After a lifetime of being The Trustees’ biggest cheerleader, we are parting ways. The draft management plan for Norton Point and Chappaquiddick beaches is the reason.
What follows is a slightly edited version of a letter sent to the president of the Trustees of Reservations.
I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome you to one of the premier land conservation organizations in the world. I should know. I gave 32 years of my professional life to the Trustees as the Islands regional director (25 years) and the Martha’s Vineyard/Chappaquiddick superintendent (seven years) and I couldn’t be prouder of my years with The Trustees. For the first 30 of my years, my marching orders were to become part of the community. We were an organization that was committed to our local communities — they were part of our strength. The final two years of my tenure were vastly different with the emphasis on strengthening our marketing and programming at the expense of building strong ties with our neighbors, our community and our local and state partners.
I am saddened to let you know that after a lifetime of being The Trustees’ biggest cheerleader on the Islands, we are parting ways. The draft management plan for Norton Point and Chappaquiddick beaches is the reason. I can honestly say that I have never read a document so blatantly anti-community, anti-history and without a care in the world for the resource balance it claims to seek. In short, this document should never have been released in its present form. It is filled with some great wisdom and scientifically supported data regarding the threat of sea level rise on our barrier beaches. Much of the rest of the plan is rubbish, clearly written with an ecological voice which is tone deaf to the existence of its surroundings on Martha’s Vineyard. At Norton Point, Leland Beach, and Cape Pogue we have always found a balance between resource protection and public access. We emphasized public access for pedestrians and oversand vehicles with provisions for boats, wind surfers, kiteboarders and kayakers. This plan seems to treat human visitors in OSVs as the enemy.
This is a remote beach area with few areas accessible by foot. The use of OSVs is not detrimental to the property if some simple common sense rules are followed. This draft plan purports to use the 1994 Guide for Barrier Beach Management in Massachusetts and the 1993 Massachusetts Guidelines for Managing Recreational Use of Beaches to Protect Piping Plover, Terns, and Their Habitats in Massachusetts as its keystone for drafting and implementing barrier beach management at Chappy and Norton Point. It is too bad that this plan does not follow these beach management guidelines but instead deviates from their provisions by substituting personal opinion and by failing to provide note of key provisions which mitigate the strict interpretation the ecology staff uses in this draft. It is also too bad that no beach managers were given any meaningful role in the drafting of this plan.
Further, I find it incredible that our beach partners were not involved in the writing of this controversial plan. The Trustees sent copies of this plan to the Mass Division of Marine Fisheries (the owner of Leland Beach), Dukes County (the owner of Norton Point) and the town of Edgartown (the owner of the jetties) two weeks before releasing it to the public. If I were them, I would be insulted that they were ignored in the drafting of this controversial and divisive plan.
For many years I warned the ecology staff not to pursue their desire to ban dogs from Cape Pogue, Leland, Wasque and Norton Point because they failed to gather data on their assertions that dogs were actively harassing plovers, terns, and other beach nesting birds. To date they still have not presented data on Chappy or Norton Point dog incidents. I should know. I managed those beaches and spoke daily with the shorebird staff and beach rangers. No question that unrestrained dogs running within proximity of nests is a violation of state law and should be documented. I am aware of a handful (fewer than six) incidents of dogs off leash within a shorebird nest zone (these plovers were also protected by wire mesh exclosures) over 32 years of beach management. No question our rangers were daily reminding visitors to put their dogs on leash, but in most cases the dogs were standing/lying next to their owners/families. Are these dogs a threat to nesting shorebirds? Certainly not. And dog feces on shellfish flats? Huh? We have a small area on Katama Bay which is exposed at low tide. I have never seen our coastal ecologists or their staff diligently searching this small shellfish area for dog feces. This plan also points out that there are other beaches which ban dogs on the Vineyard. This is a red herring. Almost all the island beaches which ban dogs are beaches where you park in a lot or alongside a road, thus dogs in those concentrated areas can be a nuisance. Here, we are talking about a seven-mile-plus stretch of remote ocean beach. The dog policy needs to be reconsidered.
I was one of the original authors of the 1994 Massachusetts Barrier Beach Management Guidelines. We never advocated for OSV trails which were narrow and placed passing vehicles in close proximity to parked vehicles. This plan endangers our visiting public on wide sections of the beach by mandating OSV trails which are exceedingly narrow and far from the toe of the dune. The resulting OSV travel corridor is too restrictive and forces vehicles who wish to park with little to no room for passing vehicles. Under this scenario the passing vehicles are given little to no reaction time to stop their vehicles. I have years of experience driving on this beach, and not a summer day went by that I did not see a young child run into the travel lane chasing a toy or a teenager leaping into the trail to catch a frisbee. In my opinion, this plan, if it is implemented, may well lead to the death or injury of children who play at the beach.
Perhaps some of the most discouraging parts of this plan are its ignorance of historical use of trails for recreation, shellfishing, fin fishing and quiet rejuvenation in nature. The world envisioned in this draft beach management plan is not the kind of place Charles Eliot ever envisioned. Even with sea level rise we can find the balance between public use and enjoyment and protecting the places that we love. That spirit is missing in this plan.
In my opinion, you should withdraw the plan and redraft it with input from beach managers, our beach partner-owners as well as the local community. There is no fixing this draft plan. It needs a complete rewrite with a balanced point of view which truly embraces our mission of public use and enjoyment as well as protection of the properties which we all love and seek to protect.
Comments
Thanks for your eloquent and
Oak Bluffs Angler Oak BluffsThanks for your eloquent and well-thought out words, Chris. You’ve captured my dismay ‘ frustration over this draft plan (and this year’s mismanagement of access to the OSV trails). I hope all who read this and share your sentiment will make themselves heard during the public comment period for this plan. I know I will!
It’s very sad that such an
Mark kokoszka Oak BluffsIt’s very sad that such an drastic plan is being considered to these wonderful properties. Thank you Chris for pointing out what sound management of this resource can and should be done.
Pretty damning opinion by the
Frank O’RourkePretty damning opinion by the foremost expert
We’ll written and I concur
John Eller EdgartownWe’ll written and I concur completely.
Why is it that today’s
Tony PlymouthWhy is it that today’s procedure for managing birds, sand and beach’s is all about excluding man from these areas, period. Some may say “we are only limiting man’s access” but the reality is that man is being slowly but surely denied access to any areas the so called “protectors” deem necessary. We are learning to share our lives with our fellow man regardless of their color or nationality so why not this? The breach comes and goes on it’s own, what’s the difference? I spent 38 years as a Firefighter because there is no common sense, here’s another example.
Well said. I have hope your
Cynk New HampshireWell said. I have hope your writing will make a difference but I also have had hope before that the Trustees would do the right thing. In my experience, in the last 7 years, they always broke my heart. Always standing behind poor decisions and the corporate mentality.
My family has enjoyed and
Elizabeth EdgartownMy family has enjoyed and RESPECTFULLY visited these beaches. We have made wonderful memories and made great friends. The Trustee employees know the "regulars" that come to these beaches with their families. We are, and have been a community. This battle seems to be from people that just don't like or understand the people that commune here. They are using the birds as an excuse and have been leveraging that for years. Looks like they may win their battle against the community it serves.
As yearly visitor, I read
Sylvia Diaz WaylandAs yearly visitor, I read this article with great interest. I know you’ve enjoyed and respectfully visited these beaches, as I have. But not all are respectful. I just saw two teenagers trampling over the sectioned off plover nesting. I think there’s a happy medium.
Thank you Chris for speaking
Rick VHThank you Chris for speaking up and sharing your intelligence and vast experience.
Chris - Thank you for your
David Daniels WESTPORTChris - Thank you for your well informed opinion and perspective.
Well written and I hope they
FC EdgartownWell written and I hope they take your advice. You have all those years of experience Hopefully they will listen.
I would like to know how much
Jack ChappyI would like to know how much have the Trustees spent in the last 5 years on investing in preserving Cape Pogue — how many plants planted — how many scrub oaks replaced after the Breach — how have they repaired pond, beach, woodland and plain? I see them burning and mowing (once a year) but what other remediation have they done to ensure this glorious fragile space is as future proofed as it can be?
Thank you for sharing the
Jane MvThank you for sharing the truth.
It is time for our town to
Tony B EdgartownIt is time for our town to take Norton Point back and to manage it equitably for the benefit of both birds and residents. Initiate this at a town meeting ballot?
My wife and I have been
JaredN Boston/ChappyMy wife and I have been visiting Cape Poge for more than 20 years. We enjoy nothing more than driving out to a quiet beach to read or fish or birdwatch. We greatly admired the Trustees because, unlike many other conservation organizations, they balanced the need for conservation with access for all and they governed their properties with a gentle hand. Too many conservation organizations are ableist -- only the young and fit can access their properties. In contrast, even folks nearing retirement age like my wife and I could access the remote Cape Poge beaches.
We are devastated as it seems that the Trustees have changed into an exclusionary organization. This draft plan is terrible. Closing the bay side trails will greatly reduce access while protected birds are hatching, because the bay side trail provides an alternative path when the outer and middle trails are closed.
Closing the OSV trails west of the lighthouse means that the North and West beaches, along with the Gut, will be inaccessible to surfcasters.
One of the great things about Cape Poge has been that no matter where the wind is coming from there is almost always a sheltered beach that you can find. No longer, it seems.
The Trustees mission statement claims that it is here to protect and share the Massachusetts places people love for their exceptional scenic, historic, and ecological value. Sadly, it seems that the Trustees have forgotten the "share" part of its mission. Now they are just another conservation organization, bent on excluding people from their property.
As an annual surfcasting
David Collins Bradford, RIAs an annual surfcasting visitor to Chappy who has rented a large home for 15 years and purchased an osv pass each year that I have visited, I wholeheartedly concur with Mr Kennedy’s concerns. The one point he fails to mention is the impact these proposed restrictions may have on the economy of MV. My group alone spends tens of thousands of dollars within the local economy. We have had serious discussions to take our annual fishing trip elsewhere because of the restrictions and rigid non cooperation of the Trustees. As mentioned , the Trustees are making a mockery of the their mission statement and the intent for which the lands they do not own but manage were granted., ie Lelands and Wasque. I urge The Trustees to listen to all stakeholders and not just a few environmentalists and homeowners who only seek to restrict access. Thank you Chris Kennedy for your many years of considerate service with the Trustees and reminding them of who they represent.
Beautifully written. We’re
Tom Nelson MVYBeautifully written. We’re 25 year Chappy/Norton Point visitors. We see many changes this year. The woman we picked up our beach sticker from on Chappy was just so nasty and surly. Zero customer skills. But I’m sure she’s great with birds. The kid assisting her rolled his eyes as she lectured us (our SUV has 15 years of stickers on it) like we were toddlers. The attitude on many fronts has changed. Bird over people, with little balance.
Since Chris moved to Chappy,
Ginny Jones WTSince Chris moved to Chappy, and now to an even greater degree, even more, TTOR seems like a group which has forgotten its mission, and the reasons that many properties (such as Long Point in WT -- which was a GIFT to TTOR) are in the stable of properties. Long Point -- case in point -- is now a cash cow to imlk for every cent. The house is rented out (not for use of employees as it was for many years) and the use of the beach (no life guards) is ticketed for both cars and people. And for BIG bucks. It would be interesting to know the economics of the Vineyard properties -- expenses versus income, and how much goes to pay for off island properties, and the apparently very well paid senior staff.
What a shame. Chris: thanks for all your years of loyal and faithful service to the island and to the various resources as well as the residents (all of them).
Thank you to Chris Kennedy
Willy B CtThank you to Chris Kennedy for his years of work making the areas on Chappy and Nortons accessible for all of us to enjoy while also being responsible to his duties to be a good steward to the environment. We have been coming to enjoy these areas for over 50 years and have seen many changes over the years, most of them beyond anyones control, just Mother Nature doing what she has and will always do. It is very unfortunate and discouraging that the new way of thinking attempts to exclude the very people who care about and love these beautiful places. We had always been happy to purchase our OSV permit for most of those years , as we knew we were helping to maintain and protect this place for everyone to enjoy. As someone who has spent a lot of time out on Wasque and Pogue reservation it has become quite apparent that in the past several years the management at Trustees have been treating this beautiful place as just a revenue source with minimal reinvestment, both in manpower and maintenance. They have had some great people that worked there and patrolled and maintained the trails, assisted visitors, did guided fishing excursions, and guided tours of the places there. Now, you are lucky to see anybody out there on a regular basis other than the bird people or US Fish and Wildlife trapping and euthanizing “ undesirable” animals that pose a threat to the plovers. I can’t help but feel that now the bird biologists more or less dictate what happens there and the management of the Trustees has abandoned their mission statement.it seems its just easier to just throw up their hands and blame the new environmental bird regulations or climate change as the reason to usher in a new era in which all the historical users of this property will eventually be squeezed out. There can be no other reasons that I can think of why they would close off bayside trails or reduce the well marked and used trails or just close off large blocks of the property to OSV travel that has occurred for over 50 years under the Trustees management. I hope that the Trustees will please reconsider this terrible management plan that excludes the many historical users of this property and I hope that they have a change of heart and begin to put the resources back into maintaining and protecting these properties for public use.
That stretch of beach is
Bradford A. Norton Northern VirginiaThat stretch of beach is named after my great grandfather and he would be very disappointed if he knew what was happening today!
Things changed for the
Ben I. EdgartownThings changed for the Trustees when they rebranded and came up with this current new identity. Bring back the original logo and branding and get back to your roots! Shameful to see this lack of vision from the organization.
Its right there in the name
Ross Benthien ChappyIts right there in the name "Trust"ees. Every year Mr. Kennedy would make a quick presentation at The Chappy Island Association, always engaging and knowledgable. He would detail the status of the local shorebirds with what can only be described as stunning detail. He knew about every success, death, and compromised nest. He also always coupled that with realistic plans for beach restrictions and re-openings that were based upon facts on the ground (beach). It took him about thirty seconds to gain my trust and that trust has continued for the better part of a decade. I always walked away from those meetings convinced that with Chris on the job that the needs of humans and birds alike would be met to fullest extent possible. If the Trustees cannot trust Mr. Kennedy and those of us who live on Chappy/MV it will make it nearly impossible to reciprocate. We don't need to be lectured to, we need to be listened to.
My familyhas been visiting
Diane Frost Guilford, VermontMy familyhas been visiting Chappy since the early 1980's. Extended family, children, grandchildren, cousins and assorted dogs (leashed even when swimming) Incredible memories!!
Thank you Mr Kennedy for your thoughtful response. We enjoyed East beach and Wasque during your tenure. Hopefully you will be heard.
who are these people who have
laura jemison wasque ave, chappaquiddickwho are these people who have come up with such an inhospitable plan?
my understanding was that originally, the trustees of the reservation were selected to manage the open spaces of wasque and cape pogue . To preserve and maintain the land for use by the community , of which it is such a defining part.
Concur. Are similar
Ed MVConcur. Are similar restrictions being put in place on the Nantucket OSV properties?
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