Boat Found At Conservation Land Underscores Problem Of Dumping

BREWSTER – Want a boat?

The Brewster Conservation Trust has one - they didn’t ask for it and don’t want it. It was dumped at one of their properties on Route 137, complete with outboard motor and trailer. They were unable to track down the owner or who dumped it and now they have to figure out what to do with it.

Dumping on conservation properties has always been an occasional issue. Weekenders don’t want to pay a fee at the recycling center to toss their trash, or year-rounders don’t want to pay a special disposal fee. In May, the BCT discovered a lawnmower dumped on their land, but it was a small challenge compared to a boat. (Anyone interested in salvaging the boat can contact the BCT).

Chris Miller of the Brewster Department of Natural Resources said they get some dumping on town-owned properties as well.

“We do get some dumping, particularly if the transfer station is closed, but nothing excessive,” he wrote.

Likewise, the Orleans Conservation Trust has an occasional problem.

“We deal with it from time to time,” OCT Executive Director Stephen O’Grady said. “But we haven’t seen an uptick this summer. Most illegal dumping is yard waste, debris and organic material that people don’t realize is harming habitats; grass clippings, Christmas trees, pumpkins.”

Unlike town conservation departments, nonprofit land trusts don’t always have the DPW to quickly fix the problem by hauling trash away.

“This has been an ongoing situation,” BCT Executive Director Amy Henderson said. “We’re still investigating what I can do, but we haven’t been able to locate the owner [of the boat]. The ID number was removed so there is no way to trace the owner.”

The Trust thought about donating the boat somewhere, but they need a title to do that. The trailer is certainly useful. The housing for the boat’s engine is missing.

“I’m curious if anyone wants to take it off our hands,” Henderson said. “We’re willing to give it away. We’re doing our best to get it off our land.” The boat was dropped at the Mill Pond Preserve off Route 137 near the Harwich town line. The preserve is just under five acres created from two properties purchased in 2015 and 2016. “There’s no trail there,” Henderson said. “There used to be a house there, so now it's a vacant field and a prime dumping spot.”

Conservation lands are, unfortunately, homes for all sorts of junk.

“In the past we’ve found tents and evidence people were camping and we’re able to clear up those,” Henderson said. “We did have a situation a couple of years ago when a couple was living on a property and we were able to work with them to connect with HAC (the Housing Assistance Corporation) so they were able to find a place.”

“The biggest things we find are kayaks and canoes, but nothing this large. There is a Massachusetts law that says that dumping on conservation land is illegal.”

That is Massachusetts General Law Chapter 270, Section 16, which provides for a fine of up to $6,500. That might account for the boat owner not coming forward. By law, half of the fine can be awarded to the conservation trust.

Henderson said the town has had trash dumped at the Sheep Pond woodlands.

“Ryan [Burch of the Natural Resources Department] tells me that at town landings they run into the problem of people dumping household trash in the cans, and at beaches they end up with overflow that is unacceptable.”

Mattresses are also often thrown out by people wishing to save on a disposal fee.

“It’s easier to dump it in the weeds than to pay $20 at the transfer station,” she noted.

“It’s costing the organization a lot to deal with this issue,” Henderson concluded.