To the editor:

I have sent a few notes earlier. There is a new article in Wednesday’s Daily Item on the subject.

Attached is a simple conceptual sketch to complement the notes below. This is a conversation-starter, not a design document.

1. A barrier would slow down the energy from incoming surf. A row of blocks built from crushed salvaged concrete and/or new mix could slow down incoming waves. Set these beyond the lowest tide in enough water to cause no harm to boaters and surfers. Block placement could be gradually implemented as blocks are built. Start in line with the outfall positions. Salvaged materials might be less expensive with a lower carbon footprint.
2. An oyster reef grown from seeded burlap bags of salvaged oyster shells (The Hawthorne, Mission on the Bay, Nightshade Noodle Bar] could be placed along the line of blocks.  Many ocean communities have built oyster barrier reefs to protect their shores and also to manage high bacteria. A YouTube search for oyster barrier reefs, etc. will bring up many examples. The reefs attract small fishes, which the larger fish chase. This could be developed and executed with guidance from the oceanographers at the Northeastern facility on Nahant. An intern with a pickup truck could collect shells from eateries and build bags of seed stock. Similar long-term efforts in New York, Chesapeake Bay, etc. have people to connect with and video archives.  
3. A vertical structure to deflect incoming surf away from the seawall would protect the Swampscott and Lynn combined sewer and storm outfalls. Currently, high storm surf during moon tides collides with outfall from high-rain events. The collision sends a pressure shock back up the outfall, which bursts sea and stormwaters into the air from the access hatches and storm drain points. The proposed deflection structure could be built initially from sheet steel (typically used for cofferdams, see the sheets just south of the outlook at Red Rock Park). Set this into the sand, fill with new sand, and observe. Locate it far enough off the seawall to keep the deflected waves away from the stairs and ramps. Prove the principle and then make the design permanent with any improvements. Civil engineers with seawall expertise would decide on the structure design and placement.
4. The Swampscott and Lynn stormwater outfalls are showing damage from the pressure shock. This is certainly causing stress to the joints in the concrete (?) stormwater lines. 

Many people are discussing this. I would like to have the oysters and the deflector structure included.  

Thank you,

Steven Petersen

Lynn