Sagamore Beach Cliff Erosion Control

Sagamore Beach is Bourne's frontage on Cape Cod Bay. It runs a mile or so from the Scusset Beach to the Cedarville section of southern Plymouth.

Sagamore Beach's coastline is defined by sand cliffs, and that's where we are headed today.

Sand cliffs are awesome, save for one thing... they erode. This makes them a rotten place to build a house in top of, which contrasts with the sweeping views and salt air which make them a terrific place to build a house on.

This sets up a battle between humans and erosion. It is a battle happening all along the Massachusetts coastline, and various means to win that battle are in action or being planned.

Sagamore has several different types of erosion control, and you can up that number by strolling past the White Cliffs in Cedarville. You can see more if you head up the South Shore.

You don't really win when you fight the ocean. The goal is to avoid losing completely. Failing that, you at least try to forestall the defeat long enough to hand off the problem to your children or grandchildren.

Many people on Sagamore Beach would settle for that outcome.

Sagamore Beach is somewhat protected by the barrier beach that is Cape Cod. They don't get bad surf.. These cliffs might be gone already if they were a bit north, like Duxbury or Scituate.

Places like that have seawalls. Sagamore Beach was not afforded that option. To be fair, you'd need a pretty high wall to seal off the erosion problems here, and you'd have to run it a mile.

Duxbury and Scituate also had government help with the walls. Duxbury residents were able to pay $500 per beachfront house in the 1950s for a seawall.

Saggy missed that gravy train. Anyone with .gov in their email address wants nothing to do with them these days. Sagamore Beach is on her own.

Their problem is compounded by the fact that surf is only one factor at work. Even the worst storms aren't smashing waves off the top of these cliffs. Rain, wind, human activity and even gravity will take sand from the top of that hill to the bottom of it, where the tides can wash it away.

When enough sand moves down the cliff, the houses will eventually follow.

Various means of addressing this issue can be seen at work along Sagamore Beach. We took a stroll with the camera to check them out.

The basic erosion control idea is to build a structure at the bottom of the cliff that prevents cliff sand from entering into the surf process.

That structure can be stone, vegetation or even more sand. That would be costly. Ideally, it would be the height of the cliff, but that would be very costly.

Of course, your home and family tumbling 80 feet down a cliff in a collapsing house is even more very costly.

A good structure can stop the flow of sand to a certain extent. Prevention of lower cliff erosion forestalls upper cliff erosion, which in turn forestalls houses collapsing down cliffs.

This guy has a nice looking wall at the base of the cliff under his house. It probably cost a fortune, but it also protects a fortune.

He also has the hill covered with vegetation, a proven erosion control technique. The bushes block sand, and the roots provide below-ground erosion prevention. Flat beaches like Duxbury rely on vegetation for erosion control anywhere that nobody lives at.

The stairs are a nice touch as well, with the pilings ( and the below-stairs vegetation) offering erosion protection.

You can see the advantages such an approach has over the let-nature-take-her-course approach shown below.

I grew up on a beach that was very vulnerable to erosion, so I know how it is. There is a difference between what you should do and what you can do.

This guy may also like to have a cool wall, but maybe he's underwater on the house and can't afford the enormous financial hit. He's also one erosion event from being underwater in the house.

I'm not picking on this guy, as he is influenced by factors that I may not be aware of. I'm pretty sure he has more money than me. My dumpy cottage is small enough that, if it fell down a hill, I'd just get a couple of buddies and carry it back up.

So, no insult to that homeowner. His house actually rules... until it rolls.

Taking a walk on the beach and being crushed by a house rolling down a sand dune is a very Cape Cod way to die. The victim wouldn't have time to process that thought, and it would be of little comfort to them anyhow.

Likewise, they would probably not be in the mood to, as the house fell on them, think that "This is the last thing that the Wicked Witch Of The East saw."

I think this guy hired one of those dudes who spray a Chem-Lawn onto your bare yard if you are too lazy to buy and spread seed.

