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Home My WebLink AboutDMF 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 March 14, 2025 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 Nadine Gill and Henry Gill to reconstruct and expand a stone revetment, install coir rolls, place beach nourishment, and construct a pier, ramp, and float within the Bass River at 206 South Street in the Town of Yarmouth. The project was reviewed with respect to potential impacts to marine fisheries resources and habitat. 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 [1-2] The project site lies within mapped shellfish habitat for bay scallop (Argopecten irradians). Northern quahogs (Mercenaria mercenaria) were found within the project site during a shellfish survey conducted by John Lowell on May 15, 2024. Waters within 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. 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]. 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 wi th 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: New Pier, Gangway, and Float • 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 2 management practices, others are unavoidable and will result in permanent impacts to salt marsh 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. The pier, float, and adjacent footprints will likely not be accessible to commercial or recreational f isheries. • Private docks constructed and designed following best management practices still impart some degree of impact on the surrounding aquatic environment. MA DMF recommends the use of alternative waterway access where feasible to limit dock proliferation and associated cumulative environmental impacts [6]. The Bass River Beach Landing provides public access to the Bass River and is less than 500 feet from the proposed new pier construction site. MA DMF encourages the proponent to use this landing to access the Bass River instead of building a private pier and float within marine resources in the Bass River. • 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 2.5 feet (30 inches) above the substrate over mapped shellfis h habitat, at MLW [6]. The entire float as proposed may not maintain this minimum clearance at MLW. If approved, MA DMF recommends installing pile-supported float stops to maintain a 2.5 foot clearance above the substrate at MLW. • Any activities requiring a barge should be restricted to 2 hours before and after high tide to prevent barge grounding in mapped shellfish habitat. Revetment Reconstruction and Coir Rolls • Repair of the structure should be within the same footprint as the existing structure or landward. Any expansion of the footprint into tidal waters of the Commonwealth will result in the loss of shellfish habitat and salt marsh habitat. MA DMF recommends pulling the revetment landward where possible. • Proposed sediment deposition over coir rolls should be consistent with the materials currently present at the site in terms of grain size and material according to Mass DEP’s Beach Nourishment Guide [7]. • 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: Robert Perry, Cape Cod Engineering, Inc. John Logan, Kara Falvey, Holly Williams, Matt Camisa, MA DMF 3 Casaundra Healy, Yarmouth Shellfish Constable Patrice Bordonaro, CZM 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. 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. Haney, R., L. Kouloheras, V. Malkoski, J. Mahala, and Y. Unger. 2007. Beach Nourishment: MassDEP’s Guide to Best Management Practices for Projects in Massachusetts. https://www.mass.gov/doc/beach-nourishment-massdeps-guide-to-best- management-practices-for-projects-in-ma/download