A house located within the picturesque Cape Cod National Seashore faces an uncertain future due to severe coastal erosion. Situated on the bay side of the peninsula, this property, originally built in 2010, has become a focal point of concern for environmentalists and local authorities. The original owners, Mark and Barbara Blasch, sought permission in 2018 to construct a 241-foot-wide seawall to protect their home from the encroaching sea. However, their request was denied in a decision supported by the National Seashore administration, citing potential adverse effects on the beach and nutrient flow in Wellfleet Harbor.
The commission's rejection of the seawall proposal underscores the critical location of the property within the national seashore and harbor area. Experts feared that such a structure could disrupt natural processes vital to the coastal ecosystem. Despite these warnings, the house changed hands in 2022 when John Bonomi purchased it for $5.5 million, fully aware of its precarious situation. A report commissioned by the town projects that without intervention, the house will succumb to the bay within three years.
The erosion rate along this stretch of Cape Cod has exceeded historical averages, according to data from the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management. Since 2014, the bluffs have receded by an alarming 54 feet. This rapid erosion is compounded by rising sea levels; nearby Falmouth has recorded an 11-inch rise over the past 90 years, with the pace of increase accelerating. In fact, the sea level around Cape Cod from 1995 to 2024 has been rising at an annual rate of 0.16 inches faster than during the preceding three decades.
The potential collapse of this home poses a threat not only to the structure itself but also to the surrounding environment. It could damage delicate oyster beds in Wellfleet Harbor, vital to New England's shellfish industry. These beds support local farmers who cultivate some of the region's most prized oysters.
Currently, the once grand sliding doors that opened onto a wide deck now stand barricaded by thin wooden slats. This measure is intended to prevent anyone from inadvertently stepping through and plunging 25 feet to the eroded beach below.
John Cumbler, a retired environmental history professor and member of the Wellfleet Conservation Commission, offered insight into the dynamic nature of the coastline.
"I mean, the cape has always been moving,"
"The sand is moving."
His remarks highlight a long-standing understanding among locals that Cape Cod's landscape is constantly reshaped by natural forces.