Our Beaches & Waterways
January 19, 2017
3:30-5:00 p.m.
Orleans Senior Center
150 Rock Harbor Road
Orleans, MA
The Orleans Citizen’s Forum hosted a forum, “Our Beaches and Waterways,” to a packed room at the Orleans Senior Center. If was an outstanding event with a wonderful and comprehensive panel of four experts on all aspects of the Lower Cape’s major attraction and resource — its beaches and waterways.
The panelists were:
- Leslie Fields — Coastal Geologist from the Woods Hole Group
- George Price — Superintendent of the Cape Cod National Seashore
- Nate Sears — Natural Resource Manager for the Town of Orleans
- Cynthia Wigren — Director of the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy
During initial presentations, panelists described the challenges and plans for a coastline facing increasing erosion. While erosion to the beach front is nothing new, it was shown that between the 1860s and 2011, Nauset Beach had lost an average of 2.2′ of shoreline annually. Since 2011, however, that average annual loss of beach has average approximately 11′.
Attendees learned about a proposed “Phased Retreat” program for Nauset Public Beach, for example, that would require relocation of the gazebo, administration building and Liam’s Snack Shack and a loss of existing parking spaces within the next 5 years.
Cynthia Wigren talked about the impact of a growing seal population over the last 5-10 years and the associated increased presence and awareness of Great White sharks in our waters. She described two studies in which the Atlantic White Shark Conservency is participating to study these apex creatures, and the educational efforts the Conservency promotes.
The Cape Codder reported — “Beach Erosion, sharks raise issues for Orleans“
Panelists’ Presentations:
Attached here are copies of the panelist’s presentations they used during the Beaches & Waterways forum:
Beaches & Waterways Video
Photos of the Beaches & Waterways Forum
Click on the thumbnails below to enlarge the photos and see the captions: