The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutDMF LetterThe Commonwealth of Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (617) 626-1520 | www.mass.gov/marinefisheries MAURA T. HEALEY KIMBERLEY DRISCOLL REBECCA L. TEPPER THOMAS K. O’SHEA DANIEL J. MCKIERNAN Governor Lt. Governor Secretary Commissioner Director SOUTH COAST FIELD STATION CAT COVE MARINE LABORATORY NORTH SHORE FIELD STATION 836 S. Rodney French Blvd 92 Fort Avenue 30 Emerson Avenue New Bedford, MA 02744 Salem, MA 01970 Gloucester, MA 01930 December 2, 2025 Barnstable Conservation Commission 367 Main Street Barnstable, MA 02601 Dear Commissioners: The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (MA DMF) has reviewed the Notice of Intent by Laura Beth of 364 Wianno Avenue Realty Trust to construct a pier, ramp, and float within East Bay at 270 East Bay Road in the Town of Barnstable. Float stops would be installed to maintain 12 inches of clearance between the float and the substrate during MLW. The project was reviewed with respect to potential impacts to marine fisheries resources and habitat. The project site overlies salt marsh vegetation. Salt marsh provides a variety of ecosystem services, including habitat and energy sources for many fish and invertebrate species [1-2]. The project site includes mapped shellfish habitat for northern quahog (Mercenaria mercenaria) and softshell clam (Mya arenaria). Waters bordering the project site have habitat characteristics suitable for these species. Land containing shellfish is deemed significant to the interest of the Wetlands Protection Act (310 CMR 10.34) and the protection of marine fisheries. A shellfish survey conducted by David Ryan on February 28, 2025 found quahogs and softshell clams within the project area. East Bay acts as winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) spawning habitat. Winter flounder enter the area and spawn from January through May; demersal eggs hatch approximately 15 to 20 days later. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission has designated winter flounder spawning habitat as a “Habitat Area of Particular Concern” (HAPC). In the previous stock assessment, the winter flounder stock was classified as overfished with spawning stock biomass in 2019 estimated to be only 32% of the biomass target [3]. Spawning stock biomass in 2021 was estimated to be 101% of the biomass target based on a new recruitment stanza focusing only on the past twenty years [4]. Given the new status of the winter flounder stock, every effort should be made to protect the species and its spawning habitat. MA DMF offers the following comment for your consideration: • MA DMF recommends the use of alternative waterway access to private docks and piers where feasible to limit dock proliferation and associated cumulative environmental impacts [5]. The Town has a boat launch near the project site on East Bay Road. MA 2 DMF encourages the proponent to use this area to access East Bay instead of building a private pier and float within marine resources. • A new pier and float have the potential to negatively impact nearby shellfish resources and fisheries in a variety of ways [5]. While some of these impacts can be avoided or reduced with best management practices, others are unavoidable and will result in permanent impacts to shellfish habitat and associated fisheries access. Support piles will directly displace shellfish habitat, and piles may cause further indirect impacts that negatively affect bordering shellfish habitat. Leachates from any pressure-treated wood used for support piles or decking may also negatively impact nearby shellfish. Associated boating activity could result in prop dredging if the float is installed in insufficient water depth relative to the size of vessels using the structure. The support piles, float, and adjacent footprints will likely not be accessible to commercial or recreational fisheries. • MA DMF conducted two field studies to assess the relationship between shading, marsh growth, and dock design; these studies collectively indicated that a height-to-width (H:W) ratio of 1.5:1 between the base of horizontal stringers and salt marsh reduced shading and marsh loss relative to the typically required 1:1 H:W ratio [5-7]. Current plans show a boardwalk width of 4 feet and less than 6 feet of clearance between the lowest stringer and salt marsh. Current plans do not meet the 1.5:1 H:W ratio recommendation. MA DMF recommends reducing the pier width to establish a 1.5:1 H:W ratio for pier decking across the full extent that overlies the marsh. • Reducing the pier width to 3’ and raising the pier decking to 5’ above the salt marsh would have multiple benefits, such as meeting the 1.5:1 H:W ratio and likely removing the need for public access stairs within the salt marsh. • Grounded floats can disturb bottom sediments, resulting in turbidity and direct impacts to benthic habitat. To minimize impacts, MA DMF recommends that the bottom of a proposed float be at least 2.5 feet (30 inches) above the substrate over mapped shellfish habitat, at MLW [5]. The entire float, as proposed, does not maintain this minimum clearance at MLW. MA DMF recommends installing pile-supported float stops to maintain a 2.5-foot clearance above the substrate at MLW instead of 12 inches of clearance. • If approved, any activities requiring a barge should be restricted to 2 hours before and after high tide to prevent barge grounding in mapped shellfish habitat. • If approved, fuel spills from refueling of construction equipment will adversely impact sensitive resource areas. Impacts to resource areas can be avoided by prohibiting all land- based equipment from being refueled on-site. If equipment is refueled on-site, adequate containment and clean-up material should be required to minimize impacts Questions regarding this review may be directed to Amanda Davis at amanda.davis@mass.gov. Sincerely, Amanda Davis Environmental Analyst MA Division of Marine Fisheries cc: 3 John ODea, Sullivan Engineering & Consulting, Inc. John Logan, Holly Williams, Matt Camisa, Kara Falvey, MA DMF Patrice Bordonaro, CZM AD/kf References: 1. Boesch, D.F. and R.E. Turner. 1984. “Dependence of Fishery Species on Salt Marshes: The Role of Food and Refuge.” Estuaries 7(4):460-468. https://doi.org/10.2307/1351627. 2. Deegan, L.A., J.E. Hughes, and R.A. Rountree. 2000. “Salt marsh ecosystem support of marine transient species.” In: M.P. Weinstein and D.A. Kreeger, eds. Concepts and Controversies in Tidal Marsh Ecology: Kluwer Academic Publisher, The Netherlands. pp. 333-365 3. ASMFC. 2020. Southern New England Mid-Atlantic Winter Flounder 2020 Assessment Update Report. http://www.asmfc.org/uploads/file/6008bd822020_SNE- MA_WinterFlounderAssessmentUpdate.pdf 4. ASMFC. 2022. Southern New England Mid-Atlantic Winter Flounder 2022 Management Track Assessment Report. Compiled June 2022. https://apps- nefsc.fisheries.noaa.gov/saw/sasi.php 5. Logan, J.M., A. Boeri, J. Carr, T. Evans, E.M. Feeney, K. Frew, F. Schenck, and K.H. Ford. 2022. A review of habitat impacts from residential docks and recommended Best Management Practices with an emphasis on the northeastern United States. Estuaries Coasts 45: 1189–1216. https://www.mass.gov/doc/dock-bmp- recommendations/download 6. Logan, J.M., A. Davis, C. Markos, K.H. Ford. 2018. “Effects of docks on salt marsh vegetation: An evaluation of ecological impacts and the efficacy of current design standards.” Estuaries and Coasts 41:661–675. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-017-0323-1 7. Logan, J.M., S. Voss, A. Davis, K.H. Ford. 2018. “An experimental evaluation of dock shading impacts on salt marsh vegetation in a New England estuary.” Estuaries and Coasts 41:13–24. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-017-0268-4