By Victor Tine
Staff writer
March 14, 2008 06:17 am PLUM ISLAND — With the annual closing of Plum Island's federal beach along the wildlife refuge shore scheduled for April 1, Newbury selectmen Chairman Vincent Russo has raised the prospect of selective shutdowns of other parts of the island's beaches during the summer. "We might have to close the beach to the public because of erosion," Russo said yesterday. He said the presence of too many people is destructive to the sand dunes, which have already been worn away by storms. Russo said it is possible that the town may have to block off some — but not all — public rights of way to the shore during what he called "high tide weekends," when tidal action reduces the amount of dry land available for setting up beach chairs and blankets, which in turn would create congestion among beachgoers. In sections where the beach is stable enough, there would still be access to the sand, he said. "We'd have to be selective, based on where the beach had eroded," he said. He acknowledged that closing off beach access on some summer weekends would have an adverse effect on Plum Island's economic activity, especially parking fees and restaurants. The Parker River National Wildlife Refuge is getting ready to close its six miles of shoreline on the island April 1 to protect the nesting habitat of the threatened piping plover, a species of small shorebird that nests directly on the beach. The refuge has been shutting down its beach for more than 20 years and then reopening sections of the oceanfront over the summer after plover chicks hatch and fly. Beach erosion has become a major issue in recent months, especially following a particularly destructive storm last April and the installation of water and sewer lines on the island. A group of Plum Island homeowners has begun raising funds to pay the fee of a Washington lobbying firm, Marlowe & Co., that specializes in obtaining federal funds for beach replenishment projects. Russo and Newburyport Mayor John Moak spent a day in Washington, D.C., this week for talks with the area's congressional delegation, escorted by Marlowe & Co. staff member Joshua Gaboton. Russo said he and Moak thought the meetings went well and that the local beach replenishment proposals have the support of Sens. Edward Kennedy and John Kerry, and of Congressman John Tierney. Russo said the two local officials met with staff members for Kennedy and Kerry and then with Kerry himself. They also met with Tierney, as well as a member of his staff. "We were satisfied that we were given a good amount of time at each office. We weren't rushed at all," Russo said. "They had done their homework, and we reinforced how important we thought this project was for both communities."
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