Dune the right thing: Protecting Dowses Beach in Osterville one conversation at a time

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Recently, I treated myself to a trip to Dowses Beach in Osterville, which is tucked against a rise of dunes, covered with rugosa roses, sea grass, and other vegetation. This beloved beach attracts children and their parents and grandparents. It is a great family destination.

I secured a parking spot and was soon in my chair with a book. My chair was near, but not ON, the grassy dune. Soon the grandmother of a nearby group of visitors began methodically pulling up blades of dune grass.

“Excuse me,” I began. “They don’t want folks to pick the dune grass. It’s here to protect the beach. I think they planted some more this year.”

“Oh, I didn’t realize,” she replied as she stood up. “Protect it from the water?”

“Yes, and erosion in general. I overheard your grandson say, ‘This is Paradise.’ I agree, don’t you?”

“Oh yes, of course.”

The woman introduced her granddaughter, Charlotte, who evidently uses the dune grass and shells to make necklaces. Dowses Beach is home to infinite shells, but the blades of grass are numbered.

“We aren’t supposed to pick the grass,” Grandma explained to Charlotte. “It protects the whole ecosystem.” She summed that up very nicely.

The conversation, which might have been confrontational, ended with “Enjoy your day!”

Since I was indeed in Paradise on a perfect day, I tucked my mission to save Centerville Harbor beaches away. I refrained from turning to the nice woman and saying, “This beach has been targeted to have 1200 megawatts of wind-generated electrical power tunneled under where you sit and swim. How do you and Charlotte feel about that?”

“Oh, I didn’t realize,” she might have replied. Dune grass, megawatts. We all are ignorant in important ways.

That dialogue would have ruined the day. I had chosen to come to Dowses because visiting Covell’s Beach tends to elevate rather than relieve my stress. The “Message from the Town of Barnstable” signs telling of the underwater/underground power cables are not noticed and are not worth noticing. They fail to inform visitors of the inherent dangers of being on that beach, and of sitting on the power line area in particular. I want to stand by the sign and scream until everyone notices it. But, like Charlotte and her family, they don’t know. I refuse to think they don’t care.

My mission to save our beaches continues. Hundreds of Barnstable residents have devoted over two years to educate ourselves, the public, the government, the press, and even the developer, Avangrid Renewables, at meetings and hearings and rallies. We have written hundreds of letters to federal, state, and local officials and to the press. These are not dialogs. Despite being dismissed, ignored, ridiculed, and overruled, we press on.

That day, I chose to ignore the specter of offshore wind at Dowses Beach because I just needed a day off to enjoy the precious gift without crying about its future. And without ruining Charlotte’s family’s day.

Ellen NosalCenterville

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Shadow of offshore wind projects darken writer's mood