Barrier beach management sourcebook

[From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov]

COASTAL ZONE
INFORMATION CENTER

BAIZRIER B
MA EN S RCEBOOK

QH
105
.M4
EACH
NAGEM T OU

B37
1983
CA

Acknowledgements

Smith, Lester B., Jr., Editor, 1983, Barrier Beach Management
Sourcebook. Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management Office,
Boston, 48 pp.

This book was developed by the Provincetown Center for Finally, the editor thanks Gary Clayton and Jeffrey Benoit
Coastal Studies through a contract with the Massachusetts Coast- and the rest of the staff of the Massachusetts Coastal Zone
al Zone Management Office. The editor would like to thank the Management Office for providing many useful suggestions at
many individuals Who contributed in various ways to its prepar- each stage of the project. Comments on draft manuscripts by
ation. The text was developed in part from rough drafts con- Fran Schofield, Steve Bliven, Michael Penney, and Sandra
tributed by scientists and research assistants on the staff of Sandiford were most helpful.
the Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies. The following in-
dividuals contributed rough drafts of sections of the book:
David Burdick (human alteration section), Jean Kenyon (re-
creation section), Janet Cathey (acquisition section) and Janet
Stroup (storm section). Robin Lloyd and Elaine Wong served as
editorial assistants and helped with the typing. Most of the
illustrations were drawn by Terri Ellis and Barbara Terkanian.
Charlotte Young designed the cover illustration and drafted
several other figures. Dan Lewis prepared the bibliography.
Jean Kenyon typeset most of the text. Gillian Drake of Shank
Painter Printing Company did the design and layout.

For many ideas on barrier beach processes and management
the editor thanks Dr. Graham S. Giese, Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman,
and Dr. Paul J. Godfrey. Dr. Karl Nordstrom and Dr. Duncan
Fitzgerald shared their ideas on dune management. Robert
Prescott provided information on seal behavior. Peter Auger
shared the results of his studies on turtle nesting. Mark Mello
provided many useful suggestions on coastal biology. Ed Thomas
of the Federal Emergency Management Agency provided extensive
information on storm preparedness. Barbara Waters of the Cape
Cod Museum of Natural History reviewed early drafts and gave
many helpful suggestions.

Printed by Shank Painter Printing Company, Provincetown, Mass.

MASSACHUSETTS COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT OFFICE - 1983

BARRIER BEACH MANAGEMENT
SOUD
XkCEB00K

Executive Office of Environmental Affairs
Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies
Richard F. Delaney, Director Editor and Project Director: Lester B. Smith, Jr.

Project Coordinators:
Gary Clayton and Jeffrey Benoit

The preparation of this publication was funded by the Office of Coastal Zone
Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department
Of Commerce, under a program implementation grant to the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts.
C,
S tTA1,
(ZA=A

Michael S. Dukakis, Governor James S. Hoyte, Secretary
US Department of Commerce
NOAA Coastal Services Center Library
2234 South Hobson Avenue
Charleston, SC 29405-2413

Table of Contents

Introduction

How to Use the Sourcebook ........................... iv

Chapter 1 Identification of Barrier Beaches ............. 1.1

Chapter 2 Characteristics of Barrier Beaches . . . . . . . . . . . .2.1

Chapter 3 Management of Barrier Beaches .............. 3.1

Appendices
A. Executive Orders for Barrier Beaches
and Off-Road Vehicles .................... A-1, A-2
B. Technical and Educational Assistance ............. B-1
C. Bibliography ................................ C-1
D. Glossary ............... I .................... D-1

Introduction

Hundreds of barrier beaches make up much of the Massa- This sourcebook builds on the information supplied in the
chusetts coastline. These coastal landforms are narrow low-lying wetland guide; it is not meant to replace it or to represent state
strips of land that consist of beach and dunes and extend roughly wetland policy. The purpose of this book is to give public
parallel to the trend of the coast. They are separated from the officials, interest groups, developers, homeowners, and interested
mainland by a water body or wetland. Barrier beaches were citizens additional background and tools to use in making man-
formed and are constantly changed by coastal processes such as agement decisions. Techniques to reduce hazards and protect the
beach erosion, storm overwash, dune movement, and inlet forma- resources of these important coastal areas are presented.
tion and migration. Structures on barrier beaches are flooded,
battered and sometimes destroyed by these natural processes.
Costs for these damages are high: over 300 million dollars for
the Blizzard of '78 alone. Most of these costs are bourne by the
taxpayer through the many subsidized programs for disaster
relief, flood and erosion structures, and utilities and roads.
Many coastal residents recognize that barriers are protective
features which shelter mainland development and productive
wetlands and bays. Yet barrier beaches are more widely known
by the public as recreational and summer resort areas. How can
recreational areas be managed so that the natural resources of
barrier beaches are maintained? How can the large storm damage
losses and economic costs to the taxpayer associated with de-
veloped barriers be reduced? What future physical changes can
be expected for specific barrier beach areas? The purpose of
this book is to answer some of these questions and to provide
the reader with information to seek out the answers to the rest.
In 1978 "A Guide to the Coastal Wetlands Regulations"
was published by the Massachusetts Department of Environ-
mental Quality Engineering with the assistance of the Coastal
Zone Management Office. The wetland guide discusses the values
and processes of all coastal wetlands and provides guidance in
the design of projects for wetland areas and areas bordering on
wetlands. Barrier beaches are briefly discussed in the wetland
guide and a preliminary list of Massachusetts barrier beaches is
provided.
After the publication of the wetland guide, the management
of barrier beaches received increased attention when Governor
King signed Executive Order No. 181 for Barrier Beaches in
1980, and federal legislation was proposed to help manage the
nation's undeveloped barriers. The Massachusetts Coastal Zone
Management Office is carrying out the Executive Order by
mapping all of the state's barrier beaches and by providing
informational materials such as this sourcebook on barrier
beaches.

How to use the sourcebook

This sourcebook consists of three chapters: Chapter 1, TOWN OFFICIAL QUESTIONS Page Numbers
Identification of Barrier Beaches, Chapter 2, Characteristics
of Barrier Beaches, and Chapter 3, Management of Barrier How does a barrier beach protect harbors, uplands,
Beaches. Chapters I and 2 give essential background information and wetlands? ................................ 1.4- 1.5
necessary for effective management of barrier beaches. Tech- How can our town avoid and recover from storm damage? ... 3.13
niques to manage barrier beaches are described in Chapter 3. How can our town implement changes in barrier
The Table of Contents is brief because each chapter begins with beach policy? .................................... 3.17
an outline of the material covered within that chapter. How have other towns managed their barrier beaches? ..... 3.17
The book is designed to review all aspects of barrier beach How can we accomodate recreational beach needs? ....... 3.10
management for the general reader and to provide references
to more detailed books and guides. These sources of informa-
tion are given at the end of each chapter and at the end of key CONSERVATION COMMISSION QUESTIONS
subsections within each chapter.
The appendices include: Appendix A, the Executive Orders How do we find the history of barrier beaches
for Barrier Beaches and Off-Road Vehicles; Appendix B, Technical in our town? ................................. 2.3-2.4
and Educational Assistance; Appendix C, the bibliography; and How do we inform the public of the value of
Appendix D, the glossary. Italicized words in the text are defined barrier beaches? .................................... B-I
in the glossary. What are the effects of coastal engineering structures
To assist in using the sourcebook, the following sets of on barrier beaches and landward areas? ............. 3.1 - 3.4
commonly asked questions and a key for locating answers to What damages are inflicted by off-road vehicles and
these questions are listed below. The first set of questions might pedestrians and how can this damage be minimized?. . 3.10 - 3.12
be asked by the general public. The remaining sets of questions What wildlife habitats are found on barrier beaches
might be asked by user groups. and how can we protect them? ........................ 2.7
How can we acquire our barrier beach for
conservation and public use? .......................... 3.7
GENERAL QUESTIONS Page Numbers

What is a barrier beach? .............................. 1.1 STATE OR FEDERAL OFFICIAL QUESTIONS
What are some examples of barrier beaches? ......... 1.1 - 1.2
How do barrier beaches change? .................. 2.1 - 2.5 How can recreational use of barrier beaches
Why are barrier beaches important? ............... 2.7 -2.9 be provided? ..................................... 3.10
What regulations are available for barrier beaches? 3.14 - 3.17
How do coastal engineering structures affect
HOMEOWNER AND BEACH ASSOCIATION QUESTIONS barrier beach property? ......................... 3.1 -3.4
How can we prepare for a coastal storm? ............... 3.13
How do barrier beaches protect property behind it? . . . 1.4 - 1.5
How does barrier beach property change over time?. . . 2.3 - 2.5
How do coastal engineering structures affect
barrier beach property? ......................... 3.1 - 3.3
What wildlife habitats are found on barrier beaches
and how are they protected? .......................... 2.7
How can recreation on barrier beaches be provided?. 3.10 - 3.12

Chapter 1: Identification of Barrier Beaches

Description .................. 1.1
Types ...................... 1.1
Location .................... 1.1
Identification Criteria 1.3
Delineation of Margins ......... 1.5

Description of Barrier Beaches
A barrier beach is a narrow low-lying strip of land consis- Tornbolo/
ting of beach and dunes, trending parallel to the coast and
separated from the mainland by a water body or wetland. Barrier
beaches range from natural landforms with well developed vege- Figure 1.2 Illustration of tornbolo
tated dunes and few alterations to developed/ altered barrier land-
forms with houses, roads, artificial filling, and coastal engineering
structures. Barrier beaches are composed of sand and other loose
sediments moved and deposited by waves, winds, tidal currents,
and storm overwash. They are always changing their form and connected at only one end is a barrier spit, and an unconnected
shifting landward as they respond to these coastal forces and the barrier is a barrier island. A barrier that connects an island to
gradual rise in sea level that is submerging and eroding the Mass- the rest of the coast is known as a tombolo. The Massachusetts
achusetts coastline. coast has each of these types of barrier beach (figures 1.3 to 1.6).

Types of barrier beaches Location of Barrier Beacheg
Barrier beaches take different forms depending on how they Over 600 barrier beaches are located on the Massachusetts
are connected to the mainland (figures 1.1 and 1.2). A barrier shoreline exposed to the open ocean and in large tidal bays
connected to the mainland at both ends is a bay barrier. A barrier (table 1.1).

Figure 1.1 Illustration of bay barrier, barrier spit, barrier island

Barrier Island

Barrier Spit

Bay Barrier

Figure 1.3 Photo of bay barrier Figure 1.5 Photo of barrier island

Figure 1.4 Photo of barrier spit Figure 1.6 Photo of tombolo

1.2

1 2
Table 1.1
Distribution of Barrier Beaches by 3 4 6
Massachusetts Coastal Region
Region Approximate Number of Barrier Beaches 7 8
kll @
North Shore 32 f 0_
Boston Harbor 29 11 10 Z19
South Shore 30 @el
Cape Cod 213 1@1 3
233 J-@
Martha's Vineyard & Nantucket --4-, _ \,17
Buzzards Bay & Mt. Hope Bay 120 15 16

18 147 146
They form much of the Massachusetts coast that is exposed to
the open ocean. Other coastal areas of the state are formed of 19'-\,N 20 45
solid rock (bedrock), such as Cape Ann, or glacial sediments such
as the sea cliffs of Cape Cod or the low-lying uplands that sur- 23 24 21 22 44
round Buzzard's Bay.
Barrier beach maps published by the Massachusetts Coastal 37
Zone Management Office are available for all coastal areas of the 27 28 29 36 40 41
state. An index to these maps is provided in figure 1.7. 39

38
31
Identification Criteria of Barrier Beaches 32 @,,33 34 35
A barrier beach is distinguished from another coastal feature 4 50
by using the following criteria which have been developed from 51 57
the coastal wetland regulations: narrow low-lying, parallel to the
trend of the coast, separated from the mainland by a water body
or wetland, composed of beach and dunes, and affected by dy- F54
namic processes. [7@56
narrow low-lying
A barrier beach landform. is generally a narrow low-lying strip Figure 1.7 Index to barrier beach maps
of land due to numerous factors which include: sediment supply,
storm frequency, sediment transport patterns and rates, and irregular coastal areas barrier beaches typically fill the openings
human alterations. In Massachusetts, barrier beaches range in between bedrock or glacial geological features (figure 1.8).
width from small barriers tens of feet wide to large barriers with Thus, barrier beaches tend to straighten these otherwise irregular
beach and dunes up to a half mile wide. coastlines.
parallel to the trend of the coast separated from the mainland by a wetland or water body
Barrier beaches are oriented parallel to the trend of the coast. A wetland or water body is always found between a barrier
However, m* some areas the Massachusetts coast is not straight beach and the mainland. Fresh, salt, or brackish water can be
due to the variable distribution of geological features. In these present in the wetland or water body.
1.3

The coastal dune portion of the barrier beach is located land-
ward of the beach where sand carried by the wind is deposited
and builds a hill or ridge. Vegetation, especially beachgrass,
plays an important role in dune formation, growth and stability.
On barriers with gravel- or boulder-sized sediment, the dune is
replaced by a storm ridge deposited or carried to this height by
storm waves (figure 1. 11),. Storm ridges are similar to coastal
dunes and they are protected to the same degree by the state
Wetlands Protection Act.

A- JdML. -Mi-

Figure 1.8 Photo of barrier between irregular shoreline of
glacial deposits

composed of beach and dunes _J
The two major components of a barrier beach are the beach
and dunes. These features are present on both unaltered and
altered barrier beaches. The beach portion of the barrier beach
consists of loose sand and gravel, known as sediment, and slopes
from the waterline landward to the dune, storm ridge, or coastal Figure 1. 11 Photo of storm ridge
engineering structure (figures 1.9 and 1.10).
Altered or developed barrier beaches with coastal dunes that
are modified by houses, roads, coastal engineering structures, or
other alterations (figure 1.10) are protected by the Wetlands
Protection Act because these features buffer landward areas
from storms and they are hazardous locations for development.

Dune
Wetland Beach Nearshore affected by dynamic processes
or I
Water Bod@ i Barrier beaches are constantly reshaped by waves, tides,
Figure 1.9 Illustration of unaltered barrier beach winds, coastal storms, and sea level rise. During major storms,
dunes are eroded and at times washed over by storm-elevated
seas. Inlets may form or shift position during storms as tidal
waters seek the most efficient route to the ocean. With time, due
to the gradual rise of the level of the sea, sediment is carried to
the landward side of the barrier by overwashing and inlet mi-
rier beach.
gration. This results in the landward shift of the bar
Wetland Other coastal features, such as glacial banks and bedrock do not
or Dune Beach Nearshore shift landward with rising sea level but gradually disappear as
Mater Body 1 they are submerged. Old charts and maps of coastal areas show
Figure 1.10 Illustration of altered barrier beach that the shoreline was farther seaward than the present shoreline.

