HomeMy WebLinkAboutDMF commentThe 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
August 27, 2024
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 Jeffrey Colby from the Town of Yarmouth to install a new 200’ long and 18’’ wide
diameter gravity sewer beneath the Parkers River using Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD)
and construct three new sewer pumping stations (PS1 – PS3) along Route 28 in the Town of
Yarmouth. This proposed construction is part of the Town’s Wastewater Program. The HDD
contractor will be required to prepare a site-specific Contingency Plan prior to the
commencement of construction. The project was reviewed with respect to potential impacts to
marine fisheries resources and habitat.
Parkers River has been identified by MA DMF as diadromous fish passage, migration and
spawning habitat for alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus), blueback herring (Alosa aestivalis), and
white perch (Morone americanus) as well as nursery and foraging habitat for American eel
(Anguilla rostrata) [1].
The project site includes salt marsh vegetation. Salt marsh provides a variety of ecosystem
services, including habitat and energy sources for many fish and invertebrate species [2-3].
MA DMF offers the following comment for your consideration:
• An HDD Contingency Plan should be developed prior to construction to minimize risk of
a “frac out” event and develop response measures to minimize impacts if such an event
occurs.
• Appropriate containment measures should be employed to prevent siltation in the marine
environment during all activities.
• Dewatering will take place during the construction of the entry/exit pits and sewer trench.
However, it is unclear how the water will be treated, stored, or released. MA DMF
requests further details about the dewatering plans for the entry/exit pits and sewer
trench.
• 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.
2
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:
Magdalena Lofstedt, CDM Smith, Inc.
John Logan, Malik Neron, Kara Falvey, Brad Chase, John Sheppard, MA DMF
Patrice Bordonaro, CZM
References:
1. MA DMF. MassGIS Data: Diadromous Fish. https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massgis-
data-diadromous-fish. Accessed February 8, 2023. 2023.
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. 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