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Peer reviewer urges shorter, more landward wall for Blue Rock Road project; commission asks for revised plan
Summary
An outside peer review recommended a lower, more landward bulkhead and compensatory nourishment for the Blue Rock Road bulkhead proposal; the commission asked Shorefront Consulting to revise plans and continued the matter to Aug. 16, 2026.
A third‑party peer review from WHOI Sea Grant and Cape Cod Cooperative Extension recommended that any approved bulkhead for 166 and 172 Blue Rock Road be kept as short as possible in height, as short as practicable in length, and placed as far landward as feasible to limit beach loss. The report noted that a reviewer analyzed aerial imagery and photos but did not visit the site.
Mark Burgess of Shorefront Consulting responded that he had not performed the quantitative analysis used by the peer reviewer and that his design relied on his "professional and personal experience with the area as well as observations." Commissioners Tierney and Bower asked that recommendations from the report, including compensatory nourishment, be incorporated into a revised plan that also includes planting, monitoring and maintenance plans. The Commission continued SE83-2538 to 2026-08-16 to allow submission of a revised plan reflecting the peer review.
