Surf Access Expansion at Good Harbor Beach

FALL 2021 UPDATE

Surfrider's Northeast Regional Manager, Melissa Gates, met with the Gloucester Director of Public Works on October 6, 2021, to discuss the proposed Pilot Program and opportunities to possibly enhance surf access in Gloucester.

We are working with the City and the Cape Ann Surfers Union (CASU) to identify opportunities and advance discussions on enhanced summer surf access at Good Harbor Beach. 

Currently, surfers enjoy unbounded surf access at this beach for nine months of the year. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, however, surfing is prohibited at Good Harbor Beach from 9am until 5pm, with lifeguards authorized to have the authority of discretion to allow surfing within restricted hours if local conditions warrant.

At question in this campaign led by CASU and supported by the Surfrider MA Chapter is whether or not existing lifeguard discretion is working properly, whether constricting the hours of summer surfing prohibition might be possible, and whether aligning the dates of restricted surf access to school schedules instead of holidays might be appropriate to achieve a better balancing of beach access and activities for all to safely enjoy. 

SUMMER 2021 UPDATE

On August 31, 2021, we sent a letter to the Gloucester Director of Public Works asking for a meeting to discuss the Pilot Program submitted in 2019 by the Cape Ann Surfers Union. We are awaiting a reply, and preparing for the next steps should our meeting request be denied.

On June 14, 2021, CASU member Courtney Hayes made a presentation to the Gloucester Council (see 47:22).

Pursuant to that meeting, we are joining CASU in pursuing safe and sound, commonsense improvements to surf access at Good Harbor Beach. To get involved, please email ma@surfrider.org. 

Thank you for your support! 

RECAP OF THE ISSUE + CAMPAIGN GOALS

From: Cape Ann Surfers Union 
Date: Mon, Jun 14, 2021 
Subject: Cape Ann Surfers Union “Summer Surf Access” Pilot Program Proposal (CC#2021-012) & Video Intvs w GHB Lifeguard
To: , ,
Cc: , , , , , ,

Dear Councilors Sean Nolan, Steve LeBlanc, and James O’Hara,

Thank you for taking the time to review the Cape Ann Surfers Union “Expanded Summer Surf Access” Pilot Program proposal (CC#2021-012 – Memhard) at tonight’s Ordinance and Administration Committee meeting. 

The Cape Ann Surfers Union (CASU) is an all-volunteer grassroots organization devoted to expanded ocean access for surfers, and the promotion of a healthy and safe ocean environment for all. Since its inception in June 2019, CASU has grown to over 500 members. We are boys, girls, men, and women from diverse backgrounds who share a love for surfing and the ocean. As you know, we are proposing a few small and safe changes that would expand summer surfing hours at Good Harbor Beach.  

In the last 5 years, our local surfing community has grown dramatically. Good Harbor Beach is a treasured public resource, and we believe that surfing regulations should reflect this increased demand for access. We also believe that there are times (like today because of poor weather and low crowds) when surfing can be managed safely in a way that benefits the larger beach-going community. 

The current policy of prohibiting summer surf access from 9-5 forces increasingly large numbers of surfers into a very narrow time window of potential surf. This crowded environment is not optimal for surfers or swimmers. We believe our Pilot Program will help reduce overcrowding and may actually improve safety by allowing surf access at times when there are few or no swimmers in the water.

Of course, we recognize that there are days when Good Harbor Beach is packed from sunrise to sunset. To be clear – we are NOT asking to surf at those times! However, we're at the beach every day and see three “safe surfing” opportunities when there’s often few to no swimmers in the water. These are:

• During the school year;
• Weekdays before 11:00 am;
• And bad weather days like today and last Saturday.

Under the current policy, surfing is still prohibited during those times even if there are no swimmers in the water, so the water goes unused. Our proposal is asking for the following small changes during those under-utilized times. Specifically:

• An extension of the surf season – all day full beach surf access through the third Friday in June when students are still in school and the water remains too cold for most swimmers. 
• Extended surf hours – full beach surf access until 11:00 am before beach crowds arrive from the third Saturday in June through Labor Day – weekdays and non-holidays only.
• Ability to surf on bad weather days – all day full beach surf access on bad weather days with few to no swimmers from the third Saturday in June through Labor Day at the lifeguard’s discretion.

Lifeguard discretion is the cornerstone of our Pilot Program proposal. As surfers we care about the safety of ALL beach goers, and we recognize that lifeguards can call surfers out of the water at any time for any reason. On Saturday, CASU spoke to five Good Harbor Beach lifeguards who all agree that our proposal is reasonable and safe and feel confident that lifeguards and surfers can work together to create a safe beach-going environment for all. Please see video links below for an interview with Lifeguard Thad Fulmer. Thad explains when and why safe surfing is possible during the summer months at Good Harbor Beach, and how lifeguards can easily manage access and maintain a safe beach going environment for all.

As outlined in the additional background material you’ve received, we also believe that expanded summer surf hours offer Cape Ann residents and visitors a wealth of economic, environmental, health and wellness benefits.

Over 500 CASU members, 150+ Gloucester residents, Good Harbor Beach Lifeguards, and last year's Gloucester City Council have all expressed resounding support for these small and sensible changes.  We hope you will join us!

Many thanks for your time, consideration and support.

Sincerely, Cape Ann Surfers Union

VIDEO INTERVIEW – Good Harbor Beach Lifeguard Thad Fulmer
Video interview conducted on Saturday, June 12 at 5:30 pm (after work hours) with veteran Good Harbor Beach Lifeguard Thad Fulmer. Thad explains when and why safe surfing is possible during the summer months, and how lifeguards can easily manage access and maintain a safe beach going environment for all.

* Good Harbor Beach, Saturday, June 12, 2021 at 1:10 pm – air temp is approx. 65 F and water is 59 F - there are no swimmers in the water because of the frigid temps. Later that day, Lifeguard Thad Fulmer explains that there were few to no swimmers that day but surfing was not allowed even with no safety risk > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmUrtYfsIlQ

* Lifeguard Thad Fulmer explains how summer surfing at Good Harbor Beach can be managed safely

* Lifeguard Thad Fulmer agrees that the CASU proposal is reasonable and safe and explains why 

COVID SUMMER OF 2020 UPDATE

The MA chapter drafted and submitted a letter of testimony to the Gloucester City Council, highlighting the important benefits that surfers bring to local communities, like Gloucester. These include increased environmental awareness and a commitment to protecting public outdoor spaces, economic benefits to local restaurants and retailers, and improved safety for all beach users through more eyes and boards in the water.

In light of disruptions caused by the COVID pandemic, the Gloucester City Council chose to defer any changes in surfing and beach access until at least 2021.

The MA Chapter and allies note the significant positive economic impacts of coastal recreation and tourism to reopening and recovery and water safety benefits of surfers and are continuing to monitor the situation with intent to re-engage when the City picks the issue back up.

Email ma@surfrider.org FMI!

HISTORIC ACCOUNT

The Gloucester City Council held a public hearing on the expanded surfing proposal at their 7PM meeting on 2/25/2020, which was well attended. 

A presentation on the proposal was provided, and then the floor was opened to a maximum of 3-minute comments from anyone who wishes to speak. 

The Cape Ann Surfers Union and Surfrider volunteers are now in the process of reviewing a draft revised proposal, gathering additional input, and discussing summer options to then submit their own proposal to the City's Director of Public Works Director, Mike Hale. Mike and his staff are responsible for drafting a trial regulation change for summer 2020.

Please visit the chapter's website FMI and to learn more about how the summer went, and next steps!