Shore hardening projects have faced the same issues, as jetties, retaining walls, and other efforts may create a beach in some areas, they rob land that would otherwise grow due to down-drifting sands. While western areas have lost one or two feet of sand each year. Beaches and areas like the flats on the east end of Brewster have notably risen, Photo credit Diana MorganĬounterintuitively, the flats have actually grown in some areas due to erosion. The Town of Orleans attempted to curb erosion problems by using front loaders to replace displaced sand from beaches, but complaints by residents quickly halted the effort. The town of Brewster recently made an effort to move the lot back by over a hundred feet, and surrounding grasses, dunes, and vegetation had to be reinforced in anticipation of severe erosion. In the 1970s and ‘80s the lot had forty-five spaces, though erosion has whittled the lot down to about ten to fifteen spaces. An example of heavy losses is marked by the beachside Paine’s Creek parking lot. Between wind leeching the sand off from the protective dunes to fall and winter storms displacing large amounts of sand, Cape Cod has dealt with heavy erosion more in the past ten to fifteen years than ever before. The towns near the Brewster Flats have made attempts to curb erosion, but some areas face losses of three to five feet of coastline. The peninsula has faced rapid erosion for years. Erosion in Cape Cod and Brewster Flats photo credit Diana MorganĮrosion has taken a notable toll on the beaches and flats in the Cape Cod area. If you are planning to fish in the flats, you should at least bring a personal flotation device, a compass, whistle, watch, and note when tide changes are due, as well as the route you took. It’s also possible to be swept into a rip current if you are caught in the rising tide among the flats. Rapidly changing mud gulleys, rising water levels, and fog rolling in have led to people being caught in the flats during tide changes. Many fishermen have reported stories of getting caught among the flats after not heeding the changing tide. Generally it is recommended to walk on the beaches alongside the flats, where you can safely take in the unique environment.įishermen are also known to utilize the flats, making them more exposed to the potential dangers of this tidal phenomena. Tidal creeks are at risk for changing quickly, along with the potential for fog quickly rolling in and turning tides make the flats an unassuming danger to those catch unaware. Your first urge may be to walk out into the great span of beach revealed by the receding waters, but this is not recommended. Brewster is host to several oyster farms, and for the connoisseur, it’s said that the clean bay waters give these shellfish a distinctive and unique flavor. The large amount of tide pools make them a spectacular place for beachcombers, and people with shellfishing licenses venture into the flats with buckets to take advantage of the unbeatable opportunity for fresh oysters. Fish, crabs, snails and sea life are easily found in the flats. In the fall months, locals are known to utilize the flats for oystering. They are the largest flats in North America, providing a unique and uncommon sight that few will ever witness, but one that can be found daily along Cape Cod’s coast. At “dead low tide” the flats span about 12,000 acres, extending from Brewster to North Eastham over a roughly 10 mile area. For anyone visiting Cape Cod, the Brewster Flats are among the necessary sights to visit. At high tide the area appears to be a fairly normal beach, but as the tides ebb and flow the waters will recede over a mile in distance, revealing otherworldly ripples in the sand, sandbars, tidal pools and oyster beds that are bristling with aquatic life. The Brewster Flats of Cape Cod are a must-see, one of a kind natural spectacle.
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