Plum Island Sustainable Solutions

Slide 1: 

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Proposed Solutions… : 

Proposed Solutions…

River Dredging & Beach Nourishment… : 

River Dredging & Beach Nourishment… …are unsustainable solutions as they depend on continuous funding & an unending supply of river delta sand. History reveals that dredging will cause significant erosion at Plum Island Point… It makes little sense to save one part of Plum Island, at the expense of another.

In 1960, Jetty Repairs & shallow river sand bars were of concern… (just as they are today) : 

In 1960, Jetty Repairs & shallow river sand bars were of concern… (just as they are today) Photo Source: Historical Society of Old Newbury

Repairing the Jetties in 1960, would cut off the Point’s sand supply… : 

Repairing the Jetties in 1960, would cut off the Point’s sand supply… The dredging the river mouth of sand would erode the point… 8/1961 250,000 5/1964 131,000 5/1966 50,000 7/1968 86,000 7/1970 183,230 8-10/1970 106,190 8/1973 93,650 6/1981 102,600 8/1983 123,500 9/1983 154,000 9/1991 135,290 4/1993 125,040 1,594,500 Total Cubic Yards Dredged 1961 - 1993 Source: USACE River Jetty Repairs 6/1977 54,000

Slide 6: 

Merrimack River Station 3.7.1969 Photo: US Coast Guard, Courtesy John Morris Sand slid from the shore at Plum Island Point into the river to fill the void in the dredged channel... Erosion encroaches upon the USCG Station

Merrimack River Station 11.19.1969 : 

Merrimack River Station 11.19.1969 Photo: US Coast Guard, Courtesy John Morris Eventually the Coast Guard Station had to be abandoned…

Slide 8: 

Merrimack River Station 12.29.1969 Photo: US Coast Guard, Courtesy John Morris Contrast Today’s Shore line As erosion continued, one of the 2 smaller buildings was sacrificed…

In June of 1970, the USACE placed some 6980 Tons of stone armoring in the vicinity of the old Coast Guard Station to stabilize PI Point… : 

In June of 1970, the USACE placed some 6980 Tons of stone armoring in the vicinity of the old Coast Guard Station to stabilize PI Point… Note: 1995 Mass GIS Photo altered to reflect 1970 PI Point Shoreline USACE Jetty Extension & Armoring Concrete Wall Placed by City Along Reservation Terrace… …as water had been invading Neighborhoods…

We didn’t correlate dredging with the point’s erosion, : 

We didn’t correlate dredging with the point’s erosion, …sometimes bi-annually, removing 952,460 cubic yards of sand alone from 1970 – 1991… …hence dredging continued.

Slide 11: 

…and another 540,040 cubic yards from 1993 - 1999 8/1991 135,290 4/1993 125,040 9/1996 125,000 8/1999 140,000 The shore line responded exactly as it did in the ’60s & 70’s When we dredged, the shoreline stopped expanding & then eroded. When we ceased dredging in’96 & again in ’99 Shore line expanded. One dredging event reverses shoreline growth & erodes 3 sq Acres of beach

In total from 1961 – 1999 the USACE dredged 1,859,500 cu yds of sandfrom the Merrimack River Entrance …Where did the sand go? : 

In total from 1961 – 1999 the USACE dredged 1,859,500 cu yds of sandfrom the Merrimack River Entrance …Where did the sand go? SOURCE: NOAA Recent (1999) near shore dredge deposit area

How much is 1,859,500 cubic yards of sand? : 

How much is 1,859,500 cubic yards of sand? 130,000 cubic yards would cover State St. in Newburyport, from Water St. to High St., with a column of sand 30 ft tall. 1.86 Million Cubic Yards of sand would do this 14 times!

History is a vast early warning system. : 

History is a vast early warning system. ~Norman Cousins

History,is repeating itself… : 

History,is repeating itself… Ocean beach sand has migrated North making PI point large and the Ocean Beach small. This has happened 2 times in the past 50 Years. We are pursuing rebuilding the River Jetties & a dredging campaign of the river mouth, which in the past has significantly eroded PI Point 2 times. Groins are retaining sand south of PI center as they have in the past We are not actively solving the erosion caused by human activity at Plum Island.

