COURTESY OF SAVE POPPONESSET BAY.
This image of Popponesset Spit after Sandy hit the area as a tropical storm in 2012 shows the extent of the damage to the barrier beach from erosion. The wash-overs degraded some areas of the dunes.
MASHPEE – A group trying to restore and stabilize Popponesset Spit after it was damaged by Hurricane Sandy in 2012 has received a grant to help that process.
The state office of Coastal Zone Management has awarded over $194,000 to the group Save Popponesset Bay to design a strategy to protect the spit from erosion.
Popponesset Spit is a natural wildlife preserve and barrier beach protecting much of Mashpee’s watershed and land throughout Mashpee and Cotuit.
“There are a number of reasons why we want to rebuild the spit. Certainly protection of real estate from these storm surges and waves is critical. We’ve got various navigation channels inside of the bay and outside of the bay so we’re looking to maintain those,” said Save Popponesset Bay’s John Malloy Jr. He added that the erosion also threatens birds in the area.
Malloy said about 125 to 150 cubic yards of sand would be needed for a restoration project. Funding would come from a series of grants the organization plans on applying for next year.
“We’re also looking at developing a long term strategy for sand, identifying sand sources not only in the near term to rebuild the spit but also to help maintain the spit overtime. There’s always going to be constant erosion. That’s just how things work,” Malloy said.
The grant is specifically for the evaluation, design and permitting of an alternative beach nourishment and dune restoration strategy. The Mashpee Board of Selectmen and the Mass Audubon Society supported the organization’s application for the grant, according to a statement from the Save Popponesset Bay organization.
The funds were awarded as part of a $1.5 million program to improve coastlines statewide. Grants were also awarded for projects in Chilmark, Gloucester, Plymouth, Salem, Scituate and Westport.
The Save Poppponesset Bay organization has been working closely with the Woods Hole Group to determine the best course of action for the preservation and enhancement of the Spit.
“We are critically dependent on the spit to maintain a healthy bay ecosystem, a navigable channel, improved water quality and to act as a shield against the ocean for hundreds of homes.” notes Malloy, who spearheaded the effort to secure the grant. “The Spit is a treasured wildlife preserve that is home to several species of endangered coastal water birds that our partners at Mass Audubon have worked diligently to protect. We will be working very closely with Mass Audubon who supported our grant application to ensure threatened
species such as piping plovers and roseate terns have a long-term habitat on the Spit.”
