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HomeMy WebLinkAbout5774230v1 (Summary Report- Nutter Comments)12/8/2022 Town of Barnstable Conservation Commission 367 Main Street Hyannis, MA 02601 Subject: 102 Bluff Point Drive, Cotuit Dear Commissioners, Per your request, Megalodon Environmental, LLC (Megalodon) in collaboration with Sullivan Engineering & Consulting is pleased to provide you with the following Report Results from the approved Scope of Work dated April 29, 2022. The Sea Legs has been operating off the beach area since 2014, at which time the Commission waived jurisdiction at this site. The vessel was not able to be used this summer awaiting a repair part, and was not part of this additional study. The Iguana has been operating off the beach area since 2020. The Commission requested continued studies to better evaluate the potential impacts should there be a “growing request for them”, but again waived jurisdiction “unless there are major problems that are developed”. Prior shellfish surveys carried out by Natural Resources had not observed any negative impacts to the shellfish habitat or populations. These additional study items were performed as requested by the Commission. PRELIMINARY SCOPE OF WORK TASK 1 – RESEARCH As set forth in the Shellfish Habitat Assessment Report, submitted herewith, Megaldon Environmental reviewed the available literature on the impacts of recreational vehicles on shellfish. The studies reviewed support the conclusion that there is no evidence that operation of an amphibious vehicle has a significant impact on shellfish populations. TASK 2 – WEIGHT / PRESSURE Ground Pressure of Average Male Walking Foot = 16 psi. The Iguana has a weight of 8,377 lbs spread on 2 – 10” x 6’-6” tracts. Pressure = 5.4 psi. The SeaLegs has a weight of 3,241 lbs spread on 3 – 25” x 12” wheels with an estimated contact area of 8” x 8”. Pressure = 16.8 psi Megalodon Environmental LLC Use or disclosure of data contained on this sheet is subject to the restriction on the first page of this document. 2 TASK 3 – SHELLFISH HABITAT ASSESSMENT A copy of the Shellfish Habitat Assessment Report prepared by Megalodon Environmental is enclosed. As described in the report, Megalodon performed shellfish habitat assessments in June and in September of 2022. In the June assessment, thirty two quahogs and two whelks were identified. In the September assessment, thirty seven quahogs and three softshell clams were identified. As set forth in more detail in Megalodon’s report, the presence of multiple quahogs suggests that the amphibious vehicle is not having a significant negative impact to this shellfish species and softshell clams are not commonly present in the area in which the amphibious vehicle operates. TASK 4 – SEDIMENT ANALYIS The attached grain size analysis shows no significant changes between the traveled path and baseline areas to the east and west. Nuclear Density testing showed no significant changes between the traveled path and the baseline areas to the east and west with results ranging from 83.0% to 83.8%. TASK 5 – PHYSICAL TESTING In addition to the Shellfish Habitat Assessment performed by Megalodon, the Natural Resource Department elected to conduct their own study by transplanting soft shell clams to the site and driving an amphibious vehicle directly over them. The Natural Resource Department placed 100 soft shell clams (60 adults / 40 <1”) in 6 test plots – 3 in test traveled way and 3 in control site at low tidal, mid tidal, and upper tidal. A total of 600 soft shell clams were transplanted on the site from other locations. Approximately 2% of transplants were impacted by Natural Resources’ recovery operations. Approximately 4% of the transplants were estimated to be impacted by the vessel. Approximately 50% of the transplants were not recovered by natural conditions. According to Natural Resources, in typical shellfish harvesting activities, approximately 17% of soft shell clams are impacted. Accordingly, the percentage of transplants impacted during the study was significantly less than what would be expected to be impacted through typical shellfish harvesting and through natural conditions. Therefore, no significant impacts on the soft shell clam population were observed as a result of the study. Moreover, as noted in Task 3, soft shell clams are not commonly found in the area in which the vessel operates. TASK 6 - SUMMARY The additional studies continue to show no significant negative impacts to the shellfish habitat or populations. As noted above, the quahog population increased slightly in the study area over the course of the season. Soft shell clams are not commonly found in the study area, but to the extent they were to be present in this area, the impacts from the amphibious vehicle are less than would be anticipated from shellfish harvesting activities and less than those lost by natural occurrence. Megalodon Environmental LLC Use or disclosure of data contained on this sheet is subject to the restriction on the first page of this document. 3 We believe the applicant has met all requirements of the Commission, and the prior authorizations should be considered finalized. At this time there is no way to identify potential longer term impacts, and given site specificity, no way to identify how the impacts may differ at other sites. The applicant is happy to continue to collaborate with the Commission and Natural Resources is their studies for future applicants. Thank you, Pamela Neubert Ph.D. John O’Dea, P.E. Principal Scientist Principal Engineer Megalodon Environmental LLC Sullivan Engineering and Consulting, Inc. megalodonev@gmail.com john@sullivanengin.com 5774230.1