I want to putt here very badly. It would make a terrific 18th hole for White Cliffs Country Club.

It would be environmentally damaging, would harm the man's house and I don't advocate it... but that house would rule to go sledding at.

As someone who grew up repairing a lawn every spring that was destroyed every winter by the ocean, I can tell you that grass will work just fine... until it doesn't.

This is a groyne, a rock wall barrier extending into the sea. The purpose of it is to stop the flow of sand down the beach.

Ideally, this will protect the sand at the base of the dune. Not directly, but protection nonetheless.

Granted, it also starves the beach south from it of sand. Sagamore Beach cliffs are sorta designed to break down over time to feed Sandwich and Barnstable.

While a Sagamore Beach bum may say "Eff Barnstable," he only has to look north a bit to see the groynes at the White Cliffs Country Club keeping Manomet/Ellisville/Cedarville sand from washing down to Sagamore Beach.

A quick stroll up to Cedarville will show you other ways to fight erosion.

A great many more methods are on display here.

I am not aware of any laws banning certain types of structures, but I wouldn't faint from surprise if somebody told me otherwise.

Cedarville has a sandbag wall protecting one part of their cliffs.

I'm not sure if he is allowed to fill those bags with beach sand or not.

I hope he can, because I'd feel badly for a man living on a sand cliff overlooking a sandy beach who has to import sand.

This guy is trying the same idea, but with rocks wrapped in wire.

It looks like a Rock Lobster trap. Down, down....

You can kind of look at the yard next to him, with no protection at all, and free associate it with "Google image search result for 'futility.'"

Speaking of which...

Beach grass does indeed help against erosion. Duxbury Beach plants thousands of stalks each year... and then plant even more when the previous plantings wash away.

Beach grass is fine for gradual, gentle slopes where the enemy is wind. It is not what you want to gamble your home and family on if you live on a rapidly eroding sand cliff.

You start to think "Little pig, little pig, let me in" when looking at this method.

You know you want your own six figure Dune Tram!

Tropical Storm Watch For Cape Cod, Islands

Hurricane Local Statement Issued September 05 At 5:31am Edt  By Nws Boston

 This Product Covers Southern New England 

*

*A Tropical Storm Watch Is In Effect For The Cape And Islands

*

* New Information --------------- 

* Changes To Watches And Warnings: - A Tropical Storm Watch Has Been Issued For Barnstable Ma, Dukes Ma, And Nantucket Ma 

* Current Watches And Warnings: - A Tropical Storm Watch Is In Effect For Barnstable Ma, Dukes Ma, And Nantucket Ma 

* Storm Information: - About 840 Miles Southwest Of Nantucket Ma - 31.7n 79.5w - Storm Intensity 115 Mph - Movement North Or 10 Degrees At 8 Mph Situation Overview ------------------ Hurricane Dorian Is Forecast To Pass About 150 Miles South Of Nantucket Late Friday Night Before Moving Further Offshore Saturday.

Strong Winds, Heavy Rainfall And High Surf Will Be The Main Impacts, With The Strongest Wind And Heaviest Rain Occurring Late Friday Night Into Early Saturday. Tropical Storm Watches Have Been Issued For Cape Cod And Nantucket.

North Winds Will Increase To 30 To 40 Mph Late Friday Night Over Nantucket And The Outer Cape With Occasional Gusts To 60 Mph Possible.

Total Rainfall Of 2 To 4 Inches Is Possible With Minor Urban Poor Drainage Flooding. A Storm Surge Of 2 To 2.5 Feet Is Possible During The Saturday Morning High Tide Which May Bring Minor Coastal Flooding To Nantucket Harbor.

Potential Impacts ----------------- 

* Wind: Prepare For Dangerous Wind Having Possible Significant Impacts Across Cape Cod And The Islands. Potential Impacts In This Area Include: - Downed Trees And Power Lines.

- Some Roads Impassable From Large Debris, And More Within Urban Or Heavily Wooded Places.

