The newest issue of our Environmental E-Newsletter has just been published and is available for easy download here, by clicking on the link below.

OCEAN_21

Wherever we live, we’ve been witnessing changing weather patterns. This issue of OCEAN looks at how these changing local patterns may be part of  larger patterns, emerging on a regional and hemispheric scale.

Along with some other, well researched articles, we are introducing a new and most unique idea for restoring storm eroded beaches and dunes: use short pieces of cedar shims set into the sand to mimic native vegetation. This random matrix collects and stabilizes new sand. Biomimicry uses the same storm wind energy which eroded the resource area to rebuild it.  This article is timely, as we have also  contacted the 100 coastal communities from Long Island to New Jersey and shared this innovative system with them.

Please share this E-Newsletter wherever you may feel it could be useful. Thank you for supporting our educational efforts, which are self funded. Gordon Peabody, OCEAN Editor

Cover page

SALT SPRAY ZONE PLANTS

You are welcome to download your own copy of this new publication, by clicking on the link above. When the right forward quadrant of Hurricane Irene hit Cape Cod, we experienced an empirical vent of full wind but with no rain. This was an opportunity to assess salt impacts and survivability of native vegetation. We did a survey of direct and indirect impact sites and resurveyed the following spring. 6 pages of color photographs.

Synopsis:

Coastal salt spray events are unwelcome but may play critical roles in selecting sustainable coastal vegetation. Changing storm tracks will create new liabilities for overly diversified coastal habitats. This publication documents Hurricane salt spray impacts on native coastal vegetation.

Medium Exposure site was located 800 + ft inland from the surf line. Onshore salt spray had to cross small buildings, a 2 lane road, low vegetation  and a 4 lane road, with little change in elevation. The area consisted of 6-12 ft, established native and other vegetation.

High Exposure was located 10-60 ft from the surf line. The area consisted of recently planted and established, 1 ft -5 ft high native vegetation. Onshore salt spray, had to cross a 7 foot high coastal bank to impact the vegetation on a level grade.

The Hurricane: In late August, 2011, Hurricane Irene, with a 500 mile diameter Tropical Storm Force wind field, passed west of Cape Cod. The low precipitation, right hand semi-circle impacted Cape Cod from the Southwest. 50+ mph winds bridged tidal cycles for 15 hours. Prolonged wind, coated leaves and stems of exposed coastal vegetation with salt.

Unmitigated by precipitation, this became an empirical, “worst case scenario” for exposed vegetation, and an opportunity to study salt stress.

Observations: Non-coastal natives were quickly dispatched by even the medium, albeit lengthy, exposure to salt spray. Established, native coastal plants, with the exception of Beach Plum, regained seasonal performance.  Directly following the storm event, recent plantings of Rugosa Roses and Seaside Goldenrod presented the appearance of  100% salt kill. 2 weeks later, they were sprouting new leaves. 3 weeks after exposure, previously established Seaside Goldenrod showed flower heads (See cover photo on page 1), followed by blooms on a few, previously established Rugosas. Existing and planted American Beach Grass had minimal impacts.

Click on this link to download your own copy 2013 Conservation Commission Directory  This year’s edition was published a bit early, due to recent changes in several towns. We have included: Brewster; Chatham; Orleans; Eastham; Wellfleet; Truro and Provincetown. We can also mail you a hard copy upon request. Thank you, Gordon

When sand collection fencing failed during this winter storm, we designed a minimized system mimicking native vegetation. For more information on this restoration and biomimicry go to: http://safeharborenv.com/services/barrier-beach-dune-restoration/

2013 Outer Cape Conservation Commission Directory

This 2013 directory is provided by Safe Harbor Environmental Services, in an effort to improve communications between applicants and Conservation Commissions. Contact information, websites, deadlines, and submission requirements have just been updated. Since many towns may also have Wetlands Bylaws, requiring additional forms and fees, we suggest confirming time sensitive deadlines for submissions.

         Safe Harbor is available for wetlands permitting and consulting work under Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act, Massachusetts Endangered Species Act, local Wetlands Bylaws and Areas of Critical Environmental Concern.

We specialize in developing innovative systems for coastal habitat restoration.   

For more information about Safe Harbor: http://www.safeharborenv.com

Gordon Peabody, Safe Harbor, January 2013, gordonpeabody@gmail.com

Edited by Kristyna Smith, Safe Harbor, Coastal Projects Coordinator 

OCEAN 20 covers this year’s peculiar winter weather and looks at why every prediction but one was wrong. We also introduce “SMART WATER”, sharing innovative and surprising ways to save money and the resource. A very unusual wind turbine is introduced, with links to a short video contrasting new and traditional wind energy designs.

