A coastal town in Massachusetts is in chaos following a storm over the weekend that caused $600,000 worth of sand, brought in to safeguard homes, roads, and other important structures, to be washed away.

A total of 14,000 tons (12,701 metric tons) of sand were transported into Salisbury over the course of a few weeks for the project. It was finished only three days prior to the storm on Sunday, which caused severe winds, significant rain, and flooding along the southern coast of New England.

The group Salisbury Beach Citizens for Change assisted with and gathered donations for the project. They shared on social media about the project’s completion last week and then again after the storm. They defended the project’s value by highlighting that the dunes successfully fulfilled their purpose by shielding certain properties from storm damage.

The president of the group and a real estate professional, Tom Saab, stated that 150 property owners have contributed funds. These owners believe that the state has neglected their request for assistance in protecting the beachfront and strengthening the coastal dunes.

“The government will not provide funds for dune reconstruction. This stance is final,” stated Saab. “People are infuriated and distressed. We cannot function without restoring the sand dunes and cannot afford to continuously pay for reconstruction after each storm.”

The most recent tempest over the weekend was one among several severe storms that have occurred in the community and Massachusetts in recent times. In January, there was also a flood, erosion, and damage to infrastructure.

Refilling sand is the preferred strategy of the government for safeguarding beaches for many years. Congress has consistently allocated funds for this effort, claiming it is successful in preserving lives and assets while also sustaining the tourism sector.

However, opponents argue that it is fundamentally inefficient to continually deposit sand on shore when it will ultimately be eroded.

According to experts, the Northeast region is predicted to experience more extreme weather events, such as hurricanes, due to the warming of ocean waters caused by climate change. The United Nations reports that sea levels have been rising at a faster rate since 1900, posing a threat to millions of individuals globally. Additionally, European Union researchers warn that the changing conditions are leading to the erosion of beaches worldwide.

Other towns have also experienced their attempts being literally erased due to various reasons, and Salisbury is not an exception.

Earlier this year, a town in New Jersey requested emergency authorization to construct a steel barrier in response to dune destruction caused by a storm. This town had previously constructed similar barriers in two other locations, but wanted to address the most heavily eroded area of its beachfront. Over the course of ten years, the town had spent millions of dollars bringing in sand to this section. However, the state rejected the request and imposed a fine on North Wildwood for unauthorized repairs to the beach. The Department of Environmental Protection has historically opposed the use of bulkheads, as they can lead to increased erosion and exacerbate the issue.

Republican state Sen. Bruce Tarr, who is working to secure $1.5 million in state funding to shore up the Salisbury dunes, says the efforts will protect a major roadway, water and sewer infrastructure as well as hundreds of homes, which make up more than 40% of Salisbury’s tax base.

According to Tarr, we are responsible for overseeing a natural resource that serves many purposes. Tarr also stated that restoring the dunes is one of the limited choices the town has, as structures like sea walls and boulders are prohibited on beaches in Massachusetts.

The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation has closed access points 9 and 10 at Salisbury Beach due to damage caused by recent rainstorms in order to prioritize public safety.

“The Healey-Driscoll government continues to keep open lines of communication with town officials, the legislative delegation, and the community. We will continue to collaborate with them in finding solutions to the effects of beach erosion,” stated DCR representative Ilyse Wolberg.

Saab stated that it is more economically feasible to keep rebuilding the dunes instead of letting Mother Nature naturally erode the beach.

He questioned, “Are you suggesting we destroy property valued at $2 billion?” He pointed out that Salisbury is a popular summer destination for countless individuals who frequent its beach. He proposed that continuously rebuilding the dunes after frequent storms, like those experienced in the past year, would be a more cost-effective solution than allowing the ocean to ruin the beach.

However, some individuals raised doubts about the rationale behind adding more sand to the beach.

Peter Lodi, a local resident, commented on the Salisbury beach group’s post on Facebook, expressing his confusion as to why anyone would be surprised.

The person stated that adding more sand will not guarantee protection for homes. Mother Nature ultimately determines the extent of protection. The situation will continue to deteriorate and a temporary fix, like sand, is not a long-term solution. The problem requires significant and proper attention to fully address.

The group stated that it is the state’s duty to safeguard the beach and that the community is performing a service by financing the project.

The group stated that when regulating something, one must also take responsibility for maintaining it. They believe that the residents who fixed the dune in front of their property were beneficial to both the city and state, and now it is their turn to take action.

Source: wral.com