SALISBURY — Less than a week after Salisbury Beach homeowners spent an estimated half million dollars to replace eroded sand, a weekend of high winds and rain washed away most of their efforts. Beach erosion also forced access points 9 and 10 to be closed once again.
Department of Conservation and Recreation officials announced the closures Monday.
“To ensure the safety of the public, DCR has closed access points 9 and 10 at Salisbury Beach after they sustained damage from the recent rainstorms,” a DCR spokeswoman said.
The announcement comes three days after Salisbury Beach Citizens for Change, a nonprofit organization that strives to improve the quality of life in the beach area, and H.A. Richard & Sons contractor Henry Richard Jr., had completed a resident-funded dune restoration project which saw Richard dump sand onto beach properties.
Over the course of the project, the 13-year-old organization collected approximately $550,000 from private property owners and oversaw the placement of 13,000 to 14,000 cubic tons of sand.
SBCFC sent out an email Monday reacting to the damage caused by the storm.
“Yesterday was a very difficult day for all of us. Many lost substantial sand that was recently placed on their properties while some were more fortunate and did not lose quite as much,” SBCFC’s email read.
The SBCFC noted that the additional sand had been placed on a sacrificial dune with the goal to protect buildings and infrastructure.
“The end result was that many properties were protected from the battering waves that hit the beachfront,” SBCFC’s email read.
Providing background on the issues that have faced the beach, the SBCFC urged folks to attend Wednesday’s Merrimack River Beach Alliance Salisbury Beach Subcommittee meeting at 1:30 p.m. at the Blue Ocean Event Center.
“Many of us will be there to put more pressure on the state to take action. For 50 years, we keep trucking in sand, plant dune grass and install fencing. Now we need a new vision and a new approach,” SBCFC’s email read.
The group’s message claimed that dredging, trap bags, storage of an emergency sand supply at the state reservation, sand harvesting at low tide, as well as other options all need to be on the table. The group said they would pursue drastic action if left unsatisfied.
“If the state continues to ignore our needs, then a united front of all beach property owners must consider starting a class action lawsuit against all of the environmental agencies for the state as well as the governor herself,” SBCFC’s email read.
The spokeswoman from DCR reaffirmed the state’s commitment to Salisbury Beach.
“The Healey-Driscoll Administration remains in regular communication with representatives from the Town, the legislative delegation, and the community and will continue to work with them to address the impacts of erosion at the Beach,” The DCR spokeswoman said.
Asked about what can be done to prevent access points from opening and closing so frequently, Selectman Chuck Takesian said he he didn’t have the answer, but added he had faith in a quick response from DCR.
“I would hope that they are reopened again very soon,” Takesian said.
Erosion at Salisbury Beach has been going on for some time, dating back to December 2022 when the initial damage from nor’easter Elliott occurred.
Local leaders first learned during a Salisbury Beach Resiliency Subcommittee meeting May 4 that the Department of Conservation and Recreation had shut down points 8, 9 and 10 for a year due to beach erosion caused by the nor’easter. Points 9 and 10 were reopened the Friday before Memorial Day, with point 8 restored just before the Fourth of July.