HomeMy WebLinkAboutTown_of_Barnstable_to_MEPA_6-11-261
The 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
June 11, 2026
Secretary Rebecca Tepper
Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA)
Attn: MEPA Office
Katherine Miller, EEA No. 17063
100 Cambridge Street, Suite 900
Boston, MA 02114
Dear Secretary Tepper:
The Division of Marine Fisheries (MA DMF) has reviewed the Environmental Notification Form (ENF) by
the Town of Barnstable Department of Public Works for the Craigville Beach Road Bridge Repair Project
at 1134 Craigville Beach Road on the Centerville River in the Town of Barnstable. Proposed work
includes repairs to cracks and spalling identified in the retaining walls, east and west abutments, and
wingwalls, sealing of bridge joints, guardrail repairs, asphalt sidewalk patches, and placement of new
riprap and underlying geotextile fabric as erosion control. The overall project also includes removal of
trees from riprap and vegetation management on the sidewalk and curbs. Proposed dredging includes
the removal of approximately 50 cubic yards of material from a 350 square foot area of salt marsh and
375 cubic yards from a 2,400 square foot area below Mean High Water. Dredging consists of the
removal of riprap and underlying sediment prior to riprap reconstruction from these areas. Temporary
cofferdams are proposed on the upstream and downstream sides of the bridge to isolate the work area
and allow for work “in the dry.” Turbidity curtains are also proposed to limit the spread of suspended
sediments outside of the work area. A temporary stream bypass would be installed to maintain flow
during construction using either a passive flume pipe or a pump and discharge hose with a temporary
splash pad. The project was reviewed with respect to potential impacts to marine fisheries resources
and habitat.
An estimated 350 square feet of the riprap footprint contains overlying salt marsh vegetation including
salt marsh cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora). The area directly bordering the riprap footprint also
includes salt marsh vegetation. Salt marsh provides a variety of ecosystem services, including habitat
and energy sources for many fish and invertebrate species [1–3].
The area immediately downstream of the bridge is mapped as shellfish habitat for both quahog
(Mercenaria mercenaria) and soft shell clam (Mya arenaria). Land containing shellfish is deemed
significant to the interest of the Wetlands Protection Act (310 CMR 10.34) and the protection of marine
fisheries.
2
Several diadromous fish species use the Centerville River as migratory habitat. Specifically, American
eels (Anguilla rostrata), alewives (Alosa pseudoharengus), and blueback herring (Alosa aestivalis) use
this region as a migratory corridor in the spring and fall seasons [4].
MA DMF offers the following comments for your consideration:
• A time of year (TOY) restriction is recommended on in-water work from March 15 to June 30
and September 1 to November 15 to protect diadromous fish species during their spring and
fall migrations. A TOY is also recommended from January 15 to May 31 to protect winter
flounder during the spawning, larval settlement, and juvenile development phases [5]. The
combined TOYs for diadromous fish species and winter flounder is January 15 to June 30 and
September 1 to November 15 [5]. Work within cofferdams may be possible during these TOY
periods if adequate fish passage is maintained. Final TOY recommendations will be developed in
the permitting phase.
• MA DMF requests a copy of water control plans during the permitting process for review with
regards to fish passage.
• The ENF documents an anticipated 350 square feet of permanent impacts and 1,410 square
feet of temporary impacts for a total of 1,760 square feet of salt marsh impacts. The larger
1,410 square feet of anticipated temporary impacts has the potential to include permanent
impacts if construction activities result in marsh loss given that the temporary impact area
directly abuts the riprap construction zone. A monitoring and mitigation plan should be
developed during the state and federal permitting process to assess and mitigate for any
construction-related impacts to salt marsh habitat.
Questions regarding this review may be directed to John Logan in our New Bedford office at
john.logan@mass.gov.
Sincerely,
Daniel J. McKiernan
Director
cc: Barnstable Conservation Commission
Amanda Houle, Tighe & Bond
Alexa Cacacie, NMFS
Steve McKenna, CZM
David Wong, Brendan Mullaney, DEP
Amanda Davis, Brad Chase, Mike Burgess, Holly Williams, Matt Camisa, Alicia Hecht, DMF
3
References
1. Boesch DF, Turner RE. Dependence of fishery species on salt marshes: the role of food and refuge.
Estuaries. 1984;7: 460–468.
2. Deegan LA, Garritt RH. Evidence for spatial variability in estuarine food webs. Mar Ecol Prog Ser.
1997;147: 31–47.
3. Deegan LA, Hughes JE, Rountree RA. Salt marsh ecosystem support of marine transient species. In:
Weinstein MP, Kreeger DA, editors. Concepts and Controversies in Tidal Marsh Ecology. Kluwer
Academic Publisher, The Netherlands; 2000. pp. 333–365.
4. MA DMF. MassGIS Data: Diadromous Fish. https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massgis-data-
diadromous-fish. 2023.
5. Evans NT, Ford KH, Chase BC, Sheppard J. 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. Accessed September 29, 2021. 2011.
DM/JL/ah