Doing the same thingover & over again, andexpecting differentresults.” : 

“The true definition of insanity is: Doing the same thingover & over again, andexpecting differentresults.” Albert Einstein

What’s needed during times of shrinking budgets is a low cost solution… : 

What’s needed during times of shrinking budgets is a low cost solution…

Slide 18: 

& use the stone to fill the onshore breach in the Merrimack river south Jetty? What if we remove some of the Plum island Center groin Solving 2 problems with the same stone.

Slide 19: 

Transform this… into this… Sand migrating to PI center from points south & the Refuge will expand the beach & help speed the welding of the offshore bar with the shore solving the current erosion problem. Allowing some of the groin to remain will slow but not halt sand migration north.

With the onshore breach repaired, sand backing up against the River Jetty will, overtime, expand the ocean beach from north to south, as it has in the past... : 

With the onshore breach repaired, sand backing up against the River Jetty will, overtime, expand the ocean beach from north to south, as it has in the past...

We should also consider the health of our barrier dune… : 

We should also consider the health of our barrier dune…

Slide 22: 

Plum Island Center for example, hasn’t had a proper barrier dune for over 100 years… We might consider removing the center’s parking lot completely to establish a substantial dune there… Coupled with a modified groin, a dune here would stabilize a very unstable part of the beach

We need to identify vulnerable sections of our barrier dune and devise strategies to stabilize them. Some low cost strategies include: : 

We need to identify vulnerable sections of our barrier dune and devise strategies to stabilize them. Some low cost strategies include: Limiting development in the barrier dune. Motivate home owners to maintain their barrier dunes. Planting & protecting dune grass & other vegetation within the dune system Building elevated walk ways for beach access

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Should funds become available…

We might sparingly dredge river sediments to shallow the area between the delta bar & shore… : 

We might sparingly dredge river sediments to shallow the area between the delta bar & shore…

This will convert Plum Island from the steep shored reflective beach, that it has been for the last 70 years to… : 

This will convert Plum Island from the steep shored reflective beach, that it has been for the last 70 years to…

…a shallow sloping beach that dissipates wave energy completely, allowing the beach berm & dunes to build naturally. : 

…a shallow sloping beach that dissipates wave energy completely, allowing the beach berm & dunes to build naturally. It would resemble the Plum Island of 100 years ago. Jenness Beach, NH

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If substantial funds became available…

One might also consider bringing the river delta bar back to shore… : 

One might also consider bringing the river delta bar back to shore… Since building the river Jetties moved the bar seaward, then shortening the Jetties would return the bar & its sand supply closer to shore.

Slide 30: 

Reducing Jetty length by some 200 yards would still stabilize the river entrance, yet bring the Delta Bar 200 yards closer to shore. Landfall would occur at 36th St. & Salisbury Reservation.

Finally, if we are considering spending almost $20,000,000 to rebuild the problematic north & south River Jetties to their early 1900’s specification… : 

Finally, if we are considering spending almost $20,000,000 to rebuild the problematic north & south River Jetties to their early 1900’s specification…

Wouldn’t it make better sense to use those funds to buy back vulnerable sections of our barrier dune system for restoration? : 

Wouldn’t it make better sense to use those funds to buy back vulnerable sections of our barrier dune system for restoration? The dunes after all, are all that protect us from the ocean’s advance… and sea level is rising.

Slide 33: 

1 – 1.5 Meter Sea Level Rise 1.5 – 3 Meter Sea Level Rise Source: Environmental Defense Fund, Projections by Peter Black based on EPA Data & GIS Topographical Maps Two major new studies, in Nature and Science, sharply increase the projected sea level rise (SLR) by 2100 to between 0.8 and 2.0 m.

Concepts like these, that allow Nature’s processes to work in our favorshould be explored. : 

Concepts like these, that allow Nature’s processes to work in our favorshould be explored.

Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better. : 

Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better. ~ Albert Einstein

Slide 36: 

If we can understand & then learn to work with Nature’s processes,

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…then maybe we can end our 100 year fight against them.

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The End Our Children Behold the Tomorrow… …that we create today.