1.4

Barrier beaches, if left unaltered, usually do not decrease in coastal bank margin: Most coastal bank margins in Massachusetts
width, but the entire landform moves landward. consist of glacial sediment. Glacial deposits, which were formed
by the last major ice advance over New England, the Wisconsin
Ice Sheet, are variable in composition and texture in contrast to
Delineation of Barrier Margins the homogenous barrier beach deposits. Examples of a coastal
The determination of where a barrier beach ends and con- bank margin are shown in figures 1. 12-1.14.
sequently where another coastal feature begins is important for
accurate delineation of a barrier beach. The boundaries that
e
Y
define a barrier beach include the seaward and landward margins
and the two lateral margins.
0
lit

21
seaward and landward margins
A barrier beach's seaward margin is located at mean low
Margin
water. Its landward margin is located at mean low water when
-10
the water body is affected by tides and at the annual water line P M
vid
for fresh water areas not affected by tides. When salt marsh or -LM
tidal flats are located immediately behind the dunes of a barrier
beach, then they are included as part of the barrier landform
(figure 1.9).

lateral margins
Lateral margins terminate at uplands, water bodies, or
@A
wetlands. A water body or wetland margin is usually a straight
forward determination. However, the upland margin delinea-
tion can be difficult to determine when the sediments of the Figure 1. 13 Map of coastal bank lateral margin
upland are similar to those of the barrier beach. The three
basic types of upland margin are: coastal bank, dune-upland,
MEMEL_.
and bedrock. .7 w- W-77" 7w*,--

Figure 1. 12 Illustration of coastal bank lateral margin Jag,& 71-

Coastal
-Bank-@ Jwiz

Margin

AAA

Figure 1. 14 Photo of coastal bank lateral margin

1.5

dune-upland margin: This boundary, which is shown in figure 1. 15,
occurs when coastal dunes are present on top of or seaward of an
upland. The upland may consist of glacial sediment, bedrock, or
artificial fill. The dune-upland margin can form when a barrier
beach builds laterally in front of an upland or when a barrier
shifts landward and attaches itself to an upland (figures 1. 16 and
1. 17). This margin also occurs when the landward marsh or water
body behind a barrier has changed to upland as a result of arti-
ficial filling of a portion of the marsh/wetland area. An example
of this type of margin is shown in figures 1. 18 and 1. 19. ';;7 -4w

NO
Figure 1.15 Illustration of dune-upland lateral margin

Upland

..... . Figure 1. 17 Photo of dune-upland lateral margin

v A
Margin
A D@@,l
e

S- St
Dn43
G Rd
Margint' Dn-'l'
.0 lot Dn-2
M
3-

fz
S 0 U D
Tr 3,1@
T
C
T
Margin
Figure 1. 18 Map of dune upland lateral margin (upland
Rol:
created by artificial filling of wetland).
Figure 1. 16 Map of 10if Pam
Arrow shows margin.
dune-upland lateral margin

1.6

P
N
14 Pt
zz

L-bliiy
-ej
E

90,4 Margin
Rp-5
Figure 1. 19 Photo of dune-upland lateral margin
(upland created by artificial filling of wetland)
Figure 1.21 Map of bedrock lateral margin

bedrock margin: The lateral margin of a barrier beach can ter-
minate at bedrock, which is massive rock material formed by
metamorphic, igneous, or sedimentary processes. Bedrock can
be found in numerous areas of the coast of Massachusetts includ-
ing Cape Ann, Manchester, Marblehead, Swampscott, Boston,
Dartmouth, and New Bedford. An illustration of bedrock barrier
beach margin is shown in figure 1.20. Cape Hedge Beach in Rock-
port is an example of this type of margin (figures 1.21 and 1.22).

Figure 1.20 Illustration of bedrock lateral margin

bedrock

Margin

Figure 1.22 Photo of bedrock lateral margin

1.7

Chapter 2: Characteristics of Barrier Beaches

Day to Day Changes
Introduction ................. 2.1 Sediment is constantly being moved by waves. When waves
Natural Characteristics ......... 2.1 strike the beach at an angle sand and gravel is picked up. and
Physical .................. 2.1 moved along the beach in the same direction as the waves break
Biological ................ 2.7 (figure 2.1). The movement of sediment along the shore is
Land Use Characteristics ........ 2.8 known as littoral drifting. When sediment is moved by waves
from one portion of the beach it must be replaced by sediment
Human Alterations ......... 2.8' from adjacent updrift areas so that the volume of sediment in
Hazards .................. 2.9 any one area is maintained. Ultimately there must be a contin-
uous source of sediment available to feed this littoral drifting
process. In Massachusetts, eroding coastal banks are a major
Introduction source of this beach sediment.
Another important type of sediment transport that occurs on
The purpose of this chapter is to provide the reader with a barrier beaches is due to winds which pick sand up off the beach
basic understanding of the physical, biological, and land use and carry it landward to build dunes. Beachgrass helps build the
properties of a barrier beach. This is important so that these dune by trapping wind-blown sand and stabilizing its surface.
characteristics can be recognized in a specific barrier beach
situation. Once these characteristics are understood then the Seasonal and Storm Changes
reader is prepared to decide which management techniques, as In the course of a year, seasonal changes of the barrier beach
described in Chapter 3, are appropriate for a particular barrier are quite evident. In the summer, when waves are low and long,
beach. the beach builds up, becoming higher and wider (figure 2.2).
Sand is moved from the offshore bar to the beach. The seaward
Natural Characteristics edge of the dune may also grow and extend onto the beach.
Physical Characteristics Storms that occur in the fall, winter, and early spring produce
large steep waves which cut into the beach and cause it to narrow
Barrier beaches are always moving. Changes occur every day and flatten. This sand is moved seaward to build the offshore bar.
as the tide ebbs and flows and as waves strike the beach. Seasonal Storms can narrow the beach to the extent that the dunes begin
and long-term changes also occur. It is important to understand to erode and a dune scarp is formed. Large storms, especially
all of these changes because they all bear on how barrier beaches those which coincide with higher than average tides, can cause
should be managed. extensive erosion to the beach and dunes, and at times the entire

Figure 2.1 Illustration of littoral drifting

Sediment movement
(Iongshore drift)

2.1

barrier can be overwashed (figure 2.3). During large storms, erosion of the barrier beach can be so
When storm overwash occurs, sand eroded from the beach is extensive that the barrier is entirely breached and a tidal inlet
carried landward by the surging water. This sand is dropped on can form. During the Blizzard of '78 a large inlet formed which
the landward side of the barrier in a fan-shaped deposit known as cut Monomoy Island into two separate barrier islands (figure
a washover fan. Beachgrass vegetation usually grows up on wash- 2.4). An inlet such as this is kept open by tidal currents that
over fans and initiates the formation of new dunes.

Figure 2.2 Illustration of seasonal changes to barrier beach
Low ene, @Iv=aver lild

sand movement

VT@

STORM WAVES erode beach
s-ana riiovement
Figure 2.4 Photo of Monomoy Island Inlet, 1978

Figure 2.3 Illustration of storm overwash

@' AA@
"S:
L

tr,@ A..

5
A\
ST@ORM WAVES ,odebac@h@@@@@

A B C
Eroded dune Overwash Revegetation of washover fan to
start the formation of new dunes.

2.2

scour the inlet channel. Sand moving along the beach, however, Inventory of Shoreline Change
can fill the inlet if this sand movement exceeds the amount Past shoreline changes may be used to predict future changes
eroded by tidal scour (figure 2.5). in position of the shoreline. For many areas of the coast, histori-
Long-term Changes cal charts and maps may be used to reconstruct how the shore-
line has changed in position over time. For example, figure 2.7
Rising sea level is gradually submerging the Massachusetts shows barrier beach changes for Nauset Beach and Monomoy
coast. Mean sea level has risen 350-400 feet during the last Island from 1770 to 1970. Based on geological interpretation
12,000 to 15,000 years. and the shoreline has retreated many of these changes, future shoreline positions for 1985, 1995, and
miles over that time period as shown in figure 2.6. Today the rate 2005 can be predicted. Shoreline trend analysis is very useful
of sea level rise is approximately one foot every 100 years as det- for communities situated behind a barrier system because these
ermined from measurements taken of the level of the sea at tide predicted changes should influence the present and future
gauges. This rise produces shoreline retreat on the average of management of the barrier beach.
three feet per year on Outer Cape Cod. The rate of retreat varies Shoreline change determination based on historical charts,
for other areas of the Massachusetts coast depending on several maps, surveys, and aerial photographs requires technical exper-
factors such as: exposure and frequency of storms, type of shore- tise in the specialized field of coastal geomorphology. Many
line material, and extent of shoreline alterations. factors must be considered when shoreline positions are compiled
While coastal banks may gradually erode and disappear with such as the scale and precision of maps and the distortions and
rising sea level, barrier beaches move landward by storm over- tidal positions on aerial photographs. Fortunately historic
wash and inlet processes. Through this landward shifting, barrier shoreline change maps for many areas of the Massachusetts coast
beaches retain their general volume and form as sea level rises have already been compiled and are available from the U.S.
whereas other coastal features such as glacial banks and bedrock Army Corps of Engineers and the Massachusetts Coastal Zone
areas are submerged. Management Office see Appendix B, Technical and Educational

Figure 2.5 Illustration of inlet formation and closing

.=-i t

-4

-s

A B C D
Lowered Dune Breach occurs during storm In some instances inlets will
to form inlet close naturally

2.3

Assistance and Sources of Information at the end of this section). Sources of Information
Since many factors determine the rate of shoreline retreat,
a coastal geornorphologist should be consulted to assist in the Barrier Island Handbook, Leatherman, 1979.
interpretation of these maps. This handbook provides a good overview of the scientific
theories of barrier island (beach) evolution, processes and im-
pacts.
A Geologist's View of Cape Cod, Strahler, 1966.
The geological history of Cape Cod is similar in many re-
100 YEARS AGO spects to several other coastal regions of Massachusetts, such as
Buzzards Bay, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket. Therefore,
this book is a very useful primer on how the Massachusetts
Sea coast has evolved.
Level
The Beaches are Moving, Kaufman and Pilkey, 1979.
This book describes coastal processes and the problems that
have arisen when these processes have been ignored. It offers
some useful recommendations on how to choose a safe site for
development.
A Manual for Researching Historical Coastal Erosion, Fulton,
300 ft. measured 1981.
14- 1 shoreline retreat This is a useful handbook on how to compile information on
TODAY historical shoreline change for a particular coastal area.

I ft.
measured
sea level
rise in
100 years
100 YEARS FROM 300 ft. Predicted
FROM TODAY 14-- 1 Shoreline Retreat

........ . .....

. ..... ...................
2 ft.
sea level
rise in
200 years

Figure 2.6 Illustration of the effects of sea level rise

2.4

Figure 2.7 Illustration of shoreline changes for Nauset Beach and Monomoy Island (after Giese, 1978).

1770 1810
1850 1870
1830
Ch.tkam "set

womoy

light

1890
1910 1930 1950 1970

b"
!, PV

V,
1985
1995 2005

inlet .inlet inlet

Storms That Affect Massachusetts Aug.31,1954

Due to its geographic location and orientation, Massa-
chusetts is vulnerable to two major types of coastal storm:
hurricanes and northeasters.

Hurricanes Sept. 21, 1938
Hurricanes are intense low pressure systems that form in
the tropics during the months of June through October. Sept. 12-13, 1960
Typically hurricane paths have crossed the Massachusetts
coast in the Buzzards Bay region in August and September
(figure 2.8). The erratic behavior of hurricanes indicates that
hurricane paths are not predictable and that hurricanes will
not always come ashore, as they have in the past in Buzzards
Bay and Long Island Sound. Winds of a hurricane, which are
over 75 m.p.h., move counter-clockwise about the center or
eye". Therefore, for south-facing coastlines, the highest
winds of a hurricane usually do the most damage to the east
of a hurricane's eye.
Previous hurricanes have funneled storm tides into south-
facing bays such as Buzzards Bay, Narragansett Bay and
Mount Hope Bay. For the largest storms the effect was to Sep . 14-15, 1944
increase the height of flooding by as much as three feet at
the head of the bays from that experienced on the open
coast. The last major hurricane affecting coastal areas of
Massachusetts occurred in 1960.

Northeasters
Northeasters are similar to hurricanes because they are
both generated in a tropical area, follow the trend of the
coastline, and generate large storm tides. They differ in
frequency, intensity, size and areas affected. Northeasters
affect the coast from the fall to the spring, generate wind
speeds from 30 to 70 m.p.h., and strike northeast facing
coastal areas (figure 2.9).
Northeasters are large, asymmetrical low pressure systems
that produce counter-clockwise winds. Northeasters usually
do not have winds as strong as those of hurricanes, but they
can cause extensive damage especially if they coincide with
the highest tides of the month or year and if they remain Figure 2.8 Illustration of tracks of selected hurricanes (after
stalled off the coast for two to three days. The Blizzard of U.S. A.C.O.E., 1978)
'78 is an example of such a northeaster. In that storm 29
deaths were inflicted and over 250 million dollars worth
of damage occurred.

2.6

formation on shellfish resources in a particular town may be ob-
CO tained from the town shellfish office.
Seal haul-out sites
Migrant, juvenile seals haul themselves out of the water and
onto barrier beaches along the Outer Cape and Islands. The seals
haul-out to sun and perhaps rest during low tide. Haul-out sites
have deep water close to the shore and have a steep bank where
seals can quickly slide off in times of danger. Variations in haul-
out behavior occur with the changes in tide level, weather (espe-
cially sun and wind), ice, and beach conditions.
Turtle nesting sites
Turtles, such as the Diamondback Terrapin, migrate to the
backdune areas of barriers to nest. On Sandy Neck in Barnstable,
researchers found that ORVs (off-road vehicles) had killed many
of the young turtles before they were able to reach salt marshes
and the bay where turtles begin their marine life. As a result of
recommendations by these researchers, the ORV trails along the
dune-salt marsh border have been closed. See Recreation, Section
3 of Chapter 3 for information on managing pedestrian and off-
road vehicle use near these nesting sites.
Migratory bird feeding areas
Migratory shorebirds, such as the Red Knot, use tidal flat
areas of Massachusetts barrier beaches to feed in preparation for
their long flight south (figure 2.10). With their high productivity
of plankton, shell and finfish and aquatic vegetation, these tran-
quil waters provide migrating shorebirds with crucial resting and
Figure 2.9 Illustration of typical northeaster feeding areas.
Colonial shorebird nesting sites
Colonial shorebirds, such as Terns and Plovers, nest in the
Biological Characteristics foredune/beach zone of barrier beaches. See Recreation, Section
3 of Chapter 3 for information on managing pedestrian and off-
Barrier beaches protect landward wetlands, serve as a habitat road vehicle use near these nesting sites.
for many plants and animals and play a vital role in supporting Endangered and threatened species
the biological productivity of coastal waters. The following sub- Numerous endangered and threatened species of fauna and
section briefly describes marsh formation and wildlife habitats, flora are unique to Massachusetts barrier beaches. Information
important biological characteristics of barrier beaches. on these species is available from the Natural Heritage Program,
Marsh formation Department of Environmental Management, 100 Cambridge St.,
The sediment substrate provided by overwash processes and Boston.
inlet migration supports the growth and development of wetland
plants. Salt marshes, which are some of the most biologically pro- Sources of Information
ductive areas on Earth, form and prosper behind barrier beaches. A Guide to Coastal Wetlands, Massachusetts DEQE, 1978.
Wildlife habitats This guide describes the role costal wetlands, such as barrier
This section describes some of the important habitats for beaches and salt marshes, play in providing storm damage pro-
wildlife that are provided by barrier beaches. tection, flood control, and fisheries productivity. The types of
Shellfish activities regulated by the Wetlands Protection Act are described
Shellfish live in the protected sandy tidal flats behind barriers and recommendations are presented on how these activities can
and in the flats and near shore areas in front of some barriers. In- be designed to avoid damage to the barrier beach.

