HomeMy WebLinkAboutShellfish Survey 251 Green Dunes Drive, Mierzwa 1
TO: Conservation Commission
FROM: Natural Resources, Town of Barnstable
DATE: April 14, 2025
RE: APPLICATION: Proposed pier and floating dock
APPLICANT: Zennon L Mierzwa
LA-LA Land Revocable Trust
2889 Northeast 26th Place
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33306
LOCATION: 251 Green Dunes Drive
Hyannisport, MA 02647
REPRESENTATIVE: Jose Pichardo
Green Seal Environmental, LLC
114 State Road Building B
Sagamore Beach, MA 02562
SHELLFISH SURVEY RESULTS: A shellfish survey was conducted on April 10, 2025
from 5:10-5:45 P.M. by Shellfish Biologist Elizabeth Lewis and Shellfish Technicians
Cece Dunham and Amanda Lee of Natural Resources. Low tide occurred at 5:47 P.M.
(height +0.8ft.). Thirteen 1m2 sample plots were assessed for substrate type and species
size and abundance. A center line was formed from the marked stakes on the shoreline
out to the buoy in the water marking the end of the pier. On each side of this center line,
plots were marked ten feet from the center the line and then in ten foot increments to the
end of the pier for a total of 12 samples. One extra sample was taken just past the marked
end of the pier. A small population of oysters (Crossostrea virginica) and ribbed mussels
(Guekensia demissa) were found along the shoreline, but no other shellfish were found in
any of the plots. The substrate consisted of very thick anoxic mud. At the end point of the
pier, there was only about twelve inches of water prior to low tide, but waist high pure
muck. It was actually fairly dangerous at that end point since the mud was so thick and
dense. This habitat is not suitable for shellfish settlement and recruitment. Please see
attached photos.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: 251 Green Dunes Drive is located in DMF/SC26.0 and is
in the closed status, prohibited. While there is only 12 inches of water on a +0.8ft. low
Town of Barnstable
Marine and Environmental Affairs Department
1189 Phinney’s Lane, Centerville, MA 02632
Derek Lawson, Director
508-790-6273 / Fax 508-790-6275
www.townofbarnstable.us
Animal Control 508-790-6274 Natural Resources 5 08-790-6272
Harbormaster 508-790-6273 Sandy Neck 508-790-6272
Marinas 508-790-6273 Sandy Neck Gatehouse 508 -362-8300
Moorings 508-790-6273
2
tide at the end point of the pier, the habitat is seriously compromised. Any float on the
end of a pier in this location should have float stops so the float will not sit on bottom and
further degrade the compromised habitat if there is any hope of improving this part of the
creek. Due to these significantly poor habitat conditions, Natural Resources has no
objection to the proposed pier at this current time.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth A. Lewis, Shellfish Biologist
3
Picture 1: Thick muddy conditions on site
Picture 2: Oysters and ribbed mussel on shoreline