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Home My WebLink AboutDMF Letter NOI Martin to Barnstable ConComThe Commonwealth of Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (617) 626-1520 | www.mass.gov/marinefisheries MAURA T. HEALEY KIMBERLEY DRISCOLL REBECCA L. TEPPER THOMAS K. O’SHEA DANIEL J. MCKIERNAN Governor Lt. Governor Secretary Commissioner Director SOUTH COAST FIELD STATION CAT COVE MARINE LABORATORY NORTH SHORE FIELD STATION 836 S. Rodney French Blvd 92 Fort Avenue 30 Emerson Avenue New Bedford, MA 02744 Salem, MA 01970 Gloucester, MA 01930 June 4, 2024 Barnstable Conservation Commission 367 Main Street Barnstable, MA 02601 Dear Commissioners: The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (MA DMF) has reviewed the Notice of Intent by Raymond Martin to remove 4 posts and construct a pier, ramp, and float within Shoestring Bay at 40 Bay Road in the Town of Barnstable. A shellfish survey conducted by Brad Holmes and Cameron Larson on September 15, 2023, found no shellfish within the project area. There would be at least 6’ of clearance from the bottom of the lowest hanging stringer and salt marsh substrate. The project was reviewed with respect to potential impacts to marine fisheries resources and habitat. The project site abuts salt marsh vegetation. Salt marsh provides a variety of ecosystem services, including habitat and energy sources for many fish and invertebrate species [1-2]. Shoestring Bay 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). In the previous stock assessment, the winter flounder stock was classified as overfished with spawning stock biomass in 2019 estimated to be only 32% of the biomass target [3]. Spawning stock biomass in 2021 was estimated to be 101% of the biomass target based on a new recruitment stanza focusing only on the past twenty years [4]. Given the new status of the winter flounder stock, every effort should be made to protect the species and its spawning habitat. MA DMF offers the following comment for your consideration: • A new pier has the potential to negatively impact nearby marine resources and fisheries in a variety of ways [5]. While some of these impacts can be avoided or reduced with best management practices, others are unavoidable and will result in permanent impacts to salt marsh habitat and associated fisheries access. Support piles will directly displace salt marsh habitat, and piles may cause further indirect impacts that negatively affect bordering habitat. Leachates from any pressure-treated wood used for support piles or decking may also negatively impact nearby shellfish. Associated boating activity could result in prop dredging if the float is installed in insufficient water depth relative to the 2 size of vessels using the structure. The support piles, float, and adjacent footprints will likely not be accessible to commercial or recreational fisheries. • Grounded floats can disturb bottom sediments, resulting in turbidity and direct impacts to benthic habitat. To minimize impacts, MA DMF recommends that the bottom of a proposed float be at least 1.5 feet (18 inches) above the substrate in all coastal or estuarine habitats at MLW [5]. The float as proposed would not maintain this minimum clearance at MLW. MA DMF recommends installing float stops to maintain a 1.5-foot clearance above the substrate at MLW. • 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 cc: Michael Borselli, Falmouth Engineering, Inc. John Logan, Matt Camisa, Kara Falvey, Malik Neron, MA DMF Patrice Bordonaro, CZM AD/mn/kf 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. ASMFC. 2020. Southern New England Mid-Atlantic Winter Flounder 2020 Assessment Update Report. http://www.asmfc.org/uploads/file/6008bd822020_SNE- MA_WinterFlounderAssessmentUpdate.pdf 4. ASMFC. 2022. Southern New England Mid-Atlantic Winter Flounder 2022 Management Track Assessment Report. Compiled June 2022. https://apps- nefsc.fisheries.noaa.gov/saw/sasi.php 3 5. Logan, J.M., A. Boeri, J. Carr, T. Evans, E.M. Feeney, K. Frew, F. Schenck, and K.H. Ford. 2022. A review of habitat impacts from residential docks and recommended Best Management Practices with an emphasis on the northeastern United States. Estuaries Coasts 45: 1189–1216. https://www.mass.gov/doc/dock-bmp- recommendations/download