The Pohogonot Trust, of Wayland, Mass., is seeking a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, to excavate a channel from Oyster Pond in Edgartown, Mass., to the Atlantic Ocean.
The excavated channel is proposed to measure 6 feet to 10 feet wide and up to 200 feet long.
According to the Corps, excavated sand is to be placed adjacent to the created channel with 1,200 to 1,400 square feet of sand being placed below the high tide line (HTL). The pond is at a higher elevation than the ocean and the applicant expects that sand will be flushed into the ocean after a channel is excavated causing the channel to widen even further.
The applicant is requesting a permit with a 10-year term with up to 4 channel openings occurring per year due to the typical natural closing of the channel within days to a month from opening.
The purpose of the work is to reduce flooding risk to properties surrounding the pond. According to the applicant, the pond water level periodically rises to a level that can flood residential infrastructure surrounding the pond.
Public comments on this work proposed by the Pohogonot Trust will be received by October 5, 2017.