2.7

Land Use Characteristics

Human Alterations
Many land uses of barrier beaches cause alterations of the
natural characteristics. At one extreme alterations may be quite
extensive as in the case of urbanized barrier beaches in the
vicinity of metropolitan areas. Human alterations to these
NORTH barriers include residential and commercial construction, roads,
SHORE sewers, and coastal engineering structures.
Once year-round houses are constructed on a barrier beach,
the scenario that often occurs is for the construction of infra-
structure (sewers, water supply, paved roads, bridges, etc.) then
the construction of coastal engineering structures to "protect"
this development. Rather than protecting the development,
these engineering structures reduce the protection provided by
BOSTON the natural characteristics of the barrier landform. Consequent-
HARBOR ly, storms do more damage to development on the barrier and to
the engineering structures themselves. Once coastal engineering
structures are built, it is very difficult to reverse the cycle to
restore the natural characteristics.
Storm damaged engineering structures are usually replaced
with larger, more expensive engineering structures which in turn
SOUTH encourage more development and investment in the hazard prone
SHORE location. Chapter 3, Section I (Human Alteration) presents
alternatives to this cycle of increasing storm damage by offering
techniques to correct human alterations. Chapter 3, Section 4
(Storm Preparation) presents methods to reduce storm damage in
developed areas.
In contrast to extensively developed barriers are relatively
unaltered barrier beaches that are used entirely for recreational
purposes. Many of these barriers are owned and managed by
natural resource management agencies, such as the National
Park Service, the state Department of Environmental Manage-
ment and local conservation commissions.
CAPE COD However, even these undeveloped barriers have some land use
alterations. For instance, recreational use by pedestrians and
off-road vehicles can seriously damage the natural characteristics
of barrier beaches unless management controls are employed.
Chapter 3, Section 3 (Recreation) discusses these and other
potential recreational impacts to barrier beaches and presents
techniques to manage these impacts. Chapter 3, Section 2
(Acquisition) describes government and private programs which
may be used to acquire barrier beach property for recreation as
an alternative to development.
Human alteration on all barrier beaches is managed through
regulatory programs. Chapter 3, Section 5 (Regulation) lists the
Figure 2.10 Illustration of shorebird stopover sites federal and state regulatory programs for barrier beaches. Nu-
merous options for local regulation of barrier beaches are also

2.8

included in that section. are considered (Chapter 2, Physical Characteristics and Appen-
dix B - Technical and Educational Assistance).
Hazards
Coastal storms cause flooding and erosion to residential and
commercial development on barrier beaches. These hazards can Sources of Information
threaten the safety and health of residents. For example, in the
year 1900, 6,000 residents died on Galveston Island when a Proceedings of "The Blizzard of '78": its effects on the coastal
hurricane overwashed this Texas barrier beach.
On barrier beaches in Massachusetts there is a long history of environment of southeastern New England.
life loss and property damage. Table 2.1 lists these storm statis- This booklet is the proceedings volume of a conference
tics for Massachusetts during this century. sponsored by Boston State College on the Blizzard of '78.
Accounts of Massachusetts barrier beach damage, particularly in
the Winthrop and Scituate areas is described. Other topics
covered include washover identification, sand movement during
Table 2.1 Coastal storms of the 20th century storms, erosion, and storm models.
Coastal Flooding in Barnstable County, Cape Cod, Mass.
DATE DEATHS DAMAGE* TYPE Crane, Donald A., Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Water
February 6, 1978 29 $250 M NE Resources Commission, Boston, 1962.
February 19, 1972 - $9,166,000 NE A general overview of storm damage due to coastal flooding
January 1961 - $10,000,000 NE in Barnstable County is provided with tabulated information on
September 1960 3 $1,222,000 H storms occurring from 1635 to 1909. Specific information
on storm damage to Cape barrier beaches is provided, including
December 29, 1959 - $1,352,000 NE flood hazard maps.
September 19, 1954 60 $454 M H Massachusetts Coastal Study, ACOE NE Division 1978
November 1953 - - NE This study provides storm information for 'hurricanes from
September 1950 - $400,000 NE 1938 to 1960, and northeasters from 1909 to 1972. A commen-
November 1947 - - NE tary on the storms provides information on dates, storm type,
November 28, 1945 - NE maximum tide, wind, precipitation, and -death and damage
August 1944 40 $2,635,000 H estimates. Information on specific types of damage such as
residential, commercial, and transportation is provided for some
April 20, 1940 - NE of Massachusetts' more recent coastal storms.
December 26, 1909 NE
*All damage estimates are corrected to 1977 cost levels.

Flood information is available from Flood Insurance Rate
Maps and Flood Hazard Boundary Maps, both of which are
available from FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency).
These maps delineate areas of a 100-year storm, which is a storm
with a one percent chance of happening in any given year.
There are two principal types of flood hazard delineated on these
maps, the areas that would be flooded by still water (A-zone)
and those areas that would experience flooding with velocity
(V-zone). The effects of erosion during such a storm are not
indicated on these maps. Since erosion produces shoreline
change during these catastrophic storms, these hazards should be
considered with flood hazards when management techniques

2.9

Chapter 3: Management of Barrier Beaches

management sections are included in this chapter: Section 1,
Introduction ..................... 3.1 human alteration; Section 2, acquisition; Section 3, recreation;
Section I Human Alteration ........ 3.1 Section 4, storm preparation; and Section 5, regulation. Each
Section 2 Acquisition ............. 3.7 section has information which is applicable to all barrier beaches
except Section 4, storm preparation, which is concerned only
Section 3 Recreation ............. 3.10 with developed barrier beaches.
Section 4 Storm Preparation ....... 3.13
Section 5 Regulation ............. 3.14 Section I Human Alteration

Introduction: Introduction ..................... 3.1
Management practices for Massachusetts barrier beaches vary Coastal Engineering Structures ....... 3.1
depending on such factors as historic land use, flooding and ero- Dredging ........................ 3.4
sion hazards, natural resource values, economics, and ownership. Filling and Removal ............... 3.4
At one extreme, some barrier beaches are extensively developed, Houses, Roads, and Utilities ......... 3.5
for example Revere Beach (figure 3.1). On the other hand, some Trails and Paths ................... 3.6
barriers are pristine and virtually free from any alterations. Such Dune Building .................... 3.6
unaltered barrier beaches are rare in Massachusetts since most uses Beach Building ................... 3.7
of a barrier beach will cause an alteration to one of its character-
istics. The key to sound management is to accommodate uses
that neither cause deterioration of the natural characteristics,
nor increase hazards. Introduction
This chapter assumes that the reader has identified the bar-
rier beach (Chapter 1), and is familiar with the natural and land This section describes common human alterations to barrier
use characteristics of the barrier beach (Chapter 2). Five major beaches and proposes methods for correcting the adverse effects
Of these alterations. The types of human alterations are divided
into the same general categories as appear in the state Guide to
oas
tal Wetlands: coastal engineering structures; dredging; filling
a
nd removal; houses, roads, and utilities; and trails and paths. For
each type of alteration, techniques are presented that will help re
duce storm damage losses and restore characteristics of the bar-
& ner beach that provide storm protection and biological values.
Following the discussion of human alterations, techniques for
rebuilding altered dune and beach areas of barrier beaches are dis-
cussed.

Coastal engineering structures

i Coastal engineering structures are devices of rock, steel, tim-
ber or concrete designed and constructed to prevent or minimize
flooding and erosion of specific sites along the coast. They may
ar
also be constructed to maintain navigation channels and h bors.
"-k Coastal engineering structures often interrupt the natural process-
Figure 3.1 Photo of Revere Beach es of the shoreline. While the purpose of these structures is to trap

3.1

sediment in front of one person's property, they usually increase When storms destroy or damage a groin, this is the critical time
erosion of adjacent or down-beach properties. These structures to consider whether it must be rebuilt or if modifications 2-4 be-
are grouped according to their location and design: groins and low are feasible.
jetties, seawalls and revetments, and offshore breakwaters. 2. Shorten groin
By removing the seaward end of a groin to its entrapment
groins and jetties capacity sand can begin to move around the end of the structure
These structures are located on the beach perpendicular to to restore the down-beach area.
the shoreline. As is true of most other coastal engineering struc- 3. Lower height of groin
tures, groins and jetties may be constructed of such varied mater- Removal of the top of a groin can allow sand to move over the
ials as rock, steel, timber or concrete. The most important and structure, and thus build up the down-beach area.
obvious effect of these structures is to interrupt the movement 4. Increase porosity of groin
of sediment along the beach. This brings about an increase in "Porosity" of a groin refers to the number and size of holes
beach width and elevation on the updrift side of the groin or between the rocks of a groin. By removing rocks from within the
jetty with accompanying loss of beach width and height or erosion groin, sand can begin to be moved through the groin to the down-
on the downdrift side (figure 3.2). The erosion or decrease in beach area.
volume of the downdrift beach diminishes the storm protection ca- 5. Nourish beach
pability of the beach. Resultant changes in sediment size, beach "Nourishment" refers to the placement of sand on a beach or
elevations, and changes in circulation that may accompany groin- barrier beach to increase its volume. The feasibility of nourish-
and jetty-related erosion may also damage shellfish and finfish ment should be evaluated in combination with modifications to
resources by removing their habitat. the groin structure (described in 1-4 above). Sand used for nour-
ishment should be similar in size to that of the natural beach.
Sometimes sand of a larger size is necessary for nourishment if
all natural sources of sand have been depleted. To determine if
sand is "compatible" with the nourishment site, scientific assis-
Q 0 4 if 0.. tance should be sought (see appendix B).
Nourishment sand may be obtained from several different
osion by different methods. Sand may be moved from up-
e sources and
drift of a groin to the downdrift beach with an earthmoving ma-
k%j
chine such as a front-end loader. Sand dredged from navigation
channels may be pumped onto the eroded beach with hydraulic
machinery. Typically, sand nourishment must be performed per-
iodically if the source of natural sand no longer exists for a given
% -------
@g, in effects .SHORTENING REMOVAL beach area. Beach erosion rates should be determined (as discussed
in Chapter 2, Shoreline Change); the sources of sand and the me-
Figure 3.2 Illustration of groin alternatives chanisms of beach nourishment must be investigated, and the fre-
quency and volume of sand necessary to maintain the beach must
be identified. Storm frequency and magnitude can greatly affect
Groin -corrective techniques how much and how often sand nourishment may be required.
Several techniques are suggested to restore beaches affected
by groins. Generally it is desirable to make modifications such that Jetty-corrective techniques
sand movement along the beach will be renewed and downdrift Jetties are constructed to maintain a navigation inlet in a fixed
areas will refill with sand again. Alternatives are presented as fol- position. Often the corrective techniques used for groins are un-
lows. workable for jetties because of the need to insure safe navigation.
1. Remove groin As with groins, the alternatives should be reviewed in a step by
If it is economically and physically feasible to remove the groin step fashion to determine which approach is most feasible and
this may be the best alternative. Removing the groin leads to a desirable.
straightening of the shoreline: up-beach of the removed structure, 1. By-pass sand across inlet
sand will be lost, and down-beach the sand volume will increase. To restore the movement of sand along the beach, sand must

3.2

be moved from the updrift side of the inlet to the downdrift as ly with a permanent pumping station set up for inlet systems with
shown in figure 3.3. Sand "by-passing" is a mechanical way of a large volume of sediment movement along the beach. In Mass-
moving sand along the beach. By-passing may be done continuous- achusetts, by-passing may be necessary only periodically. Sand is
dredged as often as is needed to keep the navigation channel from
OCEAN filling, to maintain the size of the downdrift barrier beach, and
longshore drift
to insure that erosion and overwashing of the downdrift barrier
beach is not accelerated.
updrift sand
2. Use dredge material to nourish downdrift beaches
buildup
........ .. ... (See dredging-corrective techniques).

Tidal Delta seawalls and revetments
Seawalls and revetments are structures placed parallel to
the orientation of the shoreline. They are usually located on
B the landward side of the beach in front of coastal dunes, if dunes
Downdrift are present. They may be constructed of steel, rock, timber, or
Erosion concrete. Seawalls are typically massive structures designed to
keep landward areas from flooding and eroding (figure 3.4).

Tidal
Delta

4@,

it
-----------

%;
Dredging
V Operation Figure 3.4 Photo of seawall
Revetments are usually aprons of rock or concrete which are
placed as a covering over the seaward face of a coastal dune or
placed seaward of a seawall to reduce wave scour at the seawall
base .
OCEAN
Seawalls and revetments trap the source of dune sand that is
required to naturally resupply the beach. Seawalls can also cause
erosion in front of them due to the reflection of storm waves.
Over the longer term the most serious adverse effect of seawalls
and revetments is their interference with the landward shifting
of the barrier beach. As discussed in Chapter 2, barrier beaches
Figure 3.3 Illustration of jetty alternatives must be able to move landward to keep up with rising sea level.

