The CRWG meets twice monthly at Gus Canty Community Center, on Monday evenings at 7:30 pm.

Coastal Resources Working Group Mission Statement

The CRWG’s mission is to:
1) Identify key factors dictating the current condition of Falmouth’s coastal sediment system
2) Explore reasons for the current condition
3) Develop future scenarios of the coastal zone based on physical processes and coastal management
4) Provide community outreach and recommendations concerning coastal processes and coastal management.

The CRWG completed their study of the south shore in 2003, and this report, entitled “The Future of Falmouth’s South Shore”, is available for downloading Here. Copies are also available for review at the Falmouth Main Library, East Falmouth Library, North Falmouth Library, Woods Hole Library, and West Falmouth Library. The CRWG is currently providing public outreach concerning Falmouth’s south coast. In 2004, the CRWG plans to commence study of the condition of sediment processes along the Buzzards Bay shore of Falmouth.

Major findings of the CRWG

1) Falmouth’s south coast has seen an unprecedented increase in overall erosion rate over the past 30 years, amounting to an average increase in erosion rate that is 5 times the erosion rate in the previous century. The south coast has retreated (lost shoreline) by anywhere from 0.5 to 1 foot per year, with the highest rates of shoreline loss occurring in East Falmouth.
2) The main reason for overall erosion and loss of sand along the south coast is that sediment supply and sediment transport have been blocked by coastal armoring structures such as revetments, riprap, groins, jetties, and other coastal armor. Half of Falmouth’s south coast is armored, and half of these armored parcels are Town-owned.
3) Rising sea level is a contributing factor in the loss of sandy shores. The rate of sea level rise over the past century has been about 13 inches. It is expected to increase to 19 inches over the next 100 years.

By the year 2100, if we continue our present coastal sediment management practices, Falmouth can expect to lose its natural beaches. Such loss of natural beaches will increase property damage from storm waves and flooding, and result in an increased demand to protect coastal properties using artificial measures such as coastal armoring. Increasing coastal armoring will only increase erosion, and contribute to the vicious cycle of erosion / armoring / more erosion / more armoring. Public access, coastal tourism, scenic views and habitat will suffer as a result. Public funds will be spent on coastal armoring projects that will only make the erosion problem worse. Coastal management will be reactive and will not be able to prevent or avoid problems.

In contrast, the ideal vision for the year 2100 is to have wide natural beaches that are self-sustaining, augmented in strategic locations by beach nourishment and sediment management practices that help sustain the coastal sediment system. Storm and flood damage would be minimized because wider beaches provide more protection from storm waves. Coastal tourism would thrive, because there would be public access to beaches and scenic coastal vistas to enjoy. Vulnerable public infrastructure such as coastal roads and bridges would have been moved inland as much as possible, based on long-term planning to avoid coastal hazards. Coastal management would be proactive, cost-effective and designed to avoid problems.

In order to realize these benefits, coastal management practices must be changed.

Recommendations include:

Restore natural sediment processes by removing unneeded, hazardous or unwanted coastal armoring, beginning with an experimental approach, perhaps on publicly owned lands.

Acquire coastal open space to provide a buffer zone for valuable sediment sources such as eroding coastal banks, beaches and dunes.

Encourage Town planning to relocate vital public infrastructure inland from the exposed Vineyard Sound coastline.

Develop economic incentives for restoring the coastal zone, and encourage coastal tourism that is consistent with the Town’s Local Comprehensive Plan.

Improve coastal management, regulation and review of coastal projects, emphasizing a comprehensive approach to coastal sediment transport, water quality, planning, recreation, and permitting.

Develop a flood mitigation plan as part of a comprehensive All-Hazards Mitigation Plan required by FEMA, to increase Falmouth’s eligibility for funding to address storms and flooding.

CRWG members are volunteers with expertise in coastal geology, coastal management, landowner issues, water quality, land use, ecology and coastal navigation.The Falmouth Coastal Resources Working Group (CRWG) was appointed by the Board of Selectmen in 2000.

CRWG Members:
Chairman, Jo Ann Muramoto (508) 833-6600 (work)
Robert T. Barker
W. Rockwell Geyer, III
Elizabeth Schwarzman
Robert E. Thieler (Chair from 2000 –2003)
Jane Tucker
Chris Weidman
Jude Wilber