Nantasket Beach Clean-up

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.