I urge commission members to stop the proposed shipyard marina expansion.
I am writing both as an individual and property owner on the Lagoon bluff in Oak Bluffs, and as the president of the Gayloon Association Inc., a community of families who are either year-round or seasonal residents of Oak Bluffs in the Lagoon Heights area. Gayloon families are united by the love of this extremely beautiful and at the same time so fragile environment. On behalf our 55 member families, I want to express to the Martha’s Vineyard Commission our strongest opposition to the possible approval of the marina expansion.
Every summer, I spend countless hours cleaning the beach by the Oak Bluffs bluff, collecting and removing boat debris, human waste and trash, flotsam that cannot come from anything else but boats and irresponsible tourists.
Especially after every storm, the quantity of such refuse increases dramatically. Additionally at such times, the Lagoon Heights beach is hit by broken pieces of boats and dinghies, the removal of which requires hired help and dumping charges. All this will increase manifold in case of bringing almost 50 additional boats into the Lagoon.
Environmental concerns are also a significant issue. Every year, the Lagoon communities on both sides of the pond put in huge efforts to maintain our Lagoon’s sustainability and health. We are barely catching up with this monumental challenge which is seriously worsened by the global warming
resulting in adverse climate change. Adding the inevitable chemical and organic waste and runoff — no matter how convincing are the Martha’s Vineyard Shipyard’s promises to limit pollution — will overwhelm the Lagoon’s fragile ecosystem.
I urge commission members to stop the proposed shipyard marina expansion. I implore you to do so as a private citizen and Lagoon Heights property owner, as a career scientist, and on behalf of 55 families.
Janna Kaplan
Oak Bluffs and Newton
Comments
Thank you for this letter. We
Vasha Brunelle Vineyard HavenThank you for this letter. We live on the West Arm of the Lagoon where the shipyard is located. Over the past several days we have seen tens of thousands minnows rippling on the surface with anywhere from 30-100 terns diving for them. Around dawn and dusk there are 4-7 osprey fishing for larger prey. The quohogs are abundant thanks to the hard work of the MV Shellfish Group. Oystercatchers forage the surrounding shores. All this will be in jeprody if the Shipyard expands their operation.
The sky isn't falling. Vasha,
Chicken Little VHThe sky isn't falling. Vasha, you and Frank are ardently fighting progress at every turn of your head and you've finally turned toward a new foe, that being the shipyard. The State is building a road near your front yard, the lagoon is already a ship hole with your neighbors trash on the water and the front yard of her business, leave responsible business owners alone and stop trying to dictate to others your vision for the Vineyard. This is a thoughtful and ecologically helpful project to water saturation of the parking area which now sends road run off into the lagoon. The ship project will help clean up the lagoon and preserve a 3 generation islander business.
Wow - I never knew that there
Tom TisburyWow - I never knew that there was such definitive proof that all of the trash comes from, "...boats and irresponsible tourists".
Maybe there should be a tourist responsibility test administered by the SSA at each port of entry on the island. Questions can include, "Are you planning to break up a boat or dinghy and leave it on Lagoon Heights Beach?". Anyone who answers 'yes' gets an orange jumpsuit and a trash bag and must spend an hour cleaning up the front yard of wealthy island residents.
That'll stop 'em.
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