Look, but don't touch

Boat Excise Tax Payments Now Tied To Dockage And Moorings

Shirley Gomes Secures State Funds For New Saquatucket Harbor Boat Ramp and Parking Lot

Leach said the west side resurfacing cost $90,000 and was sold to voters based on the commitment of the commonwealth to resurface and reconstruct the boat ramp on the east side. But Leach said, Jack Shepard, director of the state public access board, had told the harbormaster his budget had been flattened, and Shepard recommended several alternative funding sources. Those sources included seeking funding in a supplemental budget, working toward more state bond funds or pressuring Gov. Romney for state funding as the town of Wellfleet did. Wellfleet received a commitment to be placed on the top of the state access board funding list last month and the supplemental budget now contains $400,000 for a boat ramp in that community, according to Gomes.

She paid for herself right there,” Leach said of Gomes’ quick action when made aware of the funding need to complete the Harwich project through a letter from the harbormaster sent on Aug. 20.

I’m impressed by Shirley (Gomes’) ability to do this,” added Town Administrator Wayne Melville when learning of the funding on Friday. “We are all grateful for Representative Gomes’ leadership and assistance in this matter of repairing a longstanding maintenance problem.” The funds, according to Gomes, will be used for “repair of the east parking lot and installation of storm drainage vaults and the replacement of the public access boat ramp.” Gomes said the money will be available this fall, pointing out there is usually an emergency preamble attached to supplemental budgets allowing the funds to be immediately accessed. Leach said the 33-year-old ramp and its design have been problematic. He said the middle of the ramp was repaired in 2002, but the lower end has continued to be severely damaged by undermining and ground frost. Leach said the lower end has a 15 to 23 degree break and regularly causes small boat trailers to hang up. It is a constant source of complaints. The harbormaster said the new design would increase the slope and eliminate the break.

(by Bill Galvin, Cape Cod Chronicle 9/16/04)

Harwich Mounts Water Study Task Force

Should the nitrogen study win approval, it would be a first for Harwich. The main goal of the study would be to determine the appropriate levels of nitrogen town water can sustain, so scientists will know how much they need to clean up. Sampson said they need precise data so the town doesn't overestimate or underestimate treatment needs, errors which could cost the town millions of dollars in the future. The study would be in collaboration with the Massachusetts Estuary Project of Southeastern Massachusetts, an ongoing water quality study of roughly 90 bodies of water, sponsored by the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth. Sampson estimated that Harwich's study would take about three years to complete.

Nitrogen makes for good fertilizer but if there's too much it can kill life in an ecosystem. The nitrogen that gets into the water comes from wastewater via septic systems and treatment plants, storm water runoff, and fertilizer used on lawns and in landscaping. Sampson estimated that 75 to 90 percent of the excess nitrogen in Harwich comes from wastewater. Brian Howes, a UMass-Dartmouth professor and director of the estuaries project, said that too much nitrogen in embayments will have serious ramifications if left untreated. "There is a fine line when dealing with the acceptable levels of nitrogen," Howes said. "When that line is crossed, that's when things start to get worse." First, algae blooms and sea lettuce, which thrive on nitrogen, begin to grow, choking other plant and animal life. Water will also become murkier, Howes said. "Then the eelgrass beds will start to go away," he added. "And that's when the habitat quality really starts to degrade." Scallop beds and other shellfish habitats would be seriously damaged. Seabirds would be forced to find new homes. Increased nitrogen levels depress oxygen levels, which can lead to fish kills. "It would not be pleasant to see 1,000 dead fish strewn along shoreline," Howes said.

In that worst case scenario, the group that will be most affected is waterfront homeowners, Howes said. "If the waters become aesthetically unpleasant, people will want to invest in homes in more desirable locations." Because the nitrogen problem can lead to larger problems if ignored, Sampson said he is hoping to generate support from residents and town officials. Though selectmen have yet to vote as to whether they want to include this article at town meeting, Selectman Cyd Zeigler said he supports the effort. "It is clear we need to address these wastewater issues promptly and I think it should be up to the voters to decide," he said. Zeigler said he would support a debt or capital exclusion for the funds.
(Published: February 21, 2004)

Assistant Harbormaster Proft gets Scuba Award

He has spent the last six years as assistant harbormaster for Harwich where he continues to use his diving skills from time to time investigating moorings, shellfish habitat, finding channel obstructions, pond reclaimation and his love for the bubbler (de-icing system) at Saquatuucket Harbor. Proft received a uniform pin for his lifetime achievement from from SSI.

Harwich puts all moorings back under Harbormaster, ends age 18 prohibition

Officials, trying to determine how to best grant the public access to the water, have figured out how the town's moorings should be managed. In the past, boatyards and yacht clubs have controlled roughly 156 of the town's 508 moorings. Under the new program, private boatyards will no longer have control over rental moorings. The new plan puts the former rental moorings under control of the harboraster. The plan also sets a townwide waiting list, segmented by geographic location and managed by Harbor Master Tom Leach. Harwich harbor management plan frequently asked questions - FAQ.

No longer will boatyards be able to offer vacant moorings. The document holds many other sweeping changes to the way Harwich controls its waterfront, these include "use-it-or-lose-it" policy on moorings, annual inspections, new categories for mooring servicing agent/inspectors, boat transportation agents, and increased user fees. Two boat yards will have the chance to add up to six work moorings over time. A maneuver to set an age 18 requirement to be on any waiting list has been withdrawn from the plan.