To sea or not to sea

written by bill donovan

Thu May o1, 2008

Ipswich chronicle

IPSWICH - To sea or not to sea, that is the question floating in the wakes of the Ipswich flood of 2006 and Hurricane Katrina. For Ipswich author and marine biologist Bill Sargent, the answer might actually be "No." In addition to hurricanes and floods, erosion and a slew of other problems endanger people's lives and cause massive damage to beachfront property.

During a presentation recently at the Heard House, Sargent used recent beach replenishment efforts on Plum Island and the devastation caused last year in Chatham by the Patriot's Day Storm to illustrate the current conundrum of coastal living.

Sargent told the audience oceans expand as they grow warmer. In the last 100 years, sea levels have risen by a foot. Sargent believes in another century it will be 2 feet. 

"Massachusetts is more susceptible to coastal problems due to nor'easters in winters and hurricanes in the summer," explained Sargent. "It's very easy to step back and say everyone should get off the coast. But it's a lot more difficult to decide when to get off."

Shoreline areas, especially beaches, are not static. They shift accordingly with weather patterns. And, they play a vital role in protecting inshore areas from storms. There's something to be said for allowing beaches to ebb and flow.

"Last year 14 houses were all washed away in Chatham, its been really astounding," said Sargent. "These are million dollar homes. The town spent $30,000 to pump sand back onto their beach, which was swept away within about a half hour."

Sea walls were built in addition to ward off the surging waters.

"The beach started growing, the ocean wants to erode that back, but the sea walls put on more pressure. All of a sudden there was 300 feet of beach," Sargent said.

Chatham, he said, is the third most lucrative fishing port in Massachusetts.

Recently, Plum Island has been buffeted by harsh waves. The barrier beach protects the houses and businesses of densely settled Newburyport.

"Its been pretty severe in the past three weeks," said Sargent. "Just like in Chatham, they've put in sand that's just been washed away. Seven houses are in danger over there."

Geo tubes, sausage-shaped containers filled with sand can now be found along Plum Island.

"They've overdeveloped this barrier beach," Sargent said. "Water may find its way onto the street. There's about 750 winterized homes built by existing wetlands. That's really not the wisest thing to do."

The town does have evacuation plans, Sargent said, if this situation worsens.

The author's new book, "Just Seconds from the Ocean: Coastal Living in the Wake of Katrina," delves into potential dangers people face along the shore and examines the reasons we still want to live there.

In an age of global warming and in the wake of ruinous hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Sargent believes a new system of coastal control and cultivation is necessary. Whether governments can or will adopt new systems that could save lives and millions of dollars in the process remains to be seen.