reservations are required, as space is limited. To register, please call 508-693-7662.
Down on the far southwest side of the Vineyard, Chilmark and Gay Head come together on the map in the form of what looks like a shadow puppet; a calf’s head comes to mind. Look closely, the image is possible. The ear, if you will, curves back around along Lobsterville beach towards Menemsha. At the base of this calf’s neck lies Squibnocket Point.
