Overview of the Problem
Sand Dollar Beach is a hidden treasure of the South Shore because it provides sheltered, warm-water swimming. The area faces several challenges.
- Parking and Access. This problem was finally addressed through a land donation by a family, coupled with municipal money to create a parking and picnic area, plus a ramp down to the beach.
- “Natural” infilling. We’ve put the word “natural” in quotes because we suspect that the infilling is largely the unintentional result of a man-made causeway. Addressing this problem will require scientific evaluation to determine if the causeway is really a significant contributor. If it is, the next step will be reconstruction of the causeway to allow freer flow of tidal water around the island. Since the causeway was privately built, and is privately owned, any reconstruction would require the permission and cooperation of the owner.
- Intentional infilling. The Sand Dollar Beach area includes several lots along rte. 332. These lots are much lower than the road, and were traditionally used for activities related to making money from the sea, rather than for housing. Homes had been constructed on the other side of rte. 332 – on land that is not subject to coverage by high tides. For generations, no one considered building a home on the ocean side of rte 332, and this local wisdom was reflected in the assessment values given the land by the municipality. Most had ZERO valuation. Only in recent years did people begin to buy some of this land for higher prices, thus raising the municipal assessments.
In the winter of 2006/2007, the owner of one water lot began to infill, presumably in preparation for building a house. Many local residents were angry that a wetland could be infilled (NS law severely restricts and regulates infilling of lands considered to be wetlands), and could not understand how our municipality would allow preparations for construction on land that a recent study predicts will be inundated by sea level rise within 25 years. Two scientists who have PhDs in relevant fields have stated that the area is a wetland, but the government does not agree. KCC has offered to buy the land from the owner, but he has refused to sell. A Chronicle Herald article quotes him as saying, "We would never consider developing on a site of ecological or environmental significance or fragility," so we still hold out a small hope that he will read what the scientists have said, and change his mind. Meanwhile though, the bulldozers continue to bury the wetland.