HomeMy WebLinkAboutDMF Letter NOI Barr to Barnstable ConComThe Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Division of Marine Fisheries
(617) 626-1520 | mass.gov/MarineFisheries
Maura T. Healey
Governor
Kimberly Driscoll
Lt. Governor
Rebecca L. Tepper
Secretary
Thomas K. O’Shea
Commissioner
Daniel J. McKiernan
Director
July 13, 2026
Barnstable Conservation Commission
367 Main Street
Hyannis, MA 02601
Dear Commissioners:
The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (MA DMF) has reviewed the Notice of Intent
(NOI) by Michael and Nancy Barr to place up to 2 inches of coarse sand biannually for beach
nourishment within Wequaquet Lake at 7 Beechwood Road in the Town of Barnstable. The
project was reviewed with respect to potential impacts to marine fisheries resources and habitat.
Wequaquet Lake has been identified by MA DMF as diadromous fish passage, migration, and/or
spawning habitat for alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus), blueback herring (Alosa aestivalis),
rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax), American eel (Anguilla rostrata), white perch (Morone
americana), Atlantic tomcod (Microgadus tomcod), and American shad (Alosa sapidissima) [1].
MA DMF offers the following comments for your consideration:
• A spring time-of-year (TOY) restriction should be observed on all in-water activities to
protect spawning habitat for river herring. No beach nourishment activities should take
place at the edge of the water or in-water from March 15 – June 30 of any year [2].
• 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
2
cc:
Arlene Wilson, A.M. Wilson Associates Inc,
John Logan, Alicia Hecht, Mike Burgess, MA DMF
Patrice Bordonaro, CZM
AD/ah
References:
1. MA DMF. MassGIS Data: Diadromous Fish. https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massgis-
data-diadromous-fish. Accessed February 8, 2023. 2023.
2. Evans, N.T., K.H. Ford, B.C. Chase, and J. Sheppard. 2011. Recommended Time of Year
Restrictions (TOYs) for Coastal Alteration Projects to Protect Marine Fisheries Resources in
Massachusetts. Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries Technical Report, TR-47.
https://www.mass.gov/doc/time-of-year-recommendations-tr-47/download