Preliminary Findings of Chatham Coastal Study to Be Released

CHATHAM – A presentation will be held this week in Chatham on preliminary model findings of an ongoing study of the town’s east-facing shoreline.

The goal of the study by Applied Coastal Research & Engineering and Center for Coastal Studies is to understand how waters and the interactions of the two inlets are effecting flow and changes to beach and inlet morphology. The changes may cause substantial issues relative to shoreline erosion, navigation and impacts along the mainland.

The town was awarded a coastal resiliency grant earlier in the year by Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management to perform a sophisticated analysis of the eastern waters and shoreline.

The study is a result of a series of strong storms last year which produced a lot of flooding and erosion.

“The forum is sort of a preliminary assessment of results specifically more relative to how the inlets are functioning, how the water is flowing into and out of Chatham Harbor and into Pleasant Bay and areas to the south,” said Ted Keon, Chatham’s Coastal Resources Manager.

The presentation is Thursday at 7 p.m. at Chatham Town Annex and will be shown live on Channel 18. The forum will also be available later for on-demand viewing.

The analysis focuses on changes to the inlet and barrier island system since the 2007 inlet formation.

Information related to morphological evolution of the shoals and channels also will be presented with a focus on changes in water levels, current speeds, and tidal flow patterns.

The presentation will also include aerial images of the town’s shoreline that show its evolution over the past decade, along with bathymetric survey information illustrating ongoing channel and shoal migration.

“It’s actually a very impressive analysis,” Keon said. “It’s only the early phase of this overall study.”

The next phase of the study, which is underway, will focus on land change projections for the next several decades.

The result of the study will provide insight and give recommendations on how the town should be proactive with changes to address potential issues.

The study is expected to be completed by the end of June.