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HomeMy Public PortalAboutLong Term Planning Efforts to Address LandingsLong-term planning efforts to address landings in Brewster 10 public access areas Parking spaces: Crosby 60, Linnell 25, Spruce Hill 12, Ellis 19, Point of Rocks 3 + 8, Breakwater 62, Little Breakwater 6, Saints 38, Mants 44, Paines Creek 19 =296. The Brewster Flats At low tide there are approximately 12,000 acres of exposed tidal flats extending up to two miles off shore in Brewster. Brewster Flats The Problems… •Repetitive losses •Erosion rates of up to 2 feet/year (15’ in Sandy and related storms) •Now, little or no buffer between infrastructure and the beach •Loss of parking while increasing demand for access •Rising sea level •More severe storms, increasing frequency •Higher rainfall amounts – poor stormwater infrastructure The Approach Brewster’s approach:  a comprehensive approach - assessment, planning, design  integrating coastal science and technical information  public participation  a plan that will be the foundation for future Town actions Recent coastal reports and recommendations •2003: Landing issues and recommendations report by Sea Grant/Barnstable County coastal specialist •2008: DPW state of landings with recommendations •2010: Natural Resources Coastal Atlas with status and recommendations –Updated 2011, 2013 , new update in 2015 underway •Coastal storm video February 2013 (video on local access) •Selectmen beach tour June 2013 (video on local access) •CZM Grant reports (sediment study, beach profiles, photodocumentation, natural system monitoring, public outreach/education on erosion issues): fall 2015 How Brewster has Responded to Storm Damage to Date •Purchase of coastal salt marsh and extensive open space •Removal/restoration of coastal restrictions –Namskaket under bike trail, new culvert in 2007 –Quivett Creek culvert under Sea Street in 2006 –Rt. 6A culvert at Paines Creek 2009 (ARRA grant) –Freemans Pond culvert 2013 •Paines Creek parking lot project •NRCS, state stormwater grants –Watershed approach, protect shellfish beds. –From headwater Mill Pond complex to shore at Stony Brook/Paines Creek Coastal Adaptation Project •Measuring the volume, rate and direction of sand movement of Brewster’s entire coast, i.e. a sediment budget •Photo-documenting and habitat monitoring at each coastal Landing; •Engineering evaluation of each Landing and beach •Developing short and longer term management recommendations based upon condition of landing, sand movement and the natural systems surrounding each location. •Designing a major coastal retreat design for Breakwater, one of the largest beach parking lots, including restoring former parking areas to coastal dune and green stormwater control; •Designing for a measured retreat at two landings, [Ellis Landing and Mant’s Landing] that have suffered significant repetitive losses Sediment Budget study Paines Creek Landing Old layout, Paines Creek Landing New Layout Paines Creek Landing 2009 January 20, 2010 2010: AmeriCorp places over 1,000 sandbags, extensive renourishment with sand, repaving. Additional winter storms damaged sand bags, removed more sand, damaged more parking lot. 2011 •Repeat of 2010, with extensive damage to parking area, loss of pavement and asphalt fragments throughout beach and creek. •AmeriCorp helps install another 1,000 sandbags to shore up area. •Very short term repair, additional damage in spring. NRCS Stormwater Grants •Saints Landing •Paines Creek Road – North •Paines Creek Road – South, including town landing –Instead of capturing and infiltrating stormwater at beach parking lot, we considered the retreat alternative, restoring the dune and building a similar sized lot in the road layout further inland. Coastal Retreat •Repetitive losses, high cost •Environmental damage (asphalt/fill etc.) •Long term likelihood of failure with rising seas and increasing storm intensity •Hard solution would not be allowed •Any permanent wall would result in loss of beach Stormwater •NRCS grant requires 75 year life for structure. •Stormwater basins in a dune? •Instead, repurpose grant to remove asphalt, restore to natural habitat, reconstruct a smaller and better designed and resilient parking area. Winter storm “Nemo” in 2013 Sandy and Nemo •Since parking lot retreat, several severe storms. •Old parking lot would have likely suffered extensive damage, if not completely destroying it. •Restored area lost a lot of beach sand. •New parking area inundated but minimal damage. Freemans Pond Culvert Paines Creek Footbridge Provides access to the center of the 1,600 foot plus public beach between Mants and Paines. Breakwater Beach Resiliency Design •Relocation of Breakwater Landing Beach Parking Area, Restoration of Beach and Dune Habitat, Green Stormwater Infrastructure: –Outputs: 100% design plans and bidding documents for removal and relocation of the parking lot, restoration of habitat, and improved access paths. •Green Infrastructure grant awarded for construction: $155,000 plus town match of $59,675 (CPC spring 2014) and $10,000 (fall 2014). Breakwater Bath house c.1900 