For many of us, Coatue is the sandy stretch we seek out to get away from the rest of Nantucket. Whether by boating across the harbor, kayaking, or traversing the over-sand paths by vehicle, many of us recognize that this place is special. Wild landscapes, nesting bird life, great fishing…it’s a wild place that brings us back in time. Even so, it might also be a place we sometimes take for granted. We might enjoy it for the escape, but how often do you think about how vital this barrier beach is to our island way of life?