No Porta-Potty at Sawyer's Beach!

The Surfrider Foundation New Hampshire Chapter opposed a proposal that would have placed a porta-potty at Sawyer's Beach. 

Grounds for opposition icluded:

• The proposed location of the porta-potty would be on a permeable surface unlike the units located at Jenness State Beach (during construction) parking lot and Cable Road. While not ideal for placement at all, if approved, the porta-potty should be on pavement, far away from water points, and off the sand & rocks.
• The proposed location of this facility may violate the town’s storm water and sanitary sewer use ordinances.
• The porta-potty contains blue dye (usually non-toxic but even if deemed “environmentally friendly” or “biodegradable”is toxic to fish and should never go untreated), fragrance, biocides, and of course, human waste. A high tide, storm surge, or wind event will increase the likelihood of damage to the unit or contents to spill on to the ground and soil, dangerously close to both the eel pond and oceanfront. Damage to the shale pile occurred in the winter 2017-2018 season and, high tide events and storms occur in the summer season.
• While we realize porta-potties are a nice convenience, there are currently enough facilities in the vicinity to Sawyer's Beach, making this request, given its negative environmental impacts and duplicative nature, unnecessary.
• A porta-potty would attract more traffic along Rt 1A, collect trash in and around the unit, and be aesthetically unpleasing along this beautiful stretch of the coast. 

Due these factors, the Surfrider Foundation New Hampshire Chapter urged the Rye Board of Selectmen to oppose this request. 

The Chapter was victorious when the Board of Selectmen voted on 1/14/19 to take the money that was budgeted for the porta-potty out of the budget!

BUT THERE IS STILL ROOM FOR MORE ACTION TO PROTECT THE COAST FROM THIS MESS!

The Beach Committee submitted article 35 that will be voted on at the March Town Election. If the article passes, then no porta-potties will ever be able to be put at Sawyers Beach!!

RYE RESIDENTS CAN HELP by turning out to the March Town Election and voting YES to pass Article 35.

For more information please contact chapter chair, Becca O'Brien.

THANK YOU!

The best way to support our work is to become a member of the Surfrider Foundation.

To get more directly involved in our efforts in New Hampshire, please give our chair a shout at chair@nh.surfrider.org. You can also visit our NH Chapter Facebook page to see when our next meeting or event is, and come on out!!! We need you! The ocean needs you! Get involved today!