- Scattered Power And Communications Outages, But More Prevalent In Areas With Above Ground Lines.

Also, Prepare For Hazardous Wind Having Possible Limited Impacts Across Southeast Ma.

* Surge: Minor Coastal Flooding Is Possible Along Nantucket Harbor During The High Tide Saturday Morning.

* Flooding Rain: Prepare For Locally Hazardous Rainfall Flooding Having Possible Limited Impacts Across Cape Cod And The Islands. Potential Impacts Include: - Flood Waters Can Enter A Few Structures, Especially In Usually Vulnerable Spots. A Few Places Where Rapid Ponding Of Water Occurs At Underpasses, Low-Lying Spots, And Poor Drainage Areas.

Several Storm Drains And Retention Ponds Become Near-Full And Begin To Overflow. Some Brief Road And Bridge Closures.

Elsewhere Across Southern New England, Little To No Impact Is Anticipated.

Precautionary/Preparedness Actions ---------------------------------- 

* Evacuations: Watch/Warning Phase - Listen To Local Official For Recommended Preparedness Actions.

* Other Preparedness Information: Now Is The Time To Check Your Emergency Plan And Emergency Supplies Kit And Take Necessary Actions To Protect Your Family And Secure Your Home Or Business.

Closely Monitor Weather.Gov, Noaa Weather Radio And Local News Outlets For Official Storm Information. Listen For Possible Changes To The Forecast.

* Additional Sources Of Information: - For Information On Appropriate Preparations See Ready.Gov - For Information On Creating An Emergency Plan See Getagameplan.Org - For Additional Disaster Preparedness Information See Redcross.Org Next Update ----------- The Next Local Statement Will Be Issued By The National Weather Service In Boston/Norton Ma Around Noon Edt, Or Sooner If Conditions Warrant.

Duxbury Beach Hires Quint

After a contentious town meeting where some violence occurred, the village of Duxbury Beach will move aggressively against their Great White Shark population.

They will procure the services of noted shark hunter Captain Quint.

"Captain" is actually his first name, as long as your definition of "actually" hangs on asking Quint his first name and getting an answer of "Captain."

Rumors of Quint's untimely demise in a Martha's Vineyard shark interaction have been, as they say, greatly exaggerated.

Duxbury's shark population was thought to be non-existent, but numerous sightings in recent years culminated in a widely-seen video this week of various sea devils devouring a whale.

A shark attack in nearby Manomet a few years ago nearly offed two kayakers. That shark had been filmed by a state police helicopter the day before, off Duxbury. A fatal 1800s attack also went down off Scituate, far enough offshore that it was essentially off Duxbury.

It was feared that, when the whale carcass was removed, sharks would then be needing a food source, and realize it as they swam past the thousands of bathers at Duxbury's beaches.

Local officials were unapologetic regarding their decision to offer a blood-money contract on a protected species.

"Unlike Cape Cod, we won't send our people into the water while a limousine with teeth is lurking offshore," said Duxbury Beach Mayor Stephen Bowden. "While Cape Cod dithers, Duxbury Beach acts."

Terms of the deal with the shark hunter were undisclosed, and we were unable to determine if the Duxbury Beach Reservation funded the hiring as we go to press.

Quint is chumming off the shores of Duxbury Beach as you read this. He is unconcerned with protests over his lucrative mission.

Duxbury Beach is closed to swimming until the hunt us over.

He is at sea upon the Beyonce, as his prior boat, the Orca, is said to be damaged.

Quint doesn't plan to use harpoons on this shark. "I plan on drinking 17 Naragansetts and tricking the shark into eating a scuba tank, which I will then detonate with a high powered rifle."

"If that doesn't work, I'll lure the evil bastard over to Bug Light and electrocute him."

Duxbury Shark Hunt

A whale carcass washing around has drawn even more Great White Sharks to Duxbury Beach. Dead whales to sharks are like a Golden Corral, or however one spells that.

