About Us
Massachusetts Beach Buggy Association, Inc. 1950 - Present
How we started
The use of motor vehicles equipped to travel on sand first became
popular after the end of World War II. Initially, "beach buggying"
was a means for fishermen to reach otherwise inaccessible waters
in the Cape Cod area; to fish the open surf for striped bass.
In 1950 a group of Cape Cod Fisherman recognized and realized that
as beach buggying grew there would be a need for an organization
to police this activity and establish a set of rules and regulations
to protect the rights of individuals, conserve beach areas, and
assure the continued availability of public beaches. This then,
is the Massachusetts Beach Buggy Association.
We are people joined together in a common interest, dedicated to
the preservation of our natural beach resources, acutely aware that
the future of our hobby depends upon the manner in which we conduct
ourselves in the pursuit of that hobby.
This group of people was interested in the promotion of beach access
and conservation, to be an instrument in the promotion of safe beach
access and saltwater fishing; for the proper conservation of our
waters, beaches and marine sport fisheries; to engage in the dissemination
of information relating to marine waters, marine species, beach
travel and beach buggy operation, and to take such steps deemed
necessary to secure needed legislation or reform public interest,
to promote good sportsmanship and to uphold conservation laws.
Since the beginning there have been a lot of changes over the years,
and beach buggying, once a solely male fishing endeavor, has truly
become a family sport. From the evolution of Model A Fords and army
surplus jeeps, to over-the-sand self contained surf fishing vehicles
to make life a little cozier for family fun, today most beach buggies
are sophisticated, compact units, sporting cooking and sleeping
facilities, water supplies and lavatories.
Who we are and our purpose:
The MBBA is a family oriented group, comprised of men, women & children who are concerned with beach conservation and access; access not only for our members but for the general public. The organization is run by an Executive Board (7 Members) and a Board of Directors (13 Members). These 2 bodies run and take care of any business at hand. We meet once a month and discuss any concerns or problems that may occur on the beaches, and how in any way, we can help the beach managers, our members and the general public coexist in the use of our beaches. We also have a special group of members called Courtesy Patrol. These members will help beach officials, other members and the general public with any beach access issues or problems.
What we do
During the spring months, and occasionally in the fall, we volunteer our vehicles and manpower to help the beach managers do whatever work needs to be done at the time, whether it be beach cleanups, pick up any debris deposited by mother nature's storms and/or irresponsible people, or dune restoration projects. We also meet with beach managers to keep the lines of communications open, incase any questions or concerns may arise. We also attend symposiums and maintain a booth in sportsman shows to help distribute information about ourselves and the beaches that allow vehicle access. The information we pass out is the beach access policies, rules and regulations, and of course, most of the conversations are about fishing and beach access problems.
We also get involved in political activities, whether it be the State House or Washington DC. At times we find that we have to go on our own to the state and federal legislatures to keep them informed as to what is going right, and occasionally what is not right, regarding beach access and other issues important to our members.
We belong to some umbrella organizations such as United Mobil Sports fisherman, Inc (UMS) and the Massachusetts Sportsman Council (MSC). UMS is comprised of various beach buggy clubs whose goal is to stand as a united front and discuss any problems and resolutions to issues occurring up and down the eastern seaboard. The MSC is a united group of Massachusetts sportsman that are concerned with the preservation of hunting, fishing, trapping and the access to maintain the interest in these sports.
MBBA at work
For many years mobilized sports fishermen have been acutely aware of the physical needs of beaches, besides surf fishing, these anglers provide an invaluable conservation service.
The Massachusetts Beach Buggy Association, a contributing affiliate of United Mobil Sports Fishermen, has always strived to protect and preserve the coastal recreational resources that too many individuals take for granted.
Coastal beach erosion is a major problem that, if left unattended, will continue to damage coastal properties. In 1965, sportsmen from the MBBA purchased one-half mile of snow fence. Member volunteers from the association erected the fence at several problem areas on Cape Cod's Nauset Beach. The snow fence concept was implemented to rebuild a severely windblown portion of the beach. The snow fence acted as a trap to stabilize the sand dunes by causing a sand build up at the fence base. This process was completed one year later when the beach buggies returned to plant discarded Christmas trees alongside the snow fence. Trees, when strategically placed beside the fence, act as a "fine" filter to further dune growth and increase the reconstruction rate for the problem dune.
At Plymouth and Duxbury beaches, dedicated MBBA members coordinated similar Christmas tree planting about mid-January. More recent projects at these beaches have been most successful. The barrier dunes at Plymouth Beach have built up almost 12 feet since the Christmas tree planting began in 1973.
Over the years, high tides and fierce winter storms have left their mark as well. The MBBA sponsored fund-raising raffles with proceeds to purchase Hybrid beach grass plants. In 1975, a convoy of 53 beach buggies, mostly four wheel drive vehicles, assembled on Nauset Beach amid a late winter storm to plant twenty thousand beach grass plants. Because of the concern and dedication these beach buggy folk have for the beaches, the 150 plus volunteers donned rain suits and foul weather gear to insure a successful planting. Matching funds for the 1975 planting were donated by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sea Grant Program. Throughout the summer, the MBBA Courtesy Patrol photographed and recorded detailed information on plant root systems and sand retention habits. Information was then documented by Sea Grant volunteers so a working knowledge of sand dune development will be available to interested students. Hybrid varieties of Bamstable Beach grass showed rhizomes has established themselves as far away as 8 feet form the initial plants.
April 1976 found 265 MBBA Conservationists on the beach engaged in planting twenty-five thousand Hybrid Bamstable beach grass plants. This new experimental grass from Church's Nursery in New Jersey is formulated for areas where rapid growth and deep rooting are important factors. Average planting time for twenty-five thousand grass plants is approximately five hours.
The MBBA is most grateful for the assistance of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Management, Division of Forests & Parks for providing Hybrid Beach Grass plants from the nursery based at Miles Standish State Forest in Plymouth.
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