3.3

If the barriers do not shift landward, storm damage will intensify material from areas that build up behind the breakwater (see
as the size of the barrier is diminished. Likewise, the costs of dredging-corrective techniques).
maintaining a seawall will accelerate, and adjacent non-seawalled
barrier areas will experience severe erosion.
Dredging
Seawalls and revetments-corrective techniques Dredging is the mechanical removal of sediment from inter-
It is usually difficult to correct the problems associated with tidal or subtidal areas. It is typically performed to allow safe
seawalls. As with groins, the critical time to consider corrective navigation through inlet channels and shallow bays behind barrier
approaches for these structures is immediately after they have beaches. Dredging seaward of a barrier beach can adversely
been damaged or destroyed by a storm. Instead of automatically affect a barrier beach by removing a portion of the offshore bar
rebuilding the seawall, an effort should be made to determine the which is part of the barrier beach sand system. It can also change
feasibility of one or a combination of the following alternatives. the coastal processes such as wave direction and height which
1. After the storm, evaluate if seawall must be rebuilt. determine the shape and volume of the landform. Consequently,
Alternatives to rebuilding the seawall may be non-structural dredging should be done far enough seaward of a barrier beach
efforts such as dune construction and beach nourishment. These and should avoid causing deep holes which change the direction
measures may be combined with the relocation or modification and height of waves. Dredging should not remove portions of
of houses or other buildings behind the seawall. If landward tidal flats or subtidal bottom areas behind a barrier beach be-
structures are substantially damaged, they may qualify for cause the substrate necessary for marsh growth and for the land-
relocation financial assistance from FEMA (see Acquisition, ward shifting of the barrier is eliminated.
Section 2).
2. If seawall must be rebuilt, modify seawall design and nourish Dredging-corrective techniques
beach. 1. Use dredge material to nourish downdrift beaches.
Seawalls must be rebuilt in certain situations. For example, To maintain the size of downdrift beaches, clean dredged
there may be insufficient room to allow artificial dune construc- material of similar grain size should be used for nourishment.
tion; sources of compatible sediment may not be available; or The tidal deltas on the seaward (ebb) side and bay (flood) side
the expense of any one or a combination of these techniques of an inlet are often good sources of compatible beach sediment.
may be prohibitive. In these situations techniques to modify the Frequently such deltas are dredged because they are shallow
seawall should be used including: moving the seawall landward, sand bodies that interfere with navigation. Scientific assistance
placing a more gradual face on the seawall, placing a sloped should be obtained to aid in the evaluation of proposals for
revetment in front of the seawall, and nourishing the beach in dredging and beach nourishment.
front of the seawall. 2. Navigation channels immediately behind barrier beach should
be moved.
offshore breakwaters When dredging is required to maintain a navigation channel
An offshore breakwater is usually constructed in shallow immediately behind a barrier beach, the channel should be re-
water seaward of and parallel to the barrier beach. It is a massive located slightly landward to keep up with the rate of barrier
structure built to provide a harbor of refuge in the lee of the beach landward shifting. (See Chapter 2, Shoreline Change, to
structure (e.g. the Provincetown Harbor Breakwater) or in an obtain information on shoreline change rate). Dredged material
attempt to reduce severe storm damage to beachfront property of appropriate grain size that is removed from the channel should
(e.g. the Five Sisters Breakwater of Winthrop). Breakwaters be placed on the barrier beach.
interrupt longshore sediment transport by changing the direction
and energy of waves. Beaches on the downdrift side are eroded Filling and Removal
because sand is trapped between the breakwater and the shore.
Offshore Brea kwa ters-correc tive techniques Filling refers to the artificial placement of material on a
barrier beach; removal is the artificial extraction of sediment
Dredge behind breakwater and nourish eroding beaches from a portion of a barrier beach. Removal reduces the volume
Beach areas adjacent to the offshore breakwater which of the beach or dunes and diminishes their effectiveness as
experience erosion may be nourished periodically with dredged storm buffers. Filling and removal changes the natural contours

3.4

and processes that shape a barrier beach. Filling with sediment To completely eliminate the adverse affects and hazards
of compatible composition and grain size is called "nourishment" caused by development on barrier beaches, all structures would
(see dredging). Filling with incompatible sediment can change have to be removed. This is not a reasonable alternative in most
the way the barrier beach and dunes respond to coastal forces. circumstances. However, if a coastal storm does major damage
This alteration can result in increased erosion, interference with to structures on a barrier beach, relocation should be seriously
landward movement of the barrier, and disturbance of natural investigated before rebuilding is considered.
vegetation. Financial incentives are available to owners of storm-damaged
dwellings for relocation out of coastal flood areas. Two acquisi-
Filling and removal-corrective techniques tion programs, administered by the Federal Emergency Manage-
It is very difficult to correct damage caused when inappro- ment Agency (FEMA), are described in the acquisition section.
priate fill has been placed on a barrier beach. Where sediment The following additional steps should be taken to minimize
removal has occurred, restoration can be achieved by replace- disturbance caused by houses, roads, and utilities to the natural
ment with appropriate grain sized sediment and revegetation with resources of the barrier beach and reduce hazards associated with
beachgrass. A geornorphologist should be consulted to determine these alterations.
the appropriate grain size and volume of sediment to restore the 1. Acquire barrier beach property.
barrier beach area. Acquisition is one of the most effective ways to manage a
Artificial dune building is one effective method of restoring barrier beach. Numerous federal, state, local, and private pro-
the barrier beach in areas where dunelines have been removed. grams are available for barrier beach acquisition (see Acquisi-
The design and construction of an artificial dune requires analysis tion, Section 2).
of specific beach and dune characteristics, erosion rates, and 2. Prohibit new construction on the barrier beach.
vegetation needs. Sand from the beach should not be used to
build dunes, because the volume of the protective beach is All new construction should be prohibited on most barrier
reduced. Therefore off-site sources of sand, such as sand an d beaches. Several recent judicial and regulatory decisions have
gravel pits, must be considered. Artificial dune building is concluded that houses, utilities, and septic systems adversely
environmentally preferable to structural approaches, such as affect the resources of barrier beaches and pose health and
groins or jetties. However, it is expensive and is usually used safety problems. Implementation of prohibitions on new con-
only when valuable property and resources are particularly struction may be accomplished through local by-laws, (Wetlands,
vulnerable to storm damage. Board of Health, Building Code) and state coastal wetland
regulations.
Houses, Roads, and Utilities 3. Prohibit construction in the velocity zone or foredune
(primary dune) of the barrier beach.
Houses, roads, and utilities are types of development existing It may not be feasible to prohibit all new construction on
on some barrier beaches in Massachusetts. Some of these land- some extensively altered barriers. However, at a minimum
uses have greatly altered the physical and biological character- construction should be prohibited in the velocity zone or on the
istics of barrier beaches and created flood and erosion hazards. first large dune landward of the beach. (This dune is sometimes
Housing development on barrier beaches has led to other types of called the foredune or the primary dune).
alterations such as coastal engineering structures, roads, and 4. Move buildings
utilities. Since the signing of Executive Order No. 181 on barrier As buildings are increasingly threatened by coastal storm
beaches in 1980, Massachusetts policy regarding such construc- damage, they should be moved to a more landward location
tion projects on barrier beaches is that state and federal funds preferably off the barrier beach. A Coast Guard life-saving
"shall not be used to encourage growth and development in station, threatened with destruction by storm overwash, was
hazard-prone barrier beach areas" (see Appendix A - Executive recently moved from the Nauset barrier beach in Chatham.
Order for Barrier Beaches). Typical projects which encourage If it is feasible to move the building off the barrier beach, it
growth and development of barrier beaches are: new water, should be relocated landward as far as possible. A geomorpholo-
sewer, and natural gas lines for residential, commercial, or gist should be consulted to help determine the setback distance
industrial purposes; new septic systems; and new or expanded based on the predicted shoreline change rate (see Chapter 2,
roads and bridges. Shoreline Change).

3.5

5. Elevate or floodproof existing dwellings and develop a of these landforms, thereby reducing the storm protection
storm preparedness plan for developed areas. provided for landward property and wetlands. The purpose of
For those areas where moving a threatened dwelling is not this subsection is to describe techniques to rebuild altered dunes
feasible due to lack of land or financial considerations, dwellings or create new dunes where they have been completely destroyed.
should be elevated or floodproofed to the maximum extent Natural dunes are formed when wind- blown sand forms a
possible. This should be done after consultation with the local hill with the help of stabilizing vegetation. The essential ele-
building inspectors (see Storm Preparation-Section 4). ments for the formation of a natural dune are:
6. Restore open-space areas with natural landforms and vege- 1. sand
tation. 2. wind
Most barrier beaches, even developed barriers, have areas 3. vegetation
of open space. These areas may be prime sites for restoring dune Altered dune areas may be restored by using techniques
landforms by planting beacligrass or replenishing dune sand, which help provide natural ingredients for dune building. These
Open space areas closest to the beach should receive priority are presented as follows with the easiest techniques first.
for restoration because they are the first line of buffer against
coastal storms. Vegetation
7. Use open pile and temporary walkways over dune areas.
Foot traffic can kill beacligrass vegetation which stabilizes If beachgrass or other dune plants have been destroyed by
the dunes. Loss of the stabilizing vegetation can cause loss of human alteration, disease, or other causes, planting may be
dune sand by wind erosion. These impacts can be dramatically required. American Beachgrass (Ammophila breviligulata) is
reduced by building walkways on piles or by placing temporary the best plant to use for this purpose in Massachusetts. Two
walkways over foredunes for beach access (figure 3.5). options are available for obtaining beachgrass: harvesting the
plants from adjacent, healthy areas, or purchasing plants from
commercial nurseries. Towns and private organizations may wish
to develop a local nursery stock.
Where disease in beachgrass occurs, bitter panicum may be
planted between the beachgrass to control disease and help
build the dune. Proper foredune slope may be achieved by
decreasing the distance between rows as the dune crest or pro-
posed dune crest is approached from the beach. Planting in
staggered rows parallel to the duneline and b6ach is the most
effective method. If large, flat areas exceeding an acre are to be
planted, mechanical planters may be an efficient planting meth-
od, however, a large well-organized group can easily perform the
same task.

Wind
In coastal areas strong winds that blow in off the water pick
up sand from the beach and carry it landward to the dune.
Dune volume depends in part on the frequency of these strong
Figure 3.5 Photo of dune walkover sea breezes. Sand is deposited on the dunes because the wind
velocity is reduced here and vegetation traps the blowing sand.
Trails and Paths Fences can be used to build dunes because they reduce wind
velocity and help trap sand.
The restoration of barrier beach areas modified by trails and In highly exposed areas, sets of sand fence installed parallel
paths is discussed in the Recreation Section. to the beach and dune face build a dune more quickly than
beacligrass plantings (Knutson, 1977). The most effective
Dune Building technique, however, is to plant beacligrass in conjunction with
fence use.
Human alterations to barrier dunes can decrease the volume The best fence material to use is snow fence with a 50%

3.6

porosity, held in place by posts at 10 to 15 foot intervals. Snow Dune Building and Stabilization with Vegetation, W.W. Wood-
fence is widely available, catches sand better than brush fence, house Jr., 1978 C.E.R.C.
is less expensive than fabric fence, requires less labor to install This report discusses the use of fences and vegetation for
than fabric or brush fence, and is less subject to vandalism than dune creation and gives practical information on fencing and
fabric fence (Woodhouse, 1978). planting techniques.
Sand Planting Guidelines for Dune Creation and Stabilization, P.L.
The source of sand for natural dune building is the adjacent Knutson, 1977 C.E.R.C.
beach. Where beach volume has been reduced by human altera- This report provides guidelines for selecting plants, planting
tions (such as coastal engineering structures) another sand source methods, storing and maintaining plants, and estimating labor
may be required. Sand which is artificially or mechanically requirements for planting projects.
brought in to build a dune should be compatible with the sand How to Build and Save Beaches and Dunes, J.A. Jagschitz and
in adjacent natural dunes (see "nourishment" in the filling and R.C. Wakefield, 1971, U.R.I. Marine Pamphlet no. 4.
removal subsection). Vegetative plantings should be done in This leaflet explains how the individual owner can use snow
conjunction with this artificial dune construction. fences and vegetation to build and save dunes.
The dimensions of an artificial dune should be similar to Landscaping the Seashore Cottage, R.A. Goodno, 1978, Coop.
adjacent unaltered natural dunes, if the latter are available for Ext. Service USDA.
comparison. If not, a coastal geornorphologist should be consult- This leaflet is for homeowners living on the seashore. It
ed to determine the optimum dune dimensions and locations (see offers suggestions for location and types of landscaping features
Appendix B). and dune protective planting.
Where buildings have replaced dunes, buildings should be
moved if possible, to provide sufficient room for construction
of an artificial dune. Section 2 Acquisition
Beach Building Introduction ................. 3.7
When the volume of a beach is reduced by human alterations, Federal ..................... 3.7
less storm protection is afforded. When this situation exists on State ....................... 3.8
a densely developed barrier beach, beach building or beach Local ....................... 3.8
nourishment may be economically justified. Because beach Private ...................... 3.9
nourishment is usually very expensive, this technique should be
considered only if all other efforts such as acquisition, housing
set-backs, etc. have failed (see houses, roads, and utilities sub-
section). An economic assessment of nourishment should be
performed to evaluate the feasibility of this type of protection. Introduction
Nourishment sand, such as the dredged material that is taken
from inlets , should be used for beach nourishment (see dredging Public acquisition of barrier beaches is one of the best
subsection). techniques for protecting the beach's natural characteristics and
eliminating storm damage, and at the same time increasing
coastal recreation opportunities. This section describes public
Sources of Information and private programs in Massachusetts for the acquisition of
barrier beach property.
Beach and Dune Nourishment Guidelines, Shore Protection
Manual, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, C.E.R.C, 1977. Federal
This manual contains several useful sections concerning beach
and dune building. Guidelines for beach nourishment are dis- The federal government acquires barrier beach property
cussed including a technical review for determining the compati- through its land management agencies, the National Park Service
bility of sediment. and the Fish and Wildlife Service. The National Park Service

3.7

owns most of the barrier beaches of the Outer Cape in the Cape 4. South Beach. Federal Land and Water Conservation
Cod National Seashore. On the Massachusetts North Shore, Funds were used to acquire this 68-acre site on Martha's Vine-
the Fish and Wildlife Service manages the southern three quarters yard which includes a barrier beach. The town of Edgartown has
of Plum Island as a wildlife refuge and on Cape Cod, Monomoy assumed responsibility for managing this area.
Island as a wilderness area. In addition, federal Land and Water Previously acquired barrier beach properties, such as Salis-
Conservation Funds are provided to the state which disburses bury Beach State Reservation and Horseneck Beach State Reser-
them to local municipalities for land acquisition. vation, are the subject of new master planning efforts to improve
public recreational amenities while restoring and preserving the
State natural values of the coastal landforms.
The Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) is the other
The Department of Environmental Management (DEM), major state land management agency with barrier beach holdings.
the Commonwealth's principal land management agency, is MDC operates twenty beach areas comprising approximately
responsible for acquiring, conserving, and managing most state- 1,000 acres on the shoreline from Lynn to Hull; many of these
owned barrier beach properties. areas are barrier beaches including Revere Beach and Nantasket
Through the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Beach. While no major properties are currently available for
Plan (SCORP), DEM defines its annual program of state acquisi- acquisition along Boston Harbor's heavily developed shoreline,
tion and local funding for acquisition. SCORP recently recom- new acquisition opportunities may arise after future coastal
mended an aggressive program of barrier beach acquisition storm damage.
through the following programs: DEM capital budget outlay,
federal Land and Water Conservation Funds, state Self-Help Local
and Urban Self-Help funds, and Federal Emergency Manage-
ment Agency (FEMA) funds. The 1981 capital outlay proposal Community acquisition of barrier beaches can serve a variety
requested and received legislative approval of a one million dollar of local objectives including prevention of development in
bonding authorization for the acquisition of coastal properties hazardous areas, protection of natural buffer areas, enhancement
by DEM. of recreational opportunities, and protection of wildlife habitat.
The Barrier Beach Executive Order also directed DEM to Though highly vulnerable to severe damage, coastal property is
acquire or assist towns in acquiring remaining undeveloped typically very expensive and therefore often considered beyond
barrier beach properties. In response to the Barrier Beach the financial reach of community acquisition. However, through
Executive Order which establishes a high priority for barrier federal and state funding programs, private foundations, local
beach acquisition, DEM targeted more than 30 sites for acquisi- land trusts, and individual donations, communities can reduce
tion and management and more than 20 properties for coastal the costs of acquiring and managing barrier beach property.
towns to consider. DEM technical assistance is available to towns In addition to high cost, loss of tax revenue is sometimes
interested in the acquisition of these coastal sites. perceived as another drawback to local acquisition. Anticipated
Examples of DEM initiatives since the Executive Order was tax losses, however, may be offset by increased tourism and
issued include: attendant commercial benefits which result from enhanced
1. Merrimack Life Saving Station. A 54-acre surplus pro- recreational open space. Additionally, land used for open space
perty at the northern tip of Plum Island barrier beach was rather than for development saves tax money in the long run
obtained from the Coast Guard. as this use places fewer demands on tax-raised revenues. Finally,
2. Scituate. Using FEMA 1362 funds (see 1362 Program future storm damage costs which are shouldered by the general
Section 4), 6 acres of undeveloped barrier beach on Egypt and public are avoided in these hazard-prone areas.
Peggotty beaches were acquired from ten willing sellers, and Examples of Massachusetts barrier beaches in part or full
leased to the Town of Scituate for passive recreation use by the community ownership include: Wingaersheek Beach, Glouces-
public. Hull is also a priority area for this type of acquisition. ter; Peggotty Beach, Scituate; Rexhame Beach, Marshfield;
3. South Cape Beach. The Department received legislative Saquish Beach and Long Beach, Plymouth; Sandy Neck, Barn-
approval for the acquisition of a 131-acre parcel in Mashpee stable; Nauset Beach, Orleans and Chatham; Red River Beach,
which contains a large barrier beach system. This area is included Harwich; Sea Gull Beach and Grays Beach, Yarmouth; Davis
in the Waquoit Bay ACEC (Area of Critical Environmental Beach and Chapin Beach, Dennis; First Encounter Beach, East-
Concern). ham; Ballston Beach and Gull Island (Pamet North Spit), Truro;

3.8

Bournes Pond, Falmouth; Esther Island and Muskeget Island, A gift of land can provide the donor with attractive tax reduc-
Nantucket; and Norton Point Beach, Dukes County. The West- tions.
port Conservation Commission owns 50 acres on the west end of The Trustees of Reservations is a privately -administered,
Horseneck Beach. charitable corporation in Massachusetts whose purpose is to
The Division of Conservation Services in the Executive acquire and preserve places of significant natural and historical
Office of Environmental Affairs administers three programs interest for public use. Trustees holdings include the 1352-
which assist Massachusetts municipalities in acquiring and/or acre Crane's Reservation encompassing Castle Neck, Ipswich;
developing recreation and conservation areas and facilities: the 810-acre Coatue Wildlife Refuge, Nantucket; the 484-acre
1. The federal Land and Water Conservation Fund. Estab- Cape Poge Wildlife Refuge and the 200-acre Wasque Reservation,
lished by Congress in 1965, this fund provides up to 50% reim- Chappaquiddick; and the Long Point Wildlife Refuge, West
bursement to states and their political subdivisions for acquisi- Tisbury. Additionally, the Trustees operate the largest conserva-
tion and development of public outdoor recreation areas and tion restriction (1900 acres) in the Commonwealth on Nasha-
facilities. Funds are not available for operation or maintenance. wena Island (Elizabeth Islands); a 175 acre parcel on the eastern
One of the requisites for obtaining monies through this fund is end is a barrier beach.
consistency with the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recrea- A conservation restriction is a legal means of protecting an
tion Plan (SCORP). area's natural and scenic qualities. It prevents fundamental
2. The Massachusetts Self-Help Program. Established in changes in the present land patterns and limits development
1961, this fund provides up to 80% reimbursement for the while according the owner full title to and exclusive use of the
acquisition of conservation lands to communities with estab- property.
lished conservation commissions. Since the intent of this pro- The Nature Conservancy is a national conservation organiza-
gram is to preserve lands and waters in their natural state, its tion which acquires areas of outstanding natural or ecological
funds may be used only for acquisition of land for conservation value through donations or purchase. Some areas are retained
or passive recreation purposes. and managed by the Conservancy, while others are transferred
3. The Massachusetts Urban Self-Help Program. Established or sold to other appropriate agencies that are prepared to protect
in 1977, this fund provides up to 80% reimbursement for the them. Although the Nature Conservancy currently owns no
acquisition of park or recreation lands. To qualify, a city or barrier beach properties in Massachusetts, it has purchased an
town must have a population of at least 35,000 and a park or important chain of barrier beaches known as the Virginia Coast
recreation commission and conservation commission. Reserve. These thirteen islands, ten of which are owned entirely
To apply for any of these programs, a municipality must by the Conservancy, are held and managed in their undeveloped
submit to the Division of Conservation Services, or have on file, state for research, education, and recreation.
an approved open space/re creation plan that has been developed Smaller private groups also play an essential role in pre-
or updated within the past five years. Each project considered serving barrier beach property in Massachusetts. The Essex
for funding is reviewed for consistency with its conservation/ County Greenbelt Association, a non-profit conservation organi-
recreation plan and the SCORP. Requirements for planning zation, owns a 65-acre reservation and has a 60-acre conserva-
documents and technical assistance are available from the Divi- tion restriction on the Wingaersheek barrier beach. Five miles of
sion of Conservation Services, 100 Cambridge Street, Boston, Duxbury Beach owned by the Duxbury Beach Reservation are
MA 02202, (617) 727-15 5 2. leased to the town of Duxbury on an annual basis. The Nan-
tucket Conservation Foundation owns 323.9 acres in assorted
Private parcels known as the Coatue Wildlife Refuge.

Twenty-two percent of the Massachusetts coastline is pro-
tected from future development through ownership by public Sources of Information
and private conservation agencies. Private organizations which
acquire barrier beach property by purchase or gift can provide State
permanent stewardship and transfer or re-sale to public resource Commonwealth of Massachusetts
management agencies. Private agencies also occasionally nego- Division of Conservation Services
tiate acquisitions to avoid the sometimes time-consuming pro- 100 Cambridge Street
cedures of obtaining public acquisition authority and funding. Boston, MA 02202

3.9

Commonwealth of Massachusetts landward areas against storm damage and flooding. Wildlife
Department of Environmental Management populations dependent upon barrier beach systems for nesting
100 Cambridge Street and/or feeding may be disrupted by human visitors. Manage-
Boston, MA 02202 ment policies therefore must balance the recreational needs with
Private other uses and resource values of barrier beaches.
The Trustees of Reservation Parking
224 Adams Street
Milton, MA 02186 (617) 698-2066 One of the major management concerns of barrier beach
-rhe Nature Conservancy recreational use is to provide parking areas for user access with-
Eastern Regional Office out damaging the physical and biological resources. Since
294 Washington Street, Room 850 barrier beaches shift landward over time, if at all possible, park-
Boston, MA 20108 ing areas and other facilities should be located on adjacent up-
Barrier Island Newsletter land areas off the barrier beach (figure 3.7). This will avoid
Published by the National Wildlife Federation damages to barrier resources and eliminate the need for costly
1412 Sixteenth Street, N.W. storm damage expenditures.
Washington, D. C. 20036 (202) 797-6050 If a parking lot is already located on the barrier beach,
Directory of Massachusetts Land Conservation Trusts moving the parking lot to a more landward area of the barrier
Massachusetts Audubon Society beach would permit the maintenance of a foredune ridge which
Lincoln, MA 0 1773 would reduce future storm damage.

Facilities
Section 3 Recreation The number of people attracted to a particular area is in-
fluenced by the availability of beach facilities including bath-
rooms, changing rooms, showers, picnic areas, food concessions,
Introduction ................ 3.10 and educational displays. Motorized shuttle service between
Parking .................... 3.10 parking areas off the barrier beach and access points on the beach
Facilities ................... 3.10 is encouraged for public use during the summer season.
Pedestrian Traffic ............ 3.10
Off-Road Vehicles ............ 3.11 Pedestrian Traffic

When many people use a barrier beach, the vegetation and
wildlife may be damaged by excessive foot traffic. Scientific
studies performed at Cape Cod National Seashore and elsewhere
Introduction indicate that heavy pedestrian traffic can cause damage to
stabilizing vegetation. Based on these and other studies, the
Of the various uses of a barrier beach, recreation is most following guidelines and educational suggestions are provided.
compatible with conserving natural resources and minimizing Guidelines for pedestrian use on dunes
hazards. The large numbers of people who are attracted to the
natural and scenic qualities of barrier beaches, however, can 1. Designate and maintain trails across the dunes.
present problems of user access and impact. The diversity of 2. Limit the number of designated access points and trails.
recreational use-swimming, sunbathing, fishing, boating, camp- 3. Confine pedestrian traffic to designated trails and restrict
ing, hiking, and off-road vehicle travel--may also cause user traffic from the driftline zone and developing dune edge by
conflicts and resource alterations. For example, careless recrea- using fencing and shrub borders. Rugosa rose, bayberry, and
tional use may adversely affect the form and volume of coastal beach plum provide effective barriers.
beaches and dunes which are necessary for the protection of 4. For heavy use areas, build walkways over dunes. Re-

3.10

Figure 3.7 Illustration of b) describe damage that pedestrians can cause to beach,
UPLAND
alternative dune, salt marsh, and tidal flat environments.
FACILITY
parking/facility SITING
2. Signs should be used to:
locations a) mark designated pedestrian trails and closed dune
areas, and
b) mark sensitive areas including:
sites of nesting birds, including terns, gulls, herons,
and shorebirds, and nesting turtles during nesting season;
-driftline zone or expanding dune edge; and
ites ofendangered and threatened plants and animals.
-S

Off-road Vehicles

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
According to the 1979 report of the President's Council on
Environmental Quality, Off-Road Vehicles on Public Lands,
"the off-road vehicle (ORV) problem is one of the most serious
land use issues we face." Prior to World War 11, few vehicles
MOVE were seen on coastal beaches, but since 1960, ORV registrations
PARKING
BAYWARD
nationwide have grown nearly 2,000 percent.
Five years of scientific studies on ORV impacts on coastal
e
ironments in Cape Cod National Seashore concluded that
nv
"there is no 'carrying capacity' for vehicular impact on coastal
ecosystems. Even low-level impacts can result in severe environ-
mental degradation. The most naturally unstable areas, such as
the intertidal ocean beach, tend to be the least susceptible to
damage. (However, this does not imply that there are no nega
_..,.,:..BARRIE tive effects from ORV impact in this zone.) Dunes can be
BEACH
quickly devegetated by vehicular passage, resulting in blowouts
and sand migration. Of all the (coastal) ecosystems evaluated,
the salt marshes and intertidal sandflats are the least tolerant
of ORV impacts."
Based on these studies and others performed on the East
BAY
Coast, the following restrictions, guidelines, and educational
suggestions are provided.
movable wooden walkways that can be taken up during the
winter storm season may be the most effective and econo- Beach
mically desirable. Such walkways help reduce damage to OR V use should be prohibited on:
dune vegetation. Elevated wooden platforms from which 1. driftline zones or expanding dune edges,
users may view surrounding terrains help confine people and 2. developing dunes, and
minimize adverse impact. 3. nesting areas of Least Terns and other shorebirds.
Educational Suggestions Guidelines for OR V use on beaches
1. Trails for ORV use should be located such that:
1. Provide public educational programs, displays, and signs a. drivers follow previously made tracks and
that: b. the number of access points to the beach is minimized.
a) describe the values of the beach, dune, salt marsh, 2. Beach trails should be closed during high or exceptionally
and tidal flat environments, and high tides so that drivers will not damage the seaward edge of

3.11

the dunes. (The times of the prohibition will vary due to the (The times of the prohibition will vary due to the width of
width of the beach and the height,of the high tide.) the beach and the height of the high tide.)

Dunes Massachusetts became the first state in the nation to limit
OR V use should be prohibited on: ORV use on state owned beaches with the issuance of Executive
1. driftline zones or expanding dune edges, Order 190. This order directs the Department of Environmental
2. developing dunes, Management and the Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and
3. border zone between dunes and salt marshes/tidal flats or Recreational Vehicles to develop guidelines for ORV use on its
freshwater wetlands, properties (see Appendix A - State Executive Orders and Section
4. nesting bird areas (including terns, gulls, herons, and shore- 5, Regulation.)
birds) and nesting turtle areas during nesting season, and
5. sites of endangered and threatened plants and animals.
Guidelines for OR V use on dunes Sources of Information
I . Trails should be located such that:
a. prevailing winds do not create blowouts; The Impact of Off-Road Vehicles on Coastal Ecosystems in Cape
b. dune routes do not include sharp turns and steep grade Cod National Seashore: "An Overview, " S.P. Leatherman and
c. trails do not cross unstable dunes; and P.J. Godfrey, 1979.
d. trails avoid sensitive areas such as nesting areas, blowouts, This report summarizes the results of extensive research on
and sites of endangered and threatened plants and animals. ORV impacts on coastal ecosystems. It offers recommendations
2. To keep ORV use on the designated trail, rutted trails should to minimize the adverse impacts of ORVs on coastal ecosystems.
be repaired.
3. Traffic should be confined to designated routes by use of Proc. Barrier Id. Forum and Workshop, 'Provincetown, Mass.,-
fences (especially strong fences made of cable) and dense impene- May 1980", Mayo, B. and L. Smith, Eds. 1982. Boston, U.S.
trable shrubs. National Park Service. 207 pp.
4. Efforts should be made to protect the foredune. This is a proceedings volume which provides a record of the
a. Access points should be minimized. 1980 Barrier Island Forum and Workshop. One section includes
b. Ramps should be built and maintained. a workshop on human impacts which reports the results of
c. Parking and use of blowout areas should be prohibited studies on ORV and pedestrian impacts.
and controlled by fencing. "Management guidelines for parks on barrier beaches." in Parks:
5. When an ORV trail creates an unstable dune area such as a
blowout, a reduction in foredune height, or a migrating dune, international journal of national parks, historic sites and other
then the trail should be closed and this area restored. (See dune protected areas., Godfrey, Paul J., Jan.-Mar. 1978.
building, Section 1, Human Alteration.) This article gives a good explanation of barrier beach pro-
Educational Suggestions cesses. It then goes on to list guidelines for management of park
1. Provide public educational programs, displays, and signs systems on barrier beaches and guidelines for the prevention of
that: beach erosion caused by ORV use and pedestrian impacts.
a. describe the values of beach, dune, salt marsh, and tidal
flat environments; and
b. describe the damage that ORV use can cause to beach,
dune, salt marsh, and tidal flat environments.
2. Signs should be used to:
a. mark designated ORV trails and access points across
foredunes.
b. mark restricted areas, when appropriate, such as shorebird
and turtle nesting areas during nesting seasons, and
c. prohibit ORV use during high or exceptionally high tides.

