DMF Comment Home Port Investments to Concom 9-10-22The 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 BETHANY A. CARD RONALD S. AMIDON DANIEL J. MCKIERNAN
Governor Lt. Governor Secretary Commissioner Director
September 7, 2022
Barnstable Conservation Commission
367 Main Street
Hyannis MA 02601
Dear Commissioners:
The Division of Marine Fisheries (MA DMF) has reviewed the Notice of Intent (NOI) by Home
Port Investments, 17 Indian Trail, to replace a failing timber bulkhead with a vinyl bulkhead in
the Town of Barnstable. All work will be conducted from the land and the bulkhead will the
replaced incrementally in sections. Vegetation behind the bulkhead will be restored after
construction. 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),
northern quahog (Mercenaria mercenaria), and softshell clam (Mya arenaria). Subtidal 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.
MA DMF offers the following comments for your consideration:
• Appropriate erosion control measures should be employed to minimize runoff from the
property into the resource area during construction.
• After construction and prior to vegetation planting, MA DMF recommends nourishing
the area behind the bulkhead to fill in eroded and displaced sediment. Fill should be
consistent with Mass DEP’s Beach Nourishment Guide [1]. Fill material should be of
appropriate slope to avoid premature loss.
Questions regarding this review may be directed to Amanda Davis in our New Bedford office at
Amanda.davis@mass.gov.
Sincerely,
Amanda Davis
Environmental Analyst
MA Division of Marine Fisheries
cc:
Donald K. Munroe, Coastal Engineering Co., Inc.
John Logan, Emma Gallagher, Derek Perry, MA DMF
Robert Boeri, CZM
AD/eg
References:
1. 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/files/documents/2016/08/uv/beach-nourishment-
massdeps-guide-to-best-management-practices-for-projects-in-massachusetts-haney.