Although public information regarding coastal erosion and response to erosion and other coastal hazards is plentiful in Massachusetts, information (including inventories) of some erosion response projects such as beach fill is lacking. Erosion has increased in some areas because of existing shoreline structures, which interrupt sand transport. Working to increase coastal access should be a priority. The facts that about 75% of the coastline is privately owned and private ownership extends to the low tide line hamper efforts to improve public access. Massachusetts does a good job supplying the public information about coastal access points.

Massachusetts Ratings

Indicator Type	Information	Status
Beach Access	8	3
Water Quality	7	5
Beach Erosion	9	-
Erosion Response	-	8
Beach Fill	6	-
Shoreline Structures	9	3
Beach Ecology	6	-
Surfing Areas	2	5
Website	9	-
Coastal Development	{{{19}}}	{{{20}}}
Sea Level Rise	{{{21}}}	{{{22}}}

Indicators

(+) In early 2011 the American Littoral Society was awarded a $1 million grant by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to help solve water pollution problems damaging Barnegat Bay. The grant will support the society’s efforts to clean up polluted storm water runoff, one of the major sources of water quality problems affecting the Bay. The society will work with the Ocean County Department of Planning, the Ocean County Soil Conservation District and the Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve to reconstruct identified malfunctioning basins with innovative techniques to remove nutrients, sediments and pathogens.

(+) CZM’s new Coastal Landscaping website shows how landscaping with native plants can help coastal property owners prevent storm damage and erosion, provide wildlife habitat, and reduce coastal water pollution—all while improving a property’s visual appeal and natural character. The Website presents: detailed information on the benefits of these landscaping techniques; step-by-step instructions on landscaping a bank, beach, or dune; tips for planting, installation, and maintenance; plant lists and photos; sample landscape plans; information on permitting; suggestions on where to purchase native plants; and links to additional information.

(+) In May 2008 CZM launched its new StormSmart Coasts program with a series of regional workshops. StormSmart Coasts is designed to support local efforts to protect people and property in coastal floodplains from erosion and storm damage. The program features an extensive StormSmart Coasts website that includes regulatory tools, case studies, planning strategies, and other technical assistance materials.

(+) EPA's water quality grade for the Charles River, based on the number of days the river met state boating and swimming standards for bacteria was B++. For 2007, the Charles met boating standards 100 percent of the time, and swimming standards 63 percent of the time, according to data collected by the Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA) between Watertown Dam and Boston Harbor. These measurements are the best levels recorded since the Charles River Initiative began in 1995. The Charles has improved dramatically from the launch of EPA’s Charles River Initiative in 1995, when the river received a D for meeting boating standards only 39 percent of the time and swimming standards just 19 percent of the time.

(+) On May 28, 2008, Governor Deval Patrick signed into law the Oceans Act of 2008, legislation that requires Massachusetts to develop a first-in-the-nation comprehensive plan to manage development in state waters. The new ocean management plan, released in January 2010, was developed by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) in consultation with a 17-member ocean advisory commission and an ocean science advisory council. Passage of the Oceans Act into law was a top recommendation of a 2004 report by the Massachusetts Ocean Management Task Force. More info. To further support ocean management planning, the Massachusetts Ocean Partnership (MOP) has launched a comprehensive new website dedicated to ocean management in Massachusetts, with particular emphasis on marine spatial planning.

(+) MassDEP has revised its Beach Nourishment: Guide to Best Management Practices in Massachusetts — developed for those proposing beach nourishment projects to minimize erosion and potential adverse environmental impacts, to promote the beneficial reuse of clean, compatible, dredge material, and to expedite regulatory review.

(+) In 2005, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court affirmed the authority of a local government to bar residential construction in a flood-prone area and ruled that the community does not have to compensate the owner for being unable to build a home on a seaside property.

(+) Massachusetts’ Office of Coastal Zone Management hosts an online map server with long-term erosion rates. The website also has information fact sheets on shoreline change.

(+) With federal funds received for the 2003 beach season, the MDPH provided weekly beachwater laboratory testing for 60 coastal communities free of charge and is posting monitoring results on its website.

(+) Massachusetts Water Resources Authority developed at $230 million plan to control sewage and storm water contamination of beaches in North Dorchester and South Boston.

(+) A revised edition of The Massachusetts Coast Guide to Boston and the North Shore was published in 2004. This is now available online.

(0) The South Shore of Nantucket has retreated half a mile since colonial times. At least 25 buildings have either been condemned or destroyed since the 1980s. More than 50 homes could be destroyed in the next ten years.

(0) At least 81 beach fill projects have been carried out through 1998, at a cost of $56 million. At least five sites are currently proposing large beach fill projects.

(-) In February 2011 Gov. Chris Christie conditionally vetoed a bill that would have required the state to adopt stricter pollution standards in two years to protect the Barnegat Bay. Christie said adopting the bill’s standard to measure pollution — a system called Total Maximum Daily Loads — was unrealistic in such a short time. But the bill’s sponsor, Assemblyman John McKeon, said the governor’s version is watered down and offers little promise for restoring the bay.

(-) The City of Gloucester receives a waiver each year allowing them to discharge partially treated sewage into the ocean.

(-) Governor Deval Patrick has proposed “streamlining” permits to destroy wetlands. The pending plan would 1) abolish many citizen appeals; 2) cut procedural safeguards governing wetland appeals making it harder to protect wetlands; and 3) eliminate independent review of state permit decisions. The net effect of these changes would leave lawsuits as the only effective means of preventing wetlands destruction.

(-) Private ownership extends to the low tide line. About three-quarters of the coastal frontage is privately owned.

(-) Acquisition efforts that increased the amount of publicly owned or accessible coastline by nearly 100 miles in the 1970s and 1980s have declined due to land costs and a scarcity of available property.

(-) The Massachusetts "Beaches Bill" was passed in 2000. Unfortunately, this water quality-related bill did not have earmarked funding attached.

(-) Environmental funding for Massachusetts has been cut by 25%, according to a report from the New England chapter of Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility.

Victories

The Massachusetts Chapter created a database that contains all of the beaches along the Cape Ann Peninsula, North Shore, Boston Harbor, South Shore, Cape Cod Bay, Cape Cod, Buzzard's Bay, and the Islands (Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket). Chapter volunteers have surveyed all beaches in Massachusetts.

For a list of Surfrider Foundation's latest coastal victories, go here.

State of the Beach Report: Massachusetts