3.12

Section 4 Storm Preparation 1. Use a respected authority figure to issue the news release
(for example, an official from the National Weather Service).
2. Emphasize surrounding associated events such as factory
Introduction .............................. 3.13 closings, etc.
Storm Awareness ........................... 3.13 3. Use a combination of information, testimony, and alarm
in the presentation.
Recovery Plan ............................. 3.13 4. Use film coverage of destruction wrought by previous
Acquisition of Storm-Damaged Property ...... 3.13 storms.
1362 .............................. 3.13 5. Give the location of the storm in distance from specific
CTL Program ........................ 3.13 coastal areas.
Rebuilding Policy .......................... 3.14 6. Use bilingual presentations when appropriate.
Houses ................................ 3.14
Coastal Engineering Structures ............. 3.14 Recovery Plan
Immediately after a damaging storm, opportunities exist to
reduce future hazards through a combination of acquisition,
Introduction house relocation or rebuilding to safer standards, and modifica-
tion or elimination of coastal engineering structures. A recovery
The first step in preparing for a coastal storm is to assess plan should consist of an acquisition plan for storm-damaged
property and a rebuilding policy for houses and coastal engineer-
potential landform changes and flooding hazards of the barrier ing structures.
beach (see Chapter 2, Natural Characteristics). This coastal
hazard information should be used to develop a storm prepared- Acqusition of Storm-Damaged Property
ness program which should also include warning, evacuation,
and recovery plans. The warning and evacuation plans for most Purchasing storm-damaged property poses a practical alter-
barrier beach areas should already be available from local civil native to the usual cycle of destruction-reconstruction-destruc-
defense or disaster preparedness officials. Unfortunately, many tion again. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
people do not respond to storm warnings until it is too late. offers two programs for acquiring flood-damaged structures.
For this reason, a storm awareness educational program is often 1. 1362 Program
an essential part of the storm preparedness program This program allows FEMA to purchase property from
willing sellers where insured buildings have been damaged more
Storm Awareness than 50% in a single storm or at least 25% in three storms over a
five year period. The local or state government is then given the
Education concerning hazards associated with a storm in- land to manage for open-space purposes.
creases the responsiveness of barrier beach residents to emer- One of the first applications of this program in the nation
gency actions during the actual storm event. Studies by Texas occured for storm-damaged property on Peggotty and Egypt
A&M University-Sea Grant concluded that making the public Beaches in Scituate, Massachusetts. After houses on these
aware of the following information helps increase positive barrier beaches were destroyed in the 1978 Blizzard, ten pro-
response during a storm: perties were acquired by FEMA and given to the state for leasing
1. Tell what should be done during a storm watch and to the town of Scituate.
warning.
2. Describe what type and magnitude storm can affect 2. Constructive Total Loss (CTL) Program
specific areas. For structures covered by a standard flood insurance policy
3. Describe what tidal height is required to block evacuation where local regulations do not permit rebuilding, and when the
of specific areas. structure is in an extremely hazardous location (such as a coastal
4. Tell how long it takes to evacuate specific areas. high hazard area), FEMA is authorized to pay up to the full
When a storm warning news release is given, the following face value of the policy in force. This program has not been used
techniques should be employed: yet in coastal Massachusetts but it may be a useful acquisition

3.13

tool in some communities. For other forms of purchase, the This guide is designed to help coastal homeowners evaluate
reader should refer to the Acquisition Section. flood risk and decide on measures for floodproofing their homes.
It should be used for homes located in areas subject to flooding,
Rebuilding policy: houses but not flooding accompanied by waves or tidal action.
When it is not possible to acquire storm-damaged property, Design and Construction Manual for Residential Buildings in
and rebuilding is planned, the new house or reconstructed house Coastal High Hazard Areas, FEMA, 198 1.
should be sited and designed to minimize future storm damage. This manual offers methods of design and construction for
The house should be sited as far landward as possible. A protec- homes located in hazardous coastal areas. Because it is not
tive dune should be restored if there is sufficient area (see Human advisable to build new homes in hazardous coastal areas, this
Alteration, Section 1). The design of a proposed new house manual should be used as a guide to minimize flood, wind, and
should follow the guidelines recommended in "Design and erosion damage to homes already built in these areas.
Construction Manual for Residential Buildings in Coastal High
Hazard Areas" (FEMA, 1981). This manual is also useful in
designing improvements for substantially storm-damaged houses. Section 5 Regulation
Floodproofing
For houses that have not received major structural damage in
a storm or for houses out of the V-zone (high velocity zone), Introduction ................ 3.14
floodproofing measures should be investigated. For example, Federal .................... 3.14
these measures can include floodproofing or elevating the heat- State ...................... 3.16
ing, plumbing, and electric systems of the house. A new hand- Local ...................... 3.17
book entitled "A Coastal Homeowner's Guide to Floodproo Ing
is available from the Bookstore, Secretary of State, the Common-
wealth of Massachusetts. This guide helps the homeowner
evaluate flood risk and outlines key steps to follow in flood- Introduction
proofing an existing dwelling.
Rebuilding policy: coastal engineering structures This section describes the federal, state and local regulatory
programs affecting barrier beaches in Massachusetts. Certain
After a coastal storm occurs, a difficult decision facing land programs require permits for human alterations on barrier
managers and owners is whether or not to rebuild destroyed beaches or adjacent areas. Other programs described may be
coastal engineering structures. When few structures have existed, used by local governments to further protect the natural values
non-structural measures should be pursued in lieu of rebuilding and reduce storm damage associated with barrier beaches.
engineering structures. Acquisition of the storm-damaged pro-
perty (see Acquisition, Section 2) should also be pursued in Federal
conjunction with such non-structural measures. When coastal
engineering structures have been used extensively, however, The regulation of activities on barrier beaches and in adjacent
replacement,of these structures with a non-structural alternative coastal waters is shared by several federal agencies. The principal
such as dune or beach building is less feasible. In these cases, regulatory activities are administered by the Army Corps of
coastal engineering structure-corrective techniques should be Engineers, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Environ-
used to minimize the adverse effects on the resources ot'a barrier mental Protection Agency, and Office of Coastal Zone Manage-
beach (see Human Alteration, Section I). ment as described in Table 3.1. In addition, all federal agencies
are required to comply with Federal Executive Order 11988,
Flood Plain Management, and Executive Order 11980, Protection
of Wetlands.
Sources of Information These executive orders direct federal agencies to avoid ad-
verse impacts associated with activities in flood plains or wet-
A Coastal Homeowner's Guide to Floodproofing, Common- lands and avoid the direct or indirect support of development in
wealth of Massachusetts, (undated). those areas. Each agency must evaluate the possible effects of

3.14

actions, planning programs, and budget requests to ensure that
adequate consideration is given to flood hazards, flood plain Table 3.1 Federal Regulatory Programs
management, and wetland protection. An agency undertaking
or supporting an activity affecting a floodplain or wetland must
show that it is the only practicable alternative and must be de-
signed to minimize harm to the floodplain or wetland. A public Agency:
notice must be circulated explaining why this activity must be Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE)
located in the floodplain or wetland. Authorizing Legislation:
Rivers and Harbor Act of 1899
Regional Policy Statement on Flood Plain Management Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments (1972)
The Regional Policy Statement on Flood Plain Management Regulatory Program:
was adopted through the New England River Basins Commission Section 10 Permit Procedure
(NERBQ by representatives of the governors of New England Section 404 Permit Procedure
and New York and the heads of NERBC member federal agencies (administered jointly with the EPA)
including the U.S. Department of the Interior and the U.S. Army Areas Regulated:
Corps of Engineers. This policy statement was applied to coastal Section 10: Requires a permit for structures in navigable
flooding problems in the NERBC publication "Dealing with waters.
Coastal Hazards: Implementing the Regional Policy Statement Section 404: Requires permits for discharge, dredge or
of Flood Plain Management. " This report recommends ten ways fill activities in all waters including fresh water and tidal
to reduce the region's vulnerability to coastal storm damage; wetlands.
these are quoted directly from the report as follows:
1. Implement programs to acquire previously developed high
hazard properties in lieu of reconstruction. Agency:
2. Strengthen the requirement that heavily storm-damaged Federal Emergency Management Agency
homes and businesses be rebuilt according to floodproofing Authorizing Legislation:
standards. Flood Control Act (1936)
3. Keep development away from high hazard areas that are National Flood Insurance (1968, amended 1973)
still undeveloped. Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973
4. Improve construction standards for floodproofing. Housing and Community Development Act (1977)
5. Take account of natural coastal processes in cleanup, Regulatory Program:
construction, and repair of protective measures. National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) including Flood
6. Refocus data collection and analysis activities. Insurance Study and Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM).
7. Improve coordination in storm and disaster planning and Participating communities must draft, implement and en-
recovery operations, as well as in flood plain management pro- force a flood plain management plan that meets minimum
grams. FIA standards, (24 CFR 1909).
8. Improve and utilize educational programs to support the
programs, plans, and policies of flood plain management pro- NFIF Regular Program: After community enters the pro-
grams. gram and the FIRM becomes effective, the first insurance
9. Shift the cost of protection to those who create the risk protection is government subsidized for existing structures.
and enjoy the benefits of location in coastal hazard areas. The second insurance protection and insurance for new
10. Utilize Executive Order 11988 (Flood Plain Manage- structures is obtained at actuarial rates.
ment) and Executive Order 11990 (Wetlands), as well as federal Areas Regulated:
consistency provisions for approved coastal zone management Flood plain areas of all communities that wish to partici-
plans, to strengthen disaster and flood plain management plan- pate in the program.
ning.

3.15

State
Table 3.1 Federal Regulatory Programs (continued) Coastal Zone Management-Federal Consistency
Agency: Federal activities such as federally assisted actions, direct
Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) federal actions and issuance of licenses and permits must be
Authorizing Legislation: consistent to the "maximum extent practicable" with the state's
Coastal Zone Management Act (1972) approved Coastal Zone Management Program. For barrier
beaches, this means that these projects "do not promote growth
Regulatory Program: and development on barrier beaches, do not damage natural
Administration and approval of state coastal zone manage- barriers (coastal dunes and beaches) and are safe from flood and
ment plans. erosion related damage."
Areas Regulated: Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act (G.L. 131, S. 40)
State CZM plans subject to approval based on national Through the Wetlands Protection Act, local conservation
CZM criteria. For approved states, such as Massachusetts, commissions review applications for construction activities in
federal actions must be consistent with the state plan. coastal wetlands such as barrier beaches. Coastal Wetlands Regu-
lations provide performance standards that proposed activities
must follow to protect the public interests of the particular
coastal wetland area, "A Guide to the Coastal Wetlands Regu-
Sources of Information lations" is available to assist in the application of these regula-
tions to specific sites and projects.
Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management Program and Final Barrier beaches are protected by the Wetland Protection Act,
Environmental Impact Statement, 1978. because they provide storm damage prevention and flood con-
This book describes the Massachusetts Coastal Zone Manage- trol. Additionally, barrier beaches provide protection for shell-
ment Plan which was approved by NOAA (National Oceanic and fish and fisheries resources located behind the landform.
Atmospheric Administration), Washington, D.C. Coastal Wetlands Restriction Act (G.L. 130, S. 105)
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Guide for Applicants, U.S. Army The Department of Environmental Management places deed
Corps of Engineers, 1977. restrictions on barrier beach, beach, dune, salt marsh, shellfish
This pamphlet is designed to assist applicants who are apply- bed, and salt pond property. These restrictions define permitted
ing for a Corps of Engineers permit. and prohibited uses that can occur in these coastal wetland areas
to protect vital natural resources. The principal difference be-
New England Wetlands: Plant Identification and Protective tween the Restriction Program and the Wetlands Protection Act
Laws, Environmental Protection Agency, 198 1. is that the Restriction Program defines what is allowed and not
This manual summarizes New England wetlands laws at the allowed on specific parcels through deed restrictions, whereas the
federal and state level. It also contains color photographs and Protection Act regulates activities which may be permitted on a
identification information for the lay person on common wet- case-by-case basis.
land plants. Waterways Act (G.L. 91, 21A, S. 14)
The Division of Waterways within the Department of En-
Dealing with Coastal Hazards: Implementing the Regional Policy vironmental Quality Engineering regulates work in navigable
Statement on Flood Plain Management, NERBC, 1980. waters and Great Ponds and acts as trustee over public lands
This report provides a summary of storm damage and disaster below mean low water. Licenses and permits are issued by
assistance response for the Blizzard of '78. It discusses problems Waterways for structures in these areas.
with that response and recommends actions which should be Waterways Projects
taken to improve New England's ability to deal with future The Division of Waterways is also the state funding agency
storms. for dredging and coastal engineering projects. State policy for
barrier beaches encourages the use of dredged material for
barrier beach nourishment. Non-structural measures, such as

3.16

nourishment and dune rebuilding, are encouraged to provide Q & A: Questions and Answers on the Massachusetts Wetlands
protection from flooding and erosion. Protection Act (G.L. 131, S. 40), Department of Environmental
Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) (G.L. 30, Quality Engineering, 1979.
SS. 61-62 H)
MEPA is a state office which helps determine the environ-
mental suitability of all state projects. MEPA requires the Local
preparation of an environmental evaluation for projects under-
taken, funded or regulated by a state agency. A short Environ- State regulations and restrictions are applicable to all barrier
mental Assessment Form is required for projects which have no beaches of the Massachusetts coast. However, each barrier
significant impact on the environment, whereas an Environ- beach is a unique system with specific characteristics and pro-
mental Impact Report is required for projects deemed by a state cesses, and each municipality values its barrier beaches according
agency to have a significant environmental impact. Both types to local interests. For these reasons, barrier beach management
of projects are listed in the bi-weekly Environmental Monitor at the local level is essential.
issued by the MEPA Office of the Executive Office of Environ- Towns should develop management plans that maintain the
mental Affairs. Citizens are encouraged to comment to the natural protection provided by the beach and dunes of the
MEPA office on projects listed in the Monitor. barrier beach and preserve the productive wetlands behind the
A-95 Review barrier. Uses of the barrier beach must accomodate the continual
This program provides a mechanism for the review of federal- changes that occur in this dynamic environment. On developed
ly funded projects by regional planning agencies, state agencies, barrier beaches, management must include techniques to reduce
and interested citizens. Projects proposed for barrier beaches future storm damage to buildings and the subsequent need for
must be consistent with Executive Order No. 181. Therefore, public expenditures for disaster relief.
interested parties should ask the local regional planning agency Ordinances and by-laws for proper barrier beach management
to notify them about projects proposed for local barrier beach are implemented by local officials such as the mayor or board of
areas so that they may provide comments. See Appendix A for selectmen. The local conservation commission is appointed by
the Executive Order. the board of selectmen to preserve and protect the natural
r,@sources of the community. It protects local coastal wetlands
by using the state Wetlands Protection Act and in some circum-
Sources of Information stances local wetland by-laws. The conservation commission
may assist the planning board, selectmen, and other town boards
A Guide to Understanding and Administering the Massachusetts in developing new local zoning by-laws and ordinances.
Wetlands Protection Act, Colman and Kline, 1977, Massachu- Some barrier beaches in Massachusetts are important recrea-
setts Audubon Society. tional assets for the communities. In these cases it may be useful
This guide takes the reader through the procedural aspects to establish a special purpose commission which represents
of the Wetlands Protection Act. varied land use interests. The Sandy Neck Commission of the
Environmental Handbook for Massachusetts Conservation town of Barnstable is an example of such a commission.
Commissions, Dawson and Nickerson, 1978, Association of Examples of types of local laws and regulations are as fol-
Conservation Commissions. lows:
This is a comprehensive book on laws, regulations, programs, Conservation or wetlands zoning
and techniques concerning the protection of Massachusetts This type of zoning controls development in order to pro-
Wetlands compiled over a fifteen-year period by the Massachu- tect the natural characteristics of specific areas.
setts Association of Conservation Commissions (MACC). Cluster zoning
A Guide to the Coastal Wetlands Regulations, Department of This type of zoning allows certain areas to be more densely
Environmental Quality Engineering and Coastal Zone Manage- developed as long as surrounding areas are preserved. This zoning
ment Office, 1978. technique prevents the destruction of all or most natural char-
This guide describes the processes and significance of coastal acteristics of the barrier beach and provides an opportunity
wetlands. Alterations frequently proposed for coastal wetlands for locating development on the least hazardous sites of the
are reviewed and their acceptability is discussed. landform.

