HomeMy WebLinkAboutShellfish Report 710 Sea View Ave, Morgenthau 1
TO: Conservation Commission
FROM: Natural Resources, Town of Barnstable
DATE: April 24, 2023
RE: APPLICATION: Modify and expand existing pier, ramp, and float
APPLICANT: Susan Moore Morgenthau, Trustee
710-713 Sea View Avenue Realty Trust
51 West 52nd Street, c/o Pamela Ehrenkranz Esq.
New York, NY 10019
LOCATION: 710 Sea View Avenue
Osterville, MA 02655
REPRESENTATIVE: Charles Rowland
Sullivan Engineering & Consulting, Inc.
711 Main Street, P.O. Box 6559
SHELLFISH SURVEY RESULTS: A shellfish survey was conducted on April 19, 2023 from
5:39P.M. – 6:20P.M. by Elizabeth Lewis, Ben Sacco, and Ryan Henry of Natural Resources.
Low tide occurred at 6:30P.M. (height -0.4ft.). Harvest was done with a steamer rake (plots 0-
10ft.), by hand for intertidal plots (plots at 20ft.), with a lined basket rake for subtidal plots (plots
at 30-40ft.) and the deepest plots were done with a basket rake by boat (plots at 60ft.). 18 sample
plots (1 sq. ft.) were examined for substrate type and shellfish. Intertidal plots were dug to a
depth of 12 inches. The plots were located at transect intervals of ten feet along the centerline of
the pier and out to the end stake (Transect B). Two more transects were drawn with plots again at
intervals of ten feet, each plot 10 feet on either side of the center line as depicted below
(Transects A and C).
Town of Barnstable
Marine and Environmental Affairs Department
1189 Phinney’s Lane, Centerville, MA 02632
Derek Lawson, Director
508-790-6273 / Fax 508-790-6275
www.townofbarnstable.us
Animal Control 508-790-6274 Natural Resources 508-790-6272
Harbormaster 508-790-6273 Sandy Neck 508-790-6272
Marinas 508-790-6273 Sandy Neck Gatehouse 508 -362-8300
Moorings 508-790-6273
2
Shore 10ft 10ft
Pier
10
20
30
40
50
60
Transect: C B A
Plots from 0 – 10ft. consisted of large grain sand. The top layer showed fresh water intrusion and
high amounts of iron giving it a rust color. Just beneath the surface the sand was darker with
more organics mixed in. Though we found several oysters along this 10 ft. band, these do not
appear to be native and look like they were transplanted from another area to this site (most
likely someone throwing their catch from another area back in the ocean). Moving out deeper at
about 20 ft. the sediment began to change getting siltier. At 30 ft. we began to see the bottom
becoming compromised with layers of muck and black anoxic mud. Past this 30 ft. mark, the
sediment is severely compromised and composed of thick, anoxic “mayonnaise” mud.
Very surprisingly, the area still supports a population of large, old quahogs (Mercenaria
mercenaria). The shells are all compromised and show signs of acidity and chalkiness. The large
quahogs indicate the area is not suitable for settlement of new seed quahogs and the area went
anoxic after these animals had already settled; the area turned sour after the animals were
established and somehow they have managed to cope and survive (see below for picture of one
pull). A few softshells (Mya arenaria) and 16 quahogs were found.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This proposed project is found within West Bay in Eel River,
DMF shellfish classification area SC22.0. It is classified as approved. Natural Resources is not
opposed to this pier as the bottom is severely compromised, however all shellfish should be
removed before the project begins. Even though Natural Resources does not oppose this pier,
considerations should be made that this area will have a more challenging time to recover should
conditions improve because a permanent pier will affect the flow in this area whereas the
seasonal pier at least allows the area to return to normal conditions for part of the year.
10ft.
East West
3
4
5
Picture 1: One rake pull with 2 quahogs – compromised shells and anoxic mud.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth A. Lewis, Shellfish Biologist