For four years, since Larry Lewis moved to Cranberry Village in Carver, Massachusetts, he has been troubled by the noise from a sand excavation site owned by A.D. Makepeace, a prominent cranberry grower. The incessant rumble of trucks and excavators is not his only concern; he is particularly worried about the sand particles that blow into his neighborhood, settling on cars and accumulating indoors, leading to health risks, especially for older residents.
While sandy beaches on Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket have received attention due to erosion, in New Bedford, the situation is different. Sand from undisclosed sources is loaded onto barges bound for private anti-erosion projects along the coast. As local quarries close and the availability of sand diminishes in Massachusetts, activists are voicing concerns that cranberry bogs, a critical agricultural resource, are being exploited for sand mining, much to the detriment of nearby communities.
Cranberry bog excavation is legal, but homeowners near A.D. Makepeace’s site feel like they are living next to a "strip mine," with public health hazards and nuisance noises. Towns in Southeastern Massachusetts are pushing for better regulations around excavation sites, and a House bill has been introduced to place a moratorium on new cranberry bog excavations until the impacts are better understood. Although state officials have not yet objected to cranberry bog excavation, the state’s coastal resilience plan recommends that homeowners move inland rather than tackle erosion with more sand.
Lewis is particularly alarmed by Makepeace’s operations, which pit him against the company's permit to excavate around four million cubic yards of sand over five years. Makepeace has also applied for additional excavation permits, which if approved, would necessitate clearing much of the forest between his home and the excavation site, further exposing residents to noise and dust.
In February 2024, a controversial beach restoration project on Nantucket prompted the barging of thousands of tons of sand to eroded shores, involving several types of sand usage, albeit with environmental skepticism about the effectiveness of such projects. The Nantucket Conservation Commission has raised concerns about the failure and increasing erosion associated with existing projects, contributing to the rising appetite for sand as sea levels and weather-related disruptions increase.
According to data from the Steamship Authority, shipments of aggregate materials, including sand, from New Bedford to Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard have surged by 125% over the past decade. Much of that sand is used for construction or septic systems, although it remains unclear how much is utilized for beach nourishment. Environmental activists worry about unsustainable practices and the impact of sand extraction on public health and eco-systems, emphasizing the need for careful consideration of resources.
On January 7, 2024, the Carver Conservation Commission issued a cease and desist order to The A.D. Makepeace Company for illegally altering 57 acres of wetlands, indicating ongoing concerns about the firm’s operations. While Makepeace claims to be a leading cranberry grower committed to environmental responsibility, activists argue that as the cranberry market shrinks, operations have shifted towards sand extraction.
The cranberry industry has been facing challenges, with prices plummeting and increasing demand for sand. The future of cranberry bogs is uncertain, as many growers, driven out by market pressures, are considering either selling their lands or transitioning to other types of agriculture or land use. Activists cite over-extraction of resources and potential health implications for local communities as critical points of concern.
As efforts to manage coastal erosion evolve, discussions on offshore sand mining have emerged as a possible solution, though significant risks to marine ecosystems remain a concern. While some experts advocate for a responsible approach to offshore sand extraction, Massachusetts currently prohibits it due to potential environmental impacts.
As companies like Makepeace explore diversification into solar energy and other ventures, local communities continue to express resistance. The Herring Pond Wampanoag Tribe has begun efforts to reclaim ancestral lands as part of environmental stewardship and cultural preservation, reflecting a deeper connection between land use and Indigenous rights. Activists urge the state to enforce stricter regulations to ensure that land extraction practices serve both community health and environmental sustainability.