3.17

Zoning of building density height above flood level.
This type of regulation controls the numbers of structures 2. buildings do not cause erosion.
allowed per given area, and can consequently reduce storm 3. the soil under the structure will provide for waste dis-
damage, dune destruction and stress on local water supply. posal and structural support, and
Coastal high hazard area zoning 4. the building is able to resist wind, wave, and erosion
This type of zoning establishes areas where no further build- damage.
ing is allowed or where building standards are more stringent. Building ordinances do not regulate the siting of structures on
Scientific studies should be conducted to define the coastal high barrier beaches. Set-back ordinances can specify site require-
hazard areas of a particular barrier beach. ments.
Dune management districts Board of Health Ordinance
Since one natural characteristic of the barrier beach is the Erosion associated with coastal high hazard areas of barriers
can damage or destroy septic systems causing pollution of ad-
tendency to shift landward (see Chapter 2), communities must jacent waters and wetlands. Local government can minimize
realize that attempts to "stabilize" the barrier beach in a fixed storm damage to septic systems by requiring strict Board of
position actually causes narrowed beaches, necessitates expen- Health design and siting standards. Systems should be prohibited
sive erosion control measures, and increases beach erosion rates. in sites most vulnerable to damage, such as the foredune ridge.
However, certain local management strategies, such as an ordin-
ance which designates dune management districts, are compatible Ordinances related to dune traffic
with the natural processes of the barrier beach. Pedestrian and ORV traffic are especially prevalent on public
A dune district encompasses both the dune and the zone lands. Towns can minimize the damage to recreational dune and
behind it into which the dune will move, and precludes building beach areas by adopting ordinances that limit access trails to
or other development in this area. (Dune district boundaries beaches, and prohibit or restrict ORV and pedestrian traffic.
must be precise, however, so that the ordinance will be defen- Revenues received from parking and recreational use permits
sible in court.) Detailed scientific studies of dune height, width, can be used to pay salaries needed for enforcement of these
rate of landward shifting, and length of planning period are regulations.
required to establish the dune district dimensions. Effective barrier beach management can be achieved by
Shoreline set-back requirements using a town's regulatory power to protect public health, safety,
To protect against storm damage, especially in areas where and the environment. The support of an informed public can do
the protective dune has been removed or altered, ordinances much to help a town achieve a thoughtful b@rrier beach manage-
can be adopted that require the placement of buildings a speci- ment program (also see Appendix B).
fied distance from the shoreline. The distance may be deter- Conservation commissions and town planners can receive
mined by referring to the history of shoreline change for the area assistance in designing and implementing by-laws and ordin-
(see Shoreline Changes, Chapter 2), and the width of the dune, ances from organizations, which are listed in Appendix B.
if present.
Coastal Hazards Disclosure Ordinance
Local government may pass an ordinance which would Sources of Information
require sellers of property to provide a written statement con-
cerning flood and erosion hazards to potential buyers. This type Coastal Dunes: Their Function, Delineation and Management,
of ordinance is being carried out in a county in California where Gates, Nordstrom and Psuty, 1979.
associations of realtors provide educational material to real This book describes the coastal dune district program that
estate agents on how to follow the local disclosure ordinances. was developed for the state of New Jersey. Similar programs can
Building codes be developed for towns in Massachusetts by incorporating tech-
Development is already prevalent on many barrier beaches of niques presented in this book. (Also see State - Sources of
Massachusetts. Ordinances setting forth specific barrier beach Information p. 3.17).
building code requirements are therefore necessary. Building
codes insure that:
1. builders place floor, pilings, and access roads a minimum

3.18

Appendix A
Executive Orders

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS

By His Excellency

EDWARD J. KING -2-
Governor

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 181 3. For state-owned barrier beach property, management plans shall be
prepared which are consistent with state wettand policy and shall be
BARRIER BEACHES submitted to the Secretary of Environmental Affairs for public review
under the provisions of the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act.

Preamble 4. At a minimum, no development shall be permitted in the velocity zones
or primary dune areas of barrier beaches identified by the Department
A barrier beach is a narrow low-lying strip of land generally consisting of of Environmental Quality Engineering.
coastal beaches and coastal dunes extending roughly parallel to the trend of the
coast. It is separated from the mainland by a narrow body of fresh brackish or saline 5. Coastal engineering structures shall only be used on barrier beaches to
water or marsh system. It is a fragile buffer that protects landward areas from maintain navigation channels at inlets and then only if mechanisms are
coastal storm damage and flooding. employed to ensure that downdrift beaches are adequately supplied with
sediment.
The strength of the barrier beach system lies in its dynamic character; its
ability to respond to storms by changing to a more stable form. Frequently man 6. Dredge material of a compatible grain size shall be used for barrier
induced changes to barrier beaches have decreased the ability of landform to provide beach nourishment, if economically feasible.
storm damage prevention and flood control. Inappropriate development on barrier
beaches has resulted in the loss of lives and great economic losses to residents and to 7. The Coastal Zone Management Office shall coordinate state agency
local, state and federal governments. The taxpayer, who often cannot gain access to management policy for barrier beach areas.
barrier beach areasp must subsidize disaster relief and flood insurance for these high
hazard areas. Given at the Exec tive Chamber in Boston
this
da
Since barrier beaches are presently migrating landward in response to rising f in the
sea level, future storm damage to development located on the barriers is inevitable. y r o 0 r Lor on tho and nine hundred
a d ei ty and of th independence of
A eri two-hundred and five.

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth seeks to mitigate future storm damage to its
barrier beach areas;
I@V 4
EDWARD J. KINC(
GOVERNOR
NOW, THEREFORE, 1, Edward J. King, Governor of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws Commonwealth of M
of the Commonwealth, do hereby order and direct all relevant state agencies to adopt
the following policies:

1. Barrier beaches shall be given priority status for self-help and other
state and federal acquisition programs and this priority status shall be Secretary o(Ae Commonwealtrr
incorporated into the Statewide Outdoor Comprehensive Recreation
Plan. The highest priority for disaster assistance funds shall go towards
relocating willing sellers from storm damaged barrier beach areas. GOD SAVE THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS

2. State funds and federal grants for construction projects shall not be
f 4e de 'ive '_namDer
x C T

a
t
a
Lord on. ho and nin
of t i .
and hende en

used to encourage growth and development in hazard prone barrier
beach areas.

A-I

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS

By His Excellency (c) exclude ORV use in sensitive environmental areas, specifically,
EDWARD J. KING dunes, salt marshes, and tidal flats, which provide significant
GOVERNOR public interests; and
(d) assure that soil erosion and damage to vegetation are minimal;
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 190 and
(a) assure that harassment of wildlife and significant disruption of
wildlife habitats are minimized; and
REGULATION OF OFF-ROAD VEHICLE USE ON PUBLIC LANDS CONTAINING
COASTAL WETLAND RESOURCES (f) ORV's will not be excluded from public lands but will be chan-
neled into environmentally acceptable areas.
WHEREAS, while off-road vehicles (ORV's) provide enjoyment and recreation 4. The Secretary of Environmental Affairs, in conjunction with the Commis-
for many, their indiscriminate use threatens our public lands. Uncontrolled, they sioners of the Department of Environmental Management and Fisheries, Wildlife
have severely damaged coastal wetland resources; including dunes, beaches, and Recreational Vehicles shall review all guidelines and monitoring procedures to
barrier beaches, salt marshes and tidal flats; disturbed wildlife; and conflicted with ensure compliance with this Executive Order, and shall coordinate and assist when
other recreational uses. necessary in the development of these guidelines and procedures.
Scientific studies conducted for over five years at the Cape Cod National Sea-
shore have concluded that even low-level vehicular use can result in severe environ-
mental degradation of coastal ecosystems.
With the substantial increase in the number of ORV's, and the concomitant
increase in the use of our public lands for other recreational purposes, major con-
flicts have arisen and will continue to develop.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Edward J. King, Governor of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws Given at the Executive Chamber in Boston
of the Commonwealth, do hereby order and direct that all state agencies shall bal- this 24th day of December, in the year of Our
ance the competing uses of the Commonwealth's public lands and minimize the Lord one thousand nine hundred and eighty
degradation of its public coastal wetland resources: and of the independence of the United States
1. For the purposes of this Executive Order, "Off-road vehicle" (ORV) shall of Amer' a two huiadred and four.
mean any motorized vehicle designed for or capable of cross-country travel on or
immediately over land, water, sand, snow, ice, wetland or other natural terrain,
except that such term excludes; (a) any registered powerboat, (b) any military, fire,
emergency, or law enforcement vehicle, and (c) any vehicle expressly authorized for
official state agency use.
EDWA J. KING
2. For the purposes of this Executive Order, "public lands" shall mean: (a) all GO NOR
lands under the custody and control of a state agency, which contain coastal wetland Commonwealth of MassachItts
resources; and (b) all lands purchased in whole or in part with state funds, or federal
funds administered by the state, which contain coastal wetland resources.
3. All state agencies shall be responsible for extablishing scientifically sup-
ported guidelines and monitoring procedures for ORV use on public lands. Such
guidelines, which are to be submitted to the Secretary of Environmental Affairs for
public review under the provisions of the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act
within one year of the effective date of this Executive Order, shall: ecretary th Colgonw6lth
(a) balance ORV use with other recreational uses of the public
lands;
(b) assure that ORV use is consistent with the state coastal
y@Co cow
e,r.ta,

wetland policy, as defined under the state Coastal Wetland
Protection Act and regulations; GOD SAVE THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS

A-2

Appendix B
Technical and Educational Assistance

FEDERAL ASSISTANCE Flood Plain Management Services Program (FPMS)
Technical information, planning assistance, and guidance is
Soil Conservation Service (SCS) available to state, local, and private citizens to help identify
flood hazards and implement wise floodplain management
21 Cottage St. plans.
Amherst, MA 01002 Flood and Erosion Control Programs
(413) 549-0650 Activities undertaken by the ACOE* in coastal areas include:
Resource Conservation and Development Program (RC & D) -aquatic plant control
Designed to speed up resource programs as a base for economic -small beach erosion control projects
development and environmental protection. Soil and water -(small) flood control, coastal protection works for
resource information is available. Public shores rehabilitation
Flood Plain Management Assistance Program -emergency coastal protective works
Assistance in carrying out flood hazard evaluations, invent- -protection of essential public works
ories of natural and beneficial values. Technical data available -snagging and cleaning for flood control
in flood plains to aid planning and regulating of flood plains. -(small) navigation projects including stream channelization
Rural Clean Water Program (RCWP) *initiated through the District Engineer
Financial/technical assistance available to help control water Other
pollution, particularly non-point sources of pollution resulting Technical data/assistance concerning the mapping and/or
from poor soil conservation practices. Supplements local restoration and/or management of wetlands is available.
initiative. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) I Gateway Ctr.
Whitehaven Building Newton Corner, MA
Rockville, MD (617) 965-5100
(301) 443-8780 Biological Services Program
Office of Coastal Zone Management Scientific data available on fish and wildlife resources and their
Coastal Zone Management Program supporting ecosystems.
Assistance varies with each state. CZM useful in identifying Wetlands Inventory
other state/federal assistance programs, providing legal aid/ Assistance and information available on identifying, mapping,
consultation, technical data, regulatory information and maintaining, or restoring wetland areas.
interpretation. Land and Water Resource Development Planning Program (LWRDP)
Estuarine Sanctuary Program Consultation, field evaluation and planning assistance available
Financial assistance for the purpose of acquiring, developing, for proposed water and related land projects. Recommend-
or operating estuarine areas set aside to serve as National ations on conservation measures may also be supplied.
field laboratories.
Coastal Energy Impact Program (CEIP) E.P.A.
Financial assistance available to help local communities cope Regional Office
with burden of development of large energy facilities in their JFK Federal Building
locality through grants and loans. Boston, MA
National Ocean Survey (617) 223-7223
Coastal Hazards Initiative (CZM Coastal Hazards Assistance Program) Regional Water Quality Planning (Section 208)
To achieve the Initiative's goal of reducing loss (of life and Funds available to states and designated regional areas for
property) in coastal areas, NOAA has available a variety of preparation of water quality plans aimed at control of non-
technical data and information relevant to risk assessment, point pollution.
evacuation planning, coastal mapping, storm surge modelling.
Financial assistance is available through CZM and the Sea Other Assistance
Grant Program. Technical assistance with implementation of floodplain
management plans and wetlands restoration.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE) F.E.M.A.
New England Division Division of Insurance and Mitigation
424 Trapelo Road J.W. McCormack Post Office and Courthouse Building
Waltham, MA 02154 Rm. 462
(617) 894-2400

13-1

Boston, MA 02109
(617) 223-2616
National Flood Insurance Program Wetland Restriction Program
Up-to-date floodplain mapping and consultation is available. Orthophoto maps are available of most state barrier beach
F.E.M.A. Services areas.
Floodplain management planning, assistance, and engineering
assistance concerning siting of structures in flood hazard areas Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Recreational Vehicles
is available. 100 Cambridge St.
Boston, MA 02202
(617) 727-3151
Assistance on colonial shorebird nesting sites.

STATE AND REGIONAL AGENCY ASSISTANCE

Coastal Zone Management Office ASSISTANCE FROM NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
100 Cambridge St.
Boston, MA 02202
(617) 727-9530 Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies
Scientific assistance on barrier beach identification, evaluation of Box 826
characteristics, and all phases of management; planning and legal Provincetown, MA 02657
assistance; educational assistance includes coastal hazard guide- (617) 487-3622
books, pamphlets, films, and slide shows. Technical Assistance:
Conservation Services Geological and biological assistance on barrier beach identification,
100 Cambridge St. assessment of characteristics and all phases of management.
Boston, MA 02202 Educational Assistance:
Weekly seminars for the public often covering barrier beach man-
(617) 727-1552 agement; pamphlets, reports and audio-visual material on barrier
Planning and funding assistance for acquisition of barrier beach beaches.
properties. Massachusetts Audubon Society
Department of Environmental Quality Engineering South Great Road
Division of Wetlands Protection Lincoln, MA 0 17 7 3
1 Winter St. (617) 259-9500
Boston, MA Technical Assistance:
(617) 727-9706 Biological assistance on barrier beach characteristics.
Coastal wetland regualtory assistance through the northeast and Educational Assistance:
southeast regional offices. Coastal Wetland legal assistance through Publications on environmental issues which include barrier beach
the DEQE legal office. management.
Department of Environmental Management Conservation Law Foundation
100 Cambridge St. 3 Joy Street
Boston, MA 02202 Boston, MA 02108
(617) 727-3151 (617) 742-2540
State Assistance Program Technical Assistance:
Planning assistance for coastal hazard assessment and storm Legal assistance on regulatory aspects of management.
preparation. Educational Assistance:
Pamphlets published through the Massachusetts Association of
Natural Heritage Program Conservation Commissions on regualtory issues.
Information is available on rare plants and animal species and
significant plant communities and aquatic habitits. This in- Sea Grant
formation can be used for planning, conservation, and en- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
vironmental impact assessment. Woods Hole, MA
(617) 548-1400

B-2

Technical Assistance:
Scientific assistance on identification, characteristics and manage-
ment of coastal areas.
Educational Assistance:
Reports on barrier beach scientific studies.
Resources for Cape Ann
(Massachusetts Audubon Society)
159 Main Street
Gloucester, MA 01930
(617) 283-0598
Technical Assistance:
Biological assistance characteristics and management for the
North Shore region.
Educational Assistance:
Pamphlets on barrier beach management techniques for the
North Shore region.
Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions
Lincoln Filene Center
Tufts University
Medford, MA
(617) 628-5000, x 352
Educational Assistance:
Two meetings each year for Conservation Commissions with
sessions on barrier beach management.
Massachusetts Marine Educators
Biology Department
8 Ashburton Place
Boston, MA 02108
(617) 7234700, x 246
Educational Assistance:
Clearinghouse for barrier beach related curriculum material.
Cape Cod Museum of Natural History
Route 6A
Brewster, MA 02631
(617) 896-3867
Educational Assistance:
Curriculum material on Cape Cod barrier beaches; talks, displays
and library include barrier beach information.
Association for the Preservation Of Cape Cod
Orleans, MA 026$3
(617) 2554142
Educational Assistance:
Several pamphlets related to barrier beaches; audio-visual material
on barrier beaches.

Massachusetts Wildlife Federation
12 School Street
S. Hamilton, MA 0 1982
Educational Assistance:
Curriculum material on barrier beaches through the national or-
ganization, National Wildlife Federation.

B-3

Appendix C
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repair handbook. Washington D.C, Federal Emergency Management Agency, beach grass. Shore & Beach v. 40 no. 1, April 1972. pp. 18-19.
1979 (GPO)
Clark, John R. & Turner, Ross. "Barrier islands: a threatened, fragile
Anderson, Lee G. & Kellogg, Christopher. Economics of storm protection, resource." Conservation Foundation Letter, Aug., 1976. Wash. D.C. The
(Delaware Sea Grant technical report, Del-SG-2-76. Newark, DE. Univ. of Conservation Foundation (pub)
Delaware. College of Marine Studies,[ 19761 (pub.)
Clark, John R. Coastal ecosystems: ecological considerations for manage-
Anderson-Nichols & Co., Inc. Investigation of coastal storm and erosion ment of the coastal zone. Washington, D.C. The Conservation Founda-
damage at five sites, Marblehead, MA. Draft report, Feb. 25, 1980. unpub. tion, 1974. (pub)
(MA CZM)
Clark, John R. Review of major barrier islands of the United States. New
Baldwin, Malcolm F. & Stoddard, Dan H., Jr. The off-road vehicle and York. The Barrier Islands Workshop, 1977.
environmental quality. Washington, D.C. The Conservation Foundation,
2nd ed., 1973. 61p. (pub.) Clayton, Gary R. & Mayo, Barbara S. & Mayo, Charles A. III "Coastal
wetland regulations based on biological coastal processes." Proc. Fifth
Barrier Islands Workshop, Annapolis MD, 1976. Barrier islands and beach- Annual Conference, The Coastal Society. Washington, D.C. The coastal
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MD, May 17-18, 1976. Washington, D.C. The Conservation Foundation,
1976 Clayton, Geoffrey M. & Harker, John B. & Nickerson, Norton B. Effects
of pedestrian traffic on survival and growth of American Beach Grass,
Behrens, E.W., et.al. Effect of vehicular and pedestrian traffic on backshore Ammophila breviligulata, with dune management recommendations. [study
vegetation and dune development. Beach impact study, Padre Island Na- period: 1972-19741. Tufts Univ. Dept. of Biology,n.d.
tional Seashore. Univ. of Texas Marine Institute, 1975 50 p. (avail. from:
National Park Service. Southwest Regional Office. P.O. Box 728. Santa Clemens, R.H. The role of vegetation in shoreline management, Ann
Fe, NM) Arbor, MI. Great Lakes Basin Commission, n.d. 32p. (pub)
"The Blizzard of 1978": its effects on the coastal environment of South- Collier, Courtland A. Building construction on shoreline property: a
eastern New England. Proceedings. Boston. Boston State College, n.d., checklist. Gainesville, FL Univ. of Florida. Florida Cooperative Extension
114p. (pub) Service. Marine Advisory Program, n.d. (pub)

Blodgett, Bradford G. The effect of off-road vehicles on least terns and Collier, Courtland A. Construction guidelines to minimize hurricane dam-
other shorebirds. (Univ. of Mass. National Park Service Cooperative Re- age to shore area homes. Tallahassee, FL Florida Dept. of Natural Re-
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OSS)
Collier Courtland A., et.al. Guidelines for beachfront construction with
Brodhead, J.M.B. & Godfrey, Paul J. The effects of off-road vehicles on special reference to the coastal construction setback line. (State University
coastal dune vegetation in the Provincelands, Cape Cod National Seashore, System of Florida Sea Grant Program. Report no. 20). Gainesville, FL
Massachusetts. (Univ. of Mass. National Park Service Cooperative Research Univ. of Florida, 1977 (pub)
Unit. Report no. 32). Amherst, MA. Univ. of Mass., 1979. 212p. (NPS-
OSS) Colman, James & Kline, Elizabeth. A guide to understanding and adminis-
tering the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act. Lincoln, MA. Mass.
Brodhead, J.M.B. & Godfrey, Paul J. Effects of off-road vehicles on plants Audubon Society. 1977. 169 p. (pub)
of a northern marsh. (Univ. of Mass. National Park Service Cooperative
Research Unit, Report no. 33). Amherst, MA. Univ. of Mass., 1979. Crane, Donald A. Coastal flooding in Barnstable County, Cape Cod, Mass-
65 P. (NPS-OSS) achusetts . Boston. Commonwealth of Mass. Water Resources Commission,
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Brown, Penny M. & Renwick, Hilary Lambert, eds. New Jersey's barrier
islands: An ever-changing public resource. Proc., Barrier Islands Conference. Dames & Moore, Inc. Design and construction manual for residential
Center for Coastal and Environment Studies, Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, buildings in coastal high hazard areas. U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban
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Brown, Robert L. & Hatenrichter, A.L. Stabilizing sand dunes on the Dames and Moore, Inc. Report of current practice for design and construc-
Pacific Coast with woody plants. U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. Soil Conserva- tion standards for residential buildings in coastal high hazard areas. Pre-
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Policy Development and Research. Washington D.C. Dames & Moore,
Brownlow, Arthur H., ed. Cape Cod environmental atlas. Boston. Boston 1979.
Univ., 1979. 62p. (pub.)

C-1

Davies, DeWitt S. CZM and shore erosion-the Long Island response. Shore Geological Society of America. Committee on Environment and Public
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Florida. (Univ. of Florida Marine Advisory Program Report no. 7). Gaines- Giese, Graham S. The barrier beaches of Chatham, Massachusetts. Prov-
ville, FL Univ. of Florida, 1975. 52p. (pub) incetown, MA. Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies Tech Report
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Dawson, Alexandra D. & Nickerson, Norton H. Environmental handbook
for Massachusetts conservation commissioners. Medford, MA Mass. Assn Giese, Graham S. & Giese, Rachel B. The eroding shores of outer Cape Cod;
of Conservation Commissions, Lincoln Filene Center, Tufts Univ., 1978, (The Association for the Preservation of Cape Cod. Informational bulletin
11 8p. (pub) no. 5). Orleans, MA A.P.C.C., 1974. (pub)
Dolan, Robert & Lins, Harry & Stewart, John. Geographical analysis of Giese, Graham S. & Smith, Lester B., Jr. "Coastal wetland regulations based
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Geological Survey. Professional paper 11 77-A) Washington, D.C. U. S.G.S., Society. Washington, D.C. The Coastal Society. 1980. pp. 217-225.
1980. 24p. (GPO) Godfrey, Melinda M. & Godfrey, Paul J. Coastal plant ecology literature
Federal Emergency Management Agency. Design and construction manual list. Amherst, MA Univ. of Mass. Dept. of Botany, n.d. 68p. (pub)
for residential buildings in coastal high hazard areas. U.S. Dept. of Housmig Godfrey, Paul J. Barrier beaches of the East Coast. Oceanus; v. 19, no. 5,
and Urban Development. Office of Policy Development and Research, 1976, pp. 27-40.
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Federal Emergency Management Agency. Elevating to the wave crest level- Godfrey, Paul J. "Management guidelines for parks on barrier beaches."
a benefit: cost analysis. Washington, D.C. Federal Emergency Management Parks: international journal of national parks, historic sites and other
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Federal Emergency Management Agency. Region I. Insurance and Mitiga- Godfrey, Paul J. Special supplement to the NEIGC guidebook: field trips
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C-2

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C-5

Appendix D
Glossary groin: a narrow elongate coastal engineering structure constructed on the
beach perpendicular to the trend of the beach; its intended purpose is to
trap longshore drift to build up a section of beach.
A-Zone: flood zone subject to still water flooding during a storm with
a 100 year recurrence interval. hurricane: an intense tropical cyclone with winds which move counterclock-
wise around a low pressure system; maximum winds exceed 75 mph.
barrier beach: a narrow low4ying strip of land consisting of beach and dunes
extending parallel to the trend of the coast and separated from the mainland jetty: a narrow elongate coastal engineering structure constructed perpen-
by a fresh, brackish or salt water body or marsh. dicular to the shoreline at inlets; designed to prevent longshore drift from
filling the inlet and to provide protection for navigation.
barrier island: a barrier beach that is unconnected to the mainland.
mean high water (mhw): the average height of all of the high waters recorded
barrier spit: a barrier beach that is connected at one end to upland and un- at a given place over a 19 year period.
connected at the other end.
mean low water (mlw): the average height of all of the low waters recorded
bay barrier: a barrier beach that is connected at both ends to upland. at a given place over a 19 year period.

beach: unconsolidated sediment subject to wave, tidal and coastal storm mean sea level (msl): the average height of the surface of the sea at a given
action which forms the gently sloping shore of a body of salt water and place for all stages of the tide over a 19 year period.
extends from the mean low waterline (including tidal flats) landward to the
duneline, coastal bankline or the seaward edge of coastal engineering northeaster: a large asymmetrical low pressure system that produces counter-
structures. clockwise winds from 30 to 70 mph which strike northeast facing coastal
areas.
bedrock: a general term for the rock, usually solid, that underlies soil or
other unconsolidated surficial sediment. nourishment: the placement of sediment on a beach or dunes by mechanical
means.
boulder: a detached rock with a diameter of 256 mm (10 in.) or greater.
overwash: the uprush and overtopping of a coastal dune by storm waters.
breakwater: a linear mound-like coastal engineering structure constructed Sediment is usually carried with the overwashing water and deposited as a
offshore parallel to the shoreline; designed to protect landward property, washover fan on the landward side of the dune or barrier.
a harbor or anchorage from storm waves.
revetment: an apron-like sloped coastal engineering structure constructed
coastal bank: the seaward face or side of an elevated landform, other on a dune face or fronting a seawall; designed to dissipate the force of
than a coastal dune, which lies on the landward side of a coastal beach, land storm waves and prevent undermining of a seawall.
subject to tidal action or other wetland. Some coastal banks are uncon-
solidated and erode to supply sediment to beaches, dunes and barrier seawall: a vertical wall-like coastal engineering structure constructed parallel
beaches. to the beach or duneline and usually located at the back of the beach or
the seaward edge of the dune.
conservation restriction: a legal agreement, either voluntary or involuntary,
designed to restrict use of privately owned land for conservation purposes. sediment: solid fragmental material that originates from weathering of
rocks and is transported or deposited by air, water, or ice. Essentially all un-
downdrift: in the direction of the predominant movement of sediment consolidated materials.
along the shore. storm ridge: a low ridge of coarse gravel, cobbles and/or boulders piled up
dredging: the removal of sediment or excavation of tidal or subtidal bottom by storm waves; located at the inner margin of the beach and not reached
to provide sufficient depths for navigation or anchorage. by average waves or spring tides.

dune: any natural hill, mound, or ridge of sediment landward of a coastal tombolo: a barrier beach that connects an island to the mainland or to
beach deposited by the wind or storm overwash; sediment deposited by another island.
artificial means and serving the purpose of storm damage prevention and
flood control. updrift: the direction opposite that of the predominant movement of sed-
iment along the shore.
entrapment capacity: when the updrift side of a groin or jetty is filled com-
pletely with beach sediment. upland: a general term for high land or ground that is elevated above the
floodplain.
foredune: the first dune or dune ridge landward of the beach.
velocity zone (V-zone): flood zone subject to velocity water flooding during
gravel: rounded rock particles with diameters from 2 to 7 5 mm (1 /6 to 3 in.) a storm with a 100 year recurrence interval.

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