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