HomeMy WebLinkAboutDMF Letter NOI Town of Barnstable DPW (Craigville Beach Bridge) 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
August 17, 2026
Barnstable Conservation Commission
367 Main Street
Hyannis, MA 02601
Dear Commissioners:
The Division of Marine Fisheries (MA DMF) has reviewed the Notice of Intent (NOI) application by
the Town of Barnstable Department of Public Works for the Craigville Beach Road Bridge Repair
Project within the Centerville River at 1134 Craigville Beach Road in the Town of Barnstable.
Proposed work includes repairing cracks in the retaining walls, abutments, and wingwalls, sealing
bridge joints, guardrail repairs, asphalt sidewalk patches, and placing 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.” A turbidity curtain is proposed around the
entire work site and across the Centerville River upstream and downstream of the bridge. 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 [1–2].
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.
Several diadromous fish species use the Centerville River as migratory habitat. Specifically,
American eels (Anguilla rostrata), alewives (Alosa pseudoharengus), and blueback herring (Alosa
2
aestivalis) use this region as a migratory corridor in the spring and fall seasons [3].
The Centerville River 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).
Every effort should be made to protect the species and its spawning habitat.
MA DMF offers the following comments for your consideration:
• A time-of-year (TOY) restriction is recommended on in-water work from January 15 to
June 30 to protect sensitive life stages of diadromous species and winter flounder. A fall
TOY is also recommended, to protect diadromous fish species during their fall migration,
from September 1 to November 15 [4].
• MA DMF may be able to offer a fall TOY restriction waiver provided a Water Control and
Diversion Plan is developed and submitted for review, comments, and approval. Water
Control and Diversion Plans should incorporate best management practices that maintain
adequate flow, protect diadromous species, and minimize turbidity. Water diversion plans
should be sent to Brad Chase (brad.chase@mass.gov), Stephanie Berkman
(Stephanie.Berkman@mass.gov), and Amanda Davis (Amanda.Davis@mass.gov) for
review.
• Current plans show a bottom anchored turbidity curtain placed through salt marsh and
across the Centerville River both upriver and downriver of the bridge. This proposed
placement could impact salt marsh and will interrupt fish passage and flow. MA DMF
recommends maintaining uninterrupted flow by either removing the turbidity curtains
from the scope of work, or placing the turbidity curtain(s) along the river and parallel to
the abutments rather than across the river. Turbidity curtains should not be anchored
withing salt marsh habitat.
• The NOI states 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 to assess and mitigate for any construction-related impacts to salt
marsh habitat.
Questions regarding this review may be directed to Amanda Davis at amanda.davis@mass.gov.
Sincerely,
3
Amanda Davis
Environmental Analyst
MA Division of Marine Fisheries
cc:
Amanda Houle, Tighe and Bond
John Logan, Alicia Hecht, Michael Burgess, Brad Chase, Holly Williams, Matt Camisa, MA
DMF
Amy Croteau, Barnstable Shellfish Constable
Patrice Bordonaro, CZM
AD/ah
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. MA DMF. MassGIS Data: Diadromous Fish. https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massgis-
data-diadromous-fish. Accessed February 8, 2023. 2023.
4. 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