Helicopters from emergency (our photographer says Coast Guard, our author is thinking State Police...the photographer is widely regarded by those who know both of us as being the smarter one) services spotted a GWS, then a slew of boats started pestering pretty much the last thing in the ocean that you want to pester.

I'm not expecting any Quint shark-killing action today, but we will keep an eye on the sea for you.

Will Dorian Impact Massachusetts?

Hurricane Dorian is whipping up on the Bahamas as we write this. Afterwards, where it goes is the subject of some debate.

After her dance with the Bahama Mama, Dorian looks to move towards Florida. However, forecasters are now calling for the storm to take a hook and move north up the coastline.

Georgia, the Carolinas and Virginia would be next on the menu before the storm moves out to sea. The "moving out to sea" section of the forecast is the tricky part, with the New England implications.

Is Massachusetts going to get it?

We'll do our best to give you the If, When, Where and How Bad.

Please note, while freaking out about that one track with the Bourne landfall, that Bourne is about 1 of 100 places that the spaghetti calls a shot for. 99 other pastas take it out to sea nowhere near Massachusetts.

You don't need a direct hit from the hurricane to inflict massive damage to the coastline. However, every move to the east with this storm as it nears us gets us a little further from the truly dangerous stuff.

While the out to sea spaghetti forecasts have been moving closer to Cape Cod, even now we are only in an area of "10-30% chance of sustained >39 mph winds." The South Coast and Cape Cod are in the more ominous 40-50% range.

30% means that it is more than twice as likely that we don't get tropical storm force winds. That's the good news.

The bad news is that previous forecasts didn't even give it that much of a chance over the weekend. The trend is becoming more Massachusettsish.

Just made up a word there...

While the trend is not aiming towards a direct hit, it is moving us closer to some interaction with this powerful storm. That can make for a very bad scene.

Dorian is presently forecast to be in our area later Friday and Saturday.

We will not be getting 185 mph, Category 5 Dorian. Presently, we are not forecasted to have a direct hit from a Category 1 version of Dorian. Even a weakened Tropical Storm Dorian most likely will pass south and east of us.

Nothing is set in stone, however.

We do all of this warning-you stuff just to make money keep you informed in case the forecast takes a turn for the worse.

New England is unique with hurricanes in that we might look doomed as the storm approaches, but then it does a turn to the east and we instead get golfing weather.

This could break that way. If someone offered a blood money bet on this or any storm, bet on that.

Just keep part of your brain open to the possibility of something like this:

We'll be back later in the week with more updates. Stay dry.

Shark Sighting Closes Duxbury Beach To Swimming

Duxbury had a confirmed Great White Shark sighting by the third crossover.

Police closed the beach for swimming indefinitely.

We'll be back with an update if need be.

Sharks, Sunfish and Whales Off Duxbury Beach

Duxbury Beach is Coastline Crazy today as several benthic beasties are in action just off the shore.

Duxbury Beach was closed to swimming after a confirmed Great White Shark sighting. A source tells me that there may be two sharks. The confirmed sighting was down around the third crossover.

A whale carcass is floating near Brant Rock, and porkers like to feed on them. We could end up with more than two sharks if someone doesn't tow that ish out to sea.

The good news is that, with unlimited whale meat handy, the sharks will have full tummies and should have little interest in devouring humans.

A sunfish added to the confusion. Apparently unaware of the apex predator at the third crossover, he was flopping around about 20-100 yards off the Public Stairs.

When looking at this weak picture I took of him, understand before complaining that this was the best of the dozen that I took.

None of these creatures are unusual for the area.

Duxbury closed the beaches to swimming indefinitely. Cape Cod generally shuts down for just an hour for a sighting, but Duxbury:

 1) is not as accustomed to GWS sightings as Wellfleet is,

and

 2) unlike somewhere along the lines of Eastham, Duxbury isn't dependent on tourist dollars.

We'll be back with an update if need be.

Hang in there!