Breakwater Beach Bath Houses c.1900 Some of these bath houses were owned by the town, with the town collecting the rent (in 1930 about $7 for the summer), and some were privately owned. The last bath houses were torn down in 1945 when the property was sold. Breakwater January 3, 2010 Breakwater –Rebuilding/replacing the artificial dune in January 2010 Breakwater March 3, 2010. Winter storms removed remnants of dune north end of parking lot, causing the lot to be undermined. January 2010, sand was placed to provide additional protection for the remainder of the winter. The sacrificial dune was destroyed; additional parking area was lost. The parking lot elevation is low, and unless protected, we may expect additional loss of pavement each year, in part due to the lack of sediment transport from further west (revetments and groins). Breakwater March 2010 March 3, 2010 Stormwater currently collects in the northwest corner of the lot, causing erosion of the dune as it moves north onto the beach. At times this forms a deep very large puddle, forcing a hole through the dune over time. The grant proposal would eliminate the direct stormwater discharge onto the beach, reduce the volume of stormwater generated, and treat the stormwater through natural bio-swales or porous pavement. Breakwater May 2010 April 2011 dune restoration with Brandeis students Winter 2012/2013 Winter 2012/2013 March 7, 2013 Breakwater spring 2013 March 26, 2014 Storm left debris, wrack and eroded sand from base of dune at sturdy sand fence located at north end of parking lot at Breakwater. March 26, 2014 Storm left wrack and wind and wave born sand into paved parking area at Breakwater. Since 2010 •Much larger sacrificial dune supported by sturdy sand fence •Beach grass planted on dune to add resiliency •Size of dune allows infiltration of stormwater without a “blow out” through dune or entrance. •Neighbor to west improves end of revetment with reinforced coir logs, sand nourishment, sturdy sand fence. End scour from revetment to west April 2, 2014 Sturdy sand fence (green oak timbers) prior to burying with beach sand. Note coir envelope protecting adjacent house west of landing. Sturdy sand fence in sacrificial dune at Breakwater Sturdy fence buried under new dune located slightly further from active beach. Conceptual Plan Final revised plan Concept: Retreat and rebuild New replacement lot Details •Restore area to coastal dune, add beach sand to increase elevation to match surrounding, plant beach grass and shrubs. •Articulating concrete mat under sand to allow vehicle traffic access through dunes for emergency response, coastal nourishment projects. •Seasonal boardwalk through dunes to beach. •Interpretive displays. Adaptive Management of Mant’s Landing: •The paved parking area at Mant’s Landing Beach is located in a dune at a very low elevation, and suffers from repetitive storm damage. •Use of a removable flexible articulating concrete mat as an interim replacement for a paved parking area on a beach until a permanent solution can be found. •Raise grade at rear of property to lessen flooding Articulating concrete mat Blocks connected with flexible cable Mants May 2010 Mants March 2010 January 2013 Mants Winter storm removed sacrificial dunes. Rebuilt in early February 2013. Mants February 2013 Nor’easter Nemo. Dunes destroyed, parking lot asphalt lifted and damaged. Mants Landing March 2015 Beach to left (North) Planning and Design for Managed Retreat at Ellis Landing •Provide sustainable public access that minimizes or avoids impacts on habitat, and reduce the risk of damage and need for continued public investment. Ellis Landing March 2010 Ellis February 2011 Ellis May 2012 stormwater February 2013 Ellis March 2014 Ellis concept Other factors •Stormwater basins to south along Ellis Landing Road, fall 2014. •Sediment traps at junction with unpaved private roads. •Protective of home to west, while also protective to dune habitat to east, but still allowing access to beach via a ramp. Linnell Landing •Stormwater (rain) discharges directly to beach Linnell Landing Crosby Access Projects Crosby August 2015 Crosby looking south Linnell Landing State property just east of Crosby State property just east of Crosby State property just west of Crosby Looking south towards Mansion Crosby Mansion and field Old tennis courts Old tennis courts Short term concept Other landings •Fall 2015 –Slough Pond Landing redesign –Fisherman’s Landing stormwater/parking •Ongoing –Long Pond Boat Ramp redesign Slough Pond Landing Slough Pond •Eroding bank (wave action, boat launching) •Eroding slope •Unsafe conditions for launching car top boats •Neighbor concerns •Permitting in August/September 2015 Slough Pond Landing Ramp for car top boats Fisherman’s Landing Fisherman’s Landing •Stormwater concerns; aging infrastructure, insufficient to capture stormwater •Direct discharge to high quality waters of Sheep Pond •Erosion to beach •Concerns over parking for beachgoers versus fishermen •½ owned by State, ½ by Town Fisherman’s Landing Fisherman’s Landing Fisherman’s Landing Long Pond Landing and ramp Long Pond boat ramp Concept