Yarmouth Selectmen Chose Plan to Save Bass Hole Beach

YARMOUTH – In an effort to save Bass Hole Beach in Yarmouth Port, selectmen have chosen to pursue a project to build a new bulkhead.

The board recently picked the option recommended by consultants to construct a perforated bulkhead that would prevent salt marsh vegetation encroachment.

Consultant David Bennett said issues include not having any beach at high tide and swimmers getting stranded offshore.

“Some of these issues kind of drove us looking kind of outside of the box and beyond the beach for other things that were readily implemented, very inexpensive and we thought would be very effective,” Bennett said.

Selectmen chose the $500,000 project as it has about an 85 percent chance of getting permitted and construction could be completed within a year’s time.

The bulkhead would allow water in and out of the beach area and would be made of recycled materials.

Bennett said the bulkhead would also provide a place for beachgoers to sit on and play on.

The project would run counter to the Wetlands Protection Act and hold back natural movement.

“We have to hold paramount the use of the beach for public access and recreation in order to counteract the interest of the act in regards to letting natural processes proceed,” Bennet said.

Selectmen voted 4 to 1 in favor of the project with one selectmen seeking another option.