By Charles Frost
Staff writer
April 21, 2008 06:00 am NEWBURYPORT — High school students involved in the environmental technology vocational program at Minuteman Regional High School in Lexington know all about the erosion occurring at Plum Island. They should — they have been studying the receding shoreline at Plum Island since 2004. They have a special permit from the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge granting them access to study the sand dunes along boardwalks one, three, five and seven. The project began when Terry Regan, an environmental technology instructor, went to the refuge and asked if they would be interested in allowing students to survey the erosion of the beach. After presenting a proposal along with a lesson plan, the refuge agreed. A permanent marker — a copper pipe — was placed in each dune to get accurate measurements from the same starting location each time. Students, ranging from freshmen to seniors, use simple surveying tools known as emery rods, which are marked like a ruler. The rods are placed on the ground and the difference between the height of the two rods is then measured, using the horizon as a level, to find the changes in elevation of the dune and the beach. Students use the rods to measure behind the dune, over the dune and to the water line in 5-foot intervals. Regan said students have been to Plum Island eight times in the last three to four years, measuring the beach erosion each time. "It's the dunes we are worried about," said Regan. "The beach changes by 5 to 10 feet each time. There are too many storms and you start to see damage because it can't repair. It takes a long time for dunes to repair themselves." Regan said students used to study the erosion at boardwalk five before being asked to leave because of safety concerns when it was closed. Regan estimates that the last time they were at boardwalk five, there was a 12-foot drop and he noted that the bottom of the stairs had been ripped away. He called the changes that had occured "dramatic." The last time students were allowed to study the erosion at boardwalk five in September 2006, they noted that in the previous 15 months, nearly 20 feet of the dune had been eroded away. "It's interesting that some areas show damage to the dunes, but boardwalk seven doesn't show as much," said Regan. After gathering the data, students submit it to refuge officials, who file the information and a biologist might look at it, according to Kate Toniolo, supervisory park ranger. She added that they try to accommodate all groups that would like to study at the refuge when there is a benefit to them as well as the refuge. On March 31, 10 seniors descended on the beach at boardwalk one to study the erosion that had occured since last December. Separated into several groups, students spent their time measuring the elevation of the beach and collecting sand particles. Students included Bobby Cain, Joe Traniello, Nick Hammond, Ronnie Konick, John Pespisa, Will Korman, Sam Young, Franco Lichauco, Jill Patti and Kyrsten Shedd. Students have also been studying beach erosion in Eastham since 2005, where residents are facing similar erosion problems. Regan said about 3 feet of the beach is being cut away each year and evidence of the foundations of cliffs is beginning to show. Regan expects the project to continue for as long as the refuge allows them to be there. He said he uses the beach erosion project to teach students data analysis skills and how to use graphs and spreadsheets.
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