Posted on December 12, 2024
SALISBURY — After months of effort and over $1 million committed to the cause, work on the Salisbury Beach Sand Maintenance Project is set to begin Monday, according to state and local officials.
“This project is an important step toward protecting Salisbury Beach and its surrounding areas,” Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr, R-Gloucester, said in a statement.
Tarr; state Rep. Dawne Shand, D-Newburyport; Department of Conservation and Recreation officials; and local Salisbury officials including Town Manager Neil Harrington, the Board of Selectmen and environmental consultant Tom Hughes announced Tuesday that a contract had been awarded by DCR.
In May, the state committed $1.75 million to the project aimed at reversing erosion issues at Salisbury Beach. Erosion was exacerbated in December 2022 when a massive winter storm hit the region. The project will see large volumes of sand brought to the beach to restore the most heavily impacted areas.
The contract for the project underwent a competitive bid process and was awarded to T Ford Company, Inc. of Georgetown, according to Tarr’s statement.
Work will go on until Jan. 30, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The project is considered a short-term measure to restore the height and volume of sand in critical areas of the Salisbury barrier beach. Sand will be strategically placed in a dune formation at the top of the beach, blending into the remnants of existing dunes.
“By deploying critical sand volumes, we are reinforcing the beach’s ability to shield homes, businesses, and vital infrastructure from storm damage. At the same time, we continue our efforts to secure federal and state support for larger, more sustainable solutions to strengthen the entire barrier beach system,” Tarr said.
Approximately 30,000 tons of sand will be placed along the dune between beach access points 5-11 to restore a continuous interim dune. Shand called the project an “important step toward protecting one of the state’s most cherished assets.”
“I am grateful to DCR and the Healey-Driscoll Administration for their attentiveness to one of the few state coastlines easily accessible by bus and for their willingness to fund this project,” Shand said.
Harrington thanked Tarr, Healey, and DCR Commissioner Brian Arrigo for all the work they have put in to make this possible.
“Our partnership with the state will help to ensure that our long-term goals will always remain one of our highest priorities,” Harrington said.
One of the long-term impacts of this project will be how the newly placed sand may shift and reshape over time, as this movement is a critical part of the beach system’s defense against storms, according to Tarr.
This is due to multiple factors, including the fact that shifting sediment enhances the beach’s ability to absorb wave energy, protecting the dunes and properties behind them. Sediment that moves offshore also helps reduce wave impact and remains available to return to the beach during calmer conditions.
Due to regulatory constraints and permitting time frames for putting a project in place before this winter, construction equipment cannot place sand directly into the water or past the high tide line. With those constraints in mind, a portion of the sand is intended to be washed by waves and currents to move it into the near-shore environment naturally, according to Tarr’s statement.
This can make it look like the beach has eroded, but the sand is intentionally “washed away” into the water for redistribution below the waterline. This helps reduce wave impact along the shore and it is important to note that this sand, while no longer visible to the naked eye above sea level, will eventually make its way back to the beach nourishing the dunes during calmer conditions, Tarr’s statement continues.
While the sand maintenance project provides immediate relief, the long-term goal remains comprehensive beach nourishment, according to officials.
The town is pursuing a study through the U.S. Army to evaluate the impact of nearby jetties on the beach system. This study will inform future projects to enhance coastal resilience, protect Route 1A, the Great Marsh, Seabrook nuclear plant, and upland areas west of the barrier beach.
In addition to these studies, the town continues to evaluate and pursue funding alternatives from agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Highway Administration, while working to gather data for state partners to substantiate the need for larger nourishment projects to improve the resiliency of the barrier, according to officials.
