310 CMR, § 10.28

Current through Register 1536, December 6, 2024

Section 10.28 - Coastal Dunes

(1)Preamble. All coastal dunes are likely to be significant to storm damage prevention and flood control, and all coastal dunes on barrier beaches and the coastal dune closest to the coastal beach, also known as the Primary Frontal Dune as defined in 310 CMR 10.04, in any area are per se significant to storm damage prevention and flood control. The Coastal High Hazard Area or Velocity Zone extends at a minimum to the inland limit of the Primary Frontal Dune along the open coast. Coastal dunes are also often significant to the protection of wildlife habitat.

Coastal dunes aid in storm damage prevention and flood control by supplying sand to coastal beaches. Coastal dunes protect inland coastal areas from storm damage and flooding by storm waves and storm elevated sea levels because such dunes are higher than the coastal beaches which they border. In order to protect this function, coastal dune volume must be maintained while allowing the coastal dune shape to conform to natural wind and water flow patterns.

Vegetation cover contributes to the growth and stability of coastal dunes by providing conditions favorable to sand deposition.

On retreating shorelines, the ability of the coastal dunes bordering the coastal beach to move landward at the rate of shoreline retreat allows these dunes to maintain their form and volume, which in turn promotes their function of protecting against storm damage or flooding.

A number of birds, most commonly terns and gulls, nest at the base or sides of dunes. In some dune systems other birds also nest in the interdunal area, the species being determined by the plant community structure, topography, and hydrologic regime of the area. In a few dune systems, wet meadows or vernal pool habitats occur, which serve as important feeding areas for a wide variety of bird species.

When a proposed project involves the dredging, filling, removal or alteration of a coastal dune, the issuing authority shall presume that the area is significant to the interests of storm damage prevention, flood control and the protection of wildlife habitat. This presumption may be overcome only upon a clear showing that a coastal dune does not play a role in storm damage prevention, flood control or the protection of wildlife habitat, and if the issuing authority makes a written determination to that effect.

When a coastal dune is significant to storm damage prevention, flood control or the protection of wildlife habitat, the following characteristics are critical to the protection of those interest(s):

(a) the ability of the dune to erode in response to coastal beach conditions;

(b) dune volume;

(c) dune form, which must be allowed to be changed by wind and natural water flow;

(d) vegetative cover;

(e) the ability of the dune to move landward or laterally; or

(f) the ability of the dune to continue serving as bird nesting habitat.

(2)Definition.

Coastal Dune means any natural hill, mound or ridge of sediment landward of a coastal beach deposited by wind action or storm overwash. Coastal dune also means sediment deposited by artificial means and serving the purpose of storm damage prevention or flood control.

WHEN A COASTAL DUNE IS DETERMINED TO BE SIGNIFICANT TO STORM DAMAGE PREVENTION, FLOOD CONTROL OR THE PROTECTION OF WILDLIFE HABITAT, 310 10.28(3) THROUGH (6) SHALL APPLY:

(3) Any alteration of, or structure on, a coastal dune or within 100 feet of a coastal dune shall not have an adverse effect on the coastal dune by:

(a) affecting the ability of waves to remove sand from the dune;

(b) disturbing the vegetative cover so as to destabilize the dune;

(c) causing any modification of the dune form that would increase the potential for storm or flood damage;

(d) interfering with the landward or lateral movement of the dune;

(e) causing removal of sand from the dune artificially; or

(f) interfering with mapped or otherwise identified bird nesting habitat.

(4) Notwithstanding the provisions of 310 CMR 10.28(3), when a building already exists upon a coastal dune, a project accessory to the existing building may be permitted, provided that such work, using the best commercially available measures, minimizes the adverse effect on the coastal dune caused by the impacts listed in 310 CMR 10.28(3)(b) through (e). Such an accessory project may include, but is not limited to, a small shed or a small parking area for residences. It shall not include coastal engineering structures.

(5) : The following projects may be permitted, provided that they adhere to the provisions of 310 CMR 10.28(3):

(a) pedestrian walkways, designed to minimize the disturbance to the vegetative cover and traditional bird nesting habitat;

(b) fencing and other devices designed to increase dune development; and

(c) plantings compatible with the natural vegetative cover.

(6) Notwithstanding the provisions of 310 CMR 10.28(3) through (5), no project may be permitted which will have any adverse effect on specified habitat sites of Rare Species, as identified by procedures established under 310 CMR 10.37.

310 CMR, § 10.28

Amended by Mass Register Issue 1272, eff. 10/24/2014.