As the summer arrives and more visitors come to Westbrook’s renowned beaches, the town is taking steps to ensure one of Westbrook’s most popular destinations remains safe.

On May 25, the Board of Selectmen (BOS) approved using interns on Salt Island to ensure visitors to the island are safe, following a rise in emergency rescues from the island last year.

Salt Island is a small island only a few hundred feet off the coast of Westbrook in the Long Island Sound that is easily accessible at low tide. It has long been a popular trek for nature lovers, guests at the Water’s Edge Resort and Spa, and the curious. Unfortunately, in the summer of 2022, the island also became the source of numerous rescue calls from people stranded.

The island can be treacherous for those unfamiliar with the area. Emergency Management Director John Palermo explained that those who get to the island are often not prepared for how quickly the tide comes in, leaving them stranded. Additionally, Palermo said that high tide currents in the area are strong, which can take people by surprise and lead to tragic results.

Fire Chief William Cusson told the BOS last year that in a typical year, the department receives about five calls for emergency assistance; in 2022, the department received more than 20.

To ensure the same problem doesn’t arise this year, the BOS agreed with a plan to have interns provide coverage on the island from one before low tide until one hour after low tide. The BOS approved allotting 68 additional hours of funding for Salt Island staffing.

The interns will be there on an educational basis rather than an enforcement basis. However, they will be supplied with a radio if an emergency arises. Salt Island is home to a bird sanctuary watched over by the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge. Access to the sanctuary portion of the island is prohibited, but with the island’s increased popularity, there have been several trespassing cases on that portion of the island in the past.

Awareness of Salt Island’s danger reached a head last year when the town’s conservation commission briefly debated closing the island.

Instead, the BOS invited stakeholders to a meeting to discuss the issue. At that meeting, it was decided to keep the island open and increase awareness of the dangers and enforcement of consequences for rule breakers.

Cusson explained at that meeting that each call requires significant manpower and division of resources, which can be a drain on the agency. Cusson said that cars parked illegally on Middle Beach hamper rescue efforts. Additionally, Cusson said that most of those requiring rescue are not locals and noted that local residents are generally aware of the tides and when to safely visit the island. Cusson said that many of those requiring help didn’t speak English, which makes communication hard.

The BOS agreed that additional signage in languages other than English was needed at town beaches and on the island to warn visitors of the dangers and when to get off the island.

As the summer went on, the rate of rescues went well below the high rate that was seen in the first half of the summer.