HomeMy WebLinkAboutDMF commentsThe Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Division of Marine Fisheries
251 Causeway Street, Suite 400, Boston, MA 02114
p: (617) 626-1520 | f: (617) 626-1509
www.mass.gov/marinefisheries
CHARLES D. BAKER KARYN E. POLITO KATHLEEN A. THEOHARIDES RONALD S. AMIDON DANIEL J. MCKIERNAN
Governor Lt. Governor Secretary Commissioner Director
April 21, 2022
Yarmouth Conservation Commission
1146 Route 28
South Yarmouth, MA 02664
Dear Commissioners:
The Division of Marine Fisheries (MA DMF) has reviewed the Notice of Intent (NOI) by Nino
Micozzi, 355 Great Island Road, to reconstruct an existing pier, replace the existing float with 2
new floats, relocate 3 existing pilings, and add a new 10-inch piling on Sweetwater Creek in the
Town of Yarmouth. Pier reconstruction would utilize existing pilings. The project was reviewed
with respect to potential impacts to marine fisheries resources and habitat.
The project site lies within mapped shellfish habitat for American oyster (Crassostrea virginica)
and softshell clam (Mya arenaria). Subtidal waters within and/or adjacent to the project site have
habitat characteristics suitable for these species. Land containing shellfish is deemed significant
to the interest of the Wetlands Protection Act (310 CMR 10.34) and the protection of marine
fisheries. A shellfish survey conducted by BSC Group on November 10, 2021, identified 21
northern quahogs and 15 softshell clams within the project site.
The project site also abuts salt marsh vegetation. Salt marsh provides a variety of ecosystem
services, including habitat and energy sources for many fish and invertebrate species [1-3].
MA DMF offers the following comments for your consideration:
• Based on project plans, the waterward edge of the proposed floats would have a
minimum 3-foot clearance above underlying substrate at mean low water (MLW). To
minimize benthic 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, and at
least 2.5 feet (30 inches) above the substrate over mapped shellfish habitat, at MLW [4-
5]. If the landward edge of the floats as proposed does not maintain this minimum
clearance, MA DMF recommends extending the floats into deeper waters or installing
float stops to maintain a 2.5-foot clearance above the substrate at MLW; and
• Any activities requiring a barge should be coordinated to avoid barge operation in
shallow water (less than 2 feet between motor skeg and substrate) over mapped shellfish
habitat.
Questions regarding this review may be directed to Simonetta Harrison in our New Bedford
office at simonetta.harrison@mass.gov.
Sincerely,
Simonetta Harrison
Fisheries Habitat Specialist
cc: Daniel Ojala, Down Cape Engineering, Inc.
John Logan, Terry O’Neil, Amanda Davis, Keri Anne Goncalves, Emma Gallagher, MA
DMF
Robert Boeri, MA CZM
SH/eg
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. and R.H. Garritt. 1997. “Evidence for spatial variability in estuarine food
webs.” Marine Ecology Progress Series 147:31-47.
https://doi.org/10.3354/MEPS147031.
[3] 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.
[4] Bliven, S. and S. Pearlman. 2003. A guide to permitting small pile-supported docks and
piers. Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Resource
Protection, Wetlands/Waterways Program.
https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2016/08/st/smaldock.pdf.
[5] Logan, J.M., A. Boeri, J. Carr, T. Evans, E.M. Feeney, K. Frew, F. Schenck, and K.H.
Ford. 2021. “A review of habitat impacts from residential docks and recommended Best
Management Practices with an emphasis on the Northeastern United States.” Estuaries
and Coasts Online First. https://www.mass.gov/doc/dock-bmp-
recommendations/download.