Willard Neighborhood Association

Beach Report

Theresa Wiper

"WNA Beach Committee"

Thu, 19 Oct 2006

Just some updates with regard to the beach:

Fish Shacks:  The larger fishing shack is going to be reshingled on the water side and the land side (the opposite side of the water side).  The land side is going to be done to replace shingles torn off by vandals.  There are three posts on the larger shack that do not make contact with the rock below and need to be fixed.  This work has been approved by the Parks Department and will be done by Pete Wilson who lives on Deake Street. 

The smaller shacks need more structural work and currently house a couch and a chair and much graffiti on the inside.  It looks like somebody's clubhouse.  There is evidence that there are fires being lit inside both of the shacks and evidence that they both are being used or getting broken into.  Claude Morgan and Pete Wilson are going to meet with Dana Anderson regarding the work (and cost) that should be done.  Then Claude is going to request a Council Workshop to discuss the importance of the shacks and how much money to allocate to them to fix them up.  At this point, the city needs to decide (with input from all of you) how much to do to the shacks.

We also discussed (at the last Beach Committee meeting) possible ideas for better surveillance of the shacks (lighting, sound devices or cameras, etc.).  All of this will be included in the City Council's discussion. 

Willard Street drains:  The Willard Street entrance has two drains that are not quite at the very end of the street and do not drain in major storm events.  The result is that the water is rushing through that beach entrance's asphalt path and washing out the sand on the beach.  The current drain pipe stretches from the entrance and goes all the way out and around the fishing shacks and is probably filled or almost all filled with sand.  The Water Resource Protection Department (Pat Cloutier) are looking at putting in a new drain pipe that would tie into the drain pipe outfall at the bath house.  They need to study this solution to make sure it would work and that there is adequate elevation to gravity drain the pipe there.  The "on the beach" drain pipe will probably be enlarged to accommodate this addition and rip-rap would also be added to slow the increased flow volumes and velocity. 

Bath House:  The bath house bathrooms were completely renovated this year and are a big improvement.  New doors and windows are being installed also.  The graffiti is being painted over as it is put on.  About half the deck was stained this Fall and one side of the bath house restained. 

Coast Week:  Coast week was cancelled due to weather.  There were one or two other groups that did pick up the beach.

Water Quality:  No news here.  Water quality deteriorates after rain storm events.  Beach closings are usually due to runoff.

Beach Entrances:   We are looking to add sand, walkovers, and/or redesign walkways for the Beach Street, Myrtle Avenue, and Willard Street entrances to best protect those entrances from rain and ocean storm events.  We are looking at the options of just adding sand under walkways and adjusting the dune fences where needed or putting in dune walkovers and growing dune vegetation underneath the walkway.  I am working with the Maine Geological Survey (Steve Dickson and Pete Slovinsky) and some dune specialists from North Carolina to figure out which way to go.  Will meet with Dana Anderson and Sarah Neuts (Parks Department) in February or March to discuss the entrances. 

Invasive Plant removal:  Had no volunteers to remove invasive plants this Fall.  If you would like to help, let me know.  The invasive plant to remove is bittersweet.

That's about it.  Let me know if you have any questions.  Theresa