MARSHFIELD – The town’s beach renourishment project, an effort to reinforce coastal defenses and protect against erosion, is expected to be completed by mid-March, according to town officials.
The initiative, which has been underway for several weeks, involves trucking in sand to strengthen the shoreline. Officials say the project is essential to protecting Marshfield’s seawalls, which line a significant portion of the town’s coast.
"I believe there's 83% of our shoreline has seawalls, so part of protecting our seawalls is part of what this project is about," said Lynne Fidler, Chair of the Marshfield Select Board.
The town has been investing in renourishment efforts for several years, often working with neighboring communities like Duxbury to enhance coastal resilience. Voters at recent town meetings have approved funding contributions, demonstrating a commitment to maintaining Marshfield’s shoreline.
According to officials, the project is proceeding on schedule, with dozens of trucks delivering sand daily to designated locations.
"If you're over in that neck of the woods, you'll notice there's some trucks going. I think we have like a hundred trucks a day right now. We should be done mid-March," Fidler explained.
One concern raised by residents is whether nor’easters and heavy storms will quickly erode the newly deposited sand. However, officials say that natural coastal processes will help restore the beach over time.
"Everybody's wondering if these nor'easters that we have are going to blow all that sand out. The sand repeats itself and comes back in the summer," Fidler noted.
Last year’s renourishment efforts allowed residents to access sections of the beach that had previously been difficult to navigate at high tide. Town officials hope that this year’s project will continue to provide improved recreational access while also reinforcing storm protection.
"I believe it was last year was the first time we could actually do this in a long period of time where you could actually walk the walk at a high tide," Fidler said.
Residents who wish to follow the project’s progress can visit the town’s website for updates.
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