Nantasket Beach Clean-up
The recent
wet weather, high tides and ocean surge have brought in a lot of trash, debris
and seaweed, particularly in the upper alphabet section and in the Gunrock
area.
A crew from
the DPW is now walking the beach beginning at X Street working their way south
and another crew is starting at A Street, working their way north until the
beach is cleared of trash and debris that is able to be removed by hand.
Due to the
volume of seaweed brought in by the tide cycles, it has the potential to become
infested with insects and could pose a present or imminent threat to the health
or safety of the general public. Because of this, the Board of Health has
declared it a Health Emergency.
With that declaration, the Conservation
Administrator issued a Wetlands Protection Act Emergency Certification allowing
the Department of Public Works to bring a machine onto the beach to address the
situation based on the Required Best Practices and Procedures as described in
the Beach Management Plan.
Based on the
BMP, we will be starting at the north end of Nantasket Beach this afternoon
when the tide starts to drop and will be placing the seaweed back in the water
so that it gets carried back out with the dropping tide.
This process
may take a few tidal cycles because it is so thick but we are addressing the
situation.
Thank you to
Joyce Sullivan at the Board of Health and Chris Krahforst from the Conservation
office for all their help with this situation.
