MESOSCALE RESPONSE OF A MOBILE SEDIMENTARY SHORELINE: BASIS FOR NEW DIRECTIONS IN COASTAL MANAGEMENT AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL; FALMOUTH, MA
In 1900, the FSS was a sedimentologically-responsive coast with clearly-defined meso-scale dynamics related to local forcing factors. The geophysical systematics and derivative organismal habitats have been severely altered in the 20th Century by continued building of coastal engineering structures; the current shoreline presents a condition of near-total armoring. Structures have impacted the river-of-sand in three ways: 1) shore-parallel structures (seawalls, revetment) "lock-out" sand at source areas; 2) groin fields "hold-out" sand from normal littoral transport and; 3) jetty pairs (at stabilized inlets, "cut-out" sand from the littoral stream on ebb tides.
A recent change in thinking may lead to entirely different directions in coastal zone management on the local and community scale. Along the entire 15-mile segment of the "open" south shore and the 5-mile system of Great Pond - Falmouths largest salt-water embayment, recommendations call for a phased, long-range plan of "whole-coastal restoration" designed to re-establish the shoreline to pre-1900 conditions. The Falmouth plans are closely aligned with and (in part) modeled on Marthas Vineyards island-wide pre-facto "no-build buffer zone". If restoration proceeds, it will be the first time that coastal engineering structures have been removed from a significant stretch of stabilized and degraded USA shoreline in an effort to improve both aesthetic and environmental conditions.