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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMonitoring report 2025 MONITORING REPORT DEP File Number: SE 83-2279 Project Address: 162B Pleasant Street Assessment Period: October 2024– October 2025 Project Documents: Site Plan Showing the Proposed Re-Building of an Existing Licensed Pier System in and Over the Waters of Bass River by Down Cape Engineering, Inc., signed and stamped by Daniel A Ojala, P.E., P.L.S., dated 5/8/2021 Project Overview This project involved the re-building of an existing pier system in and over the waters of Bass River, along with the installation and anchoring of a coir roll array. After installation of the coir roll array, it was covered with coir matting and nourished with compatible native sand. The array was then planted with a mix of native shrubs and grasses to stabilize the bank. Additional native shrubs were added at the bottom of the bank after the initial planting. Project Activities Completed during Assessment Period CLM completed one late season maintenance visit in early November 2024. No maintenance visits were completed in 2025 while CLM was in the process of permitting additional stabilization work. Minimal instances of aggressive weedy species and several hightide bush (Iva frutescens) that had not survived were removed. However, the shrubs that were removed were all voluntarily planted by the owner and were not part of the permit requirements. Additional permitting was completed in 2025 to allow for additional shoreline stabilization measures, including an additional row of coir rolls and supplemental nourishment and plantings. This work was approved in September 2025 as an amendment to the original permit. Assessment of Current Site Conditions Coir Fiber Roll Array The coir roll array has remained in good condition with little to no damage sustained. The sand nourishment has been translocated over time, as anticipated, to reveal more of the top row in the array. The wrack line has also continued to serve as a good buffer to help prevent damage to the coir logs, but also makes establishing herbaceous plants difficult and challenging due to the thickness of the wrack layer. Surveying stakes have been placed in preparation for the addition of coir logs above the existing array where there are signs of scarping for the newly acquired work permissions. Invasive Species Management Invasive species were still present along the bank, but in very minimal quantities. Very small amounts of Oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus) and spotted knapweed (Centaurea stoebe) persist as the only state-listed invasives present. Sporadic and minimal instances of aggressive vegetation are also present. These include climbing bindweed (Fallopia scandens) and American burnweed (Erechtites hieraciifolius). Both invasive and aggressive vegetation have been controlled effectively with only minor maintenance necessary. Annual maintenance will be necessary in order to remove invasive or aggressive plant material that is deposited from neighboring properties or waterways, but with regular maintenance populations are effectively controlled. Restoration Planting Establishment The plantings along the bottom of the coastal bank have had the most difficulty becoming established. This is likely due to regular tidal inundation and wave energy as well as the build-up of wrack. The American beachgrass (Ammophila breviligulata) has done well establishing in areas along the bottom of the coir array, but is sparse in most areas where the nourishment has washed away. Seaside goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens) has continued to establish well, with large, tall stands in the middle of the bank. No additional high-tide bush (Iva frutescens) have died during the second growing season after their planting. The surviving high-tide bush appear healthy with some spreading to form large clusters. These plantings were not required per the permit, but were planted because it was believed they could provide an added buffer layer to protect the bank. The wrack line along with the additional plantings have done well to protect the coir array from any major damage, but the sand nourishment continues to wash away. Supplemental nourishment and plantings were approved under the Amended Order of Conditions, which should address some of these items. Anticipated Activities to be Completed Over the Next Monitoring Period Over the next monitoring period, CLM anticipates completing the following activities: • Monitor restoration area and treat or hand weed all invasive, non-native, and aggressive vegetation that has sprouted back from the soil seed bank or remaining roots in the soil. • The placement of additional coir logs above the current installation to prevent further progression of scarping on the top of the coastal bank under the newly acquired permissions. • Continue to place supplemental nourishment over the existing and new coir logs and re-plant with American beachgrass and other native grasses as necessary to help hold sediment in place and establish a vegetative groundcover. Recommendations for any Changes in Land Management Techniques Work approved under the Amended Order of Conditions should address some of the issues noted in this and prior reports, such as the minor scarp at the top of the bank and the lack of vegetation establishment. Unexpected or Arbitrary Changes to the Project Area After noticing signs of scarping above the uppermost coir log, CLM permitted an amendment to the permit which provides for the installation of an additional row of coir logs in the scarped area at the top of the bank. Installation of the additional row of rolls and nourishment will likely be completed in winter 2025 or early spring 2026. Representative Project Area Photographs Coastal bank during late season maintenance visit. November 2024. Large stands of seaside goldenrod have established along the coastal bank. Beach grass is spreading in the area as well. September 2025. Signs of scarping above the top coir log. Stakes for proposed additional coir logs. September 2025.