Feel free to share this issue with your friends, all of our educational materials are Public Domain.

Click here to download our newest issue of OCEAN or view it below

HABITAT RESTORATION GUIDE

Click on the above link to download your own free copy of this booklet.

Habitat Restoration Guide for Planting Vegetation on the Outer Cape

Safe Harbor Environmental Services, 2012

Safe Harbor’s Restoration Guide for the Outer Cape links native vegetation with specific habitats, exposures and height. Using site-specific vegetation for habitat restoration contributes to higher survivability. This “cookbook” style booklet makes choosing plants easier, by integrating numerous, earlier versions of planting lists. We are grateful to Howard Irwin for his review of this booklet.

Safe Harbor Environmental works with all forms of environmental permitting. Safe Harbor specializes in sustainable, coastal habitat restoration, using innovative, low cost strategies. Publications on our website that may also be relevant include: “The Dirty Dozen” Identifying and Managing 13 Invasive Plants on Cape Cod; “Steep Slope Stabilization”; and “Salt Spray Events and Coastal Vegetation” documenting the role Tropical Storm events in selecting sustainable coastal vegetation.

Safe Harbor publications may be copied, circulated, and shared for educational purposes only. This work may be cited but in no way should it be altered, transformed, built upon, or used as an endorsement of other work or for commercial purposes. Gordon Peabody, Safe Harbor Environmental, November, 2011

Ballston Beach Barrier Dune Restoration, Truro, Cape Cod

A unique Community Restoration Partnership has been created in Truro on Cape Cod: Truro Beach Commission; Truro Department of Public Works; National Parks Service, Cape Cod National Seashore; Truro Conservation Commission;Friends of the Cape Cod National Seashore; Truro Non Resident Taxpayers Association and Safe Harbor Environmental.

If you are willing to make a small donation for beach grass plugs, to support sustainable restoration of this resource area, your tax deductable donation should be made out to FCCNS with Ballston in the memo line.  They should be sent to FCCNS at PO Box 550, Wellfleet, MA  02667. Bundles of 300 stems cost $39.00. Any size donation contributes to this project.

If you are interested in volunteering to plant beach grass plugs or assist in setting up sand collection fence, please email goronpeabody@gmail.com

The following is the first article that I have written about this project. There were a lot of components that were brought together for this restoration. It has been published in a Cape Cod magazine this summer. Click on the link below to read it.

CHA_Summer11_BallstonBeachArticle

Read more

OCEAN 18

Click on this link to have your easy to read copy.  This 18th edition of our e-newsletter represents our commitment to environmental education. We have included brief summaries of some unprecedented world scale weather events and a few of the consequences. This 18th edition also includes links for more information. We have also covered some innovative concepts in water quality, energy and one of our low impact/high performance erosion control systems.

Please feel free to share this newsletter, we have made it public domain. Thank you for supporting environmental education.

In the spring of 2010, Cape Cod experienced such record levels of ground water, that areas which would normally be dry became flooded as the underground water table rose up in low areas, such as this location between sand dunes. With climate change producing extra precipitation in New England, we have published this booklet to keep our ground water safe by offering suggestions to get roof and driveway runoff into the water table, instead of sending it down our streets.

GOOD NEIGHBOR storm water ideas Click here to get your own copy of some inexpensive ideas for managing your own rainwater and being a better neighbor.

DIRTY-DOZEN-Invasive-Plants

Click on this pdf publication to get your own copy of the “Dirty Dozen”.

It describes the identity, ecology and various management techniques for taking on invasive vegetation.

These are 13 plants that we have tagged as “the bad guys”. Invasive vegetation behaves aggressively, claiming native plant space, nutrients, light and moisture as it’s own. Native vegetation can support up to 50 times more organisms as invasive vegetation.Invasive vegetation never co-evolved with native insects and animals that transferred plant biomass to protein biomass. Invasive vegetation habitats are effectively neutered by this inability to complete trophic level transfer of energy.

Check out our “green techniques” for invasive removal.

For questions or comments contact us

gordonpeabody@gmail.com

OCEAN_17 go to this link to check out our latest issue, including Gulf Oil Leak interactions and possible correlations between more intense storms, maple syrup problems and increased ground water with climate change.