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Home My WebLink AboutDMF comment 6.26.2023The 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 26, 2023 Yarmouth Conservation Commission 1146 Route 28 South Yarmouth, MA 02664 Dear Commissioners: The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (MA DMF) has reviewed the Notice of Intent (NOI) by Eleanor Acheson and Emily Hewitt to construct a pier, gangway, and install floats within the Bass River at 170 Pleasant Street in the Town of Yarmouth. The project was reviewed with respect to potential impacts to marine fisheries resources and habitat. The project site lies within mapped shellfish habitat for bay scallop (Argopecten irradians), American oyster (Crassostrea virginica), and northern quahog (Mercenaria mercenaria). Waters within the project site have habitat characteristics suitable for these species. All of these species were found during a shellfish survey conducted by the BSC Group on April 5, 2021. Land containing shellfish is deemed significant to the interest of the Wetlands Protection Act (310 CMR 10.34) and the protection of marine fisheries. The project site overlies 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 Bass River has been identified by MA DMF as diadromous fish passage, migration, and/or spawning habitat for alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus), white perch (Morone americana), and American eel (Anguilla rostrata) [3]. The Bass 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). 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 [4]. 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 [5]. 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 comments for your consideration: Drafted 2016; Updated 2023 2 • A new pier has the potential to negatively impact nearby shellfish resources and fisheries in a variety of ways [6]. While some of these impacts can be avoided or reduced with best management practices, others are unavoidable and will result in permanent impacts to shellfish habitat and associated fisheries access. Support piles will directly displace shellfish habitat, and piles may cause further indirect impacts that negatively affect bordering shellfish 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 size of vessels using the structure. The support piles, float, and adjacent footprints will likely not be accessible to commercial or recreational fisheries. • The proposed plans would place the floats in water > 2.5 feet at MLW, which is consistent with MA DMF recommendations for float depth in shellfish habitat [6]. However, MA DMF also recommends that float area be minimized to the size required for the intended use [6]. The 2 proposed floats would have a cumulative increased 32+ foot width, which appears greater than the size needed for water access and vessel dockage space. MA DMF recommends reducing the quantity of proposed floats to avoid additional shading and public access impacts. • MA DMF conducted two field studies to assess the relationship between shading, marsh growth, and dock design; these studies collectively indicated that a height-to-width (H:W) ratio of 1.5:1 between the base of horizontal stringers and salt marsh reduced shading and marsh loss relative to the typically required 1:1 H:W ratio [6-8]. Current plans show a pier width of 4 feet and 5.0 feet of clearance between the lowest stringer and salt marsh. Current plans do not meet the 1.5:1 H:W ratio recommendation. MA DMF recommends establishing a minimum 1.5:1 H:W ratio for pier decking across the full extent that overlies the marsh by either raising the elevation of the decking height or reducing the decking width to 3 feet. • Any activities requiring a barge should be restricted to 2 hours before and after high tide to prevent barge grounding in mapped shellfish habitat. • 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: Daniel A. Ojala, Down Cape Engineering, Inc. John Logan, Emma Gallagher, Holly Williams, MA DMF Drafted 2016; Updated 2023 3 Conrad Caia, Yarmouth Shellfish Constable Robert Boeri, CZM References: 1. 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. 2. 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. 3. MA DMF. MassGIS Data: Diadromous Fish. https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massgis- data-diadromous-fish. Accessed February 8, 2023. 2023. 4. ASMFC. 2020. Southern New England Mid-Atlantic Winter Flounder 2020 Assessment Update Report. http://www.asmfc.org/uploads/file/6008bd822020_SNE- MA_WinterFlounderAssessmentUpdate.pdf 5. 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 6. 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 7. Logan, J.M., A. Davis, C. Markos, K.H. Ford. 2018. “Effects of docks on salt marsh vegetation: An evaluation of ecological impacts and the efficacy of current design standards.” Estuaries and Coasts 41:661–675. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-017-0323-1 8. Logan, J.M., S. Voss, A. Davis, K.H. Ford. 2018. “An experimental evaluation of dock shading impacts on salt marsh vegetation in a New England estuary.” Estuaries and Coasts 41:13–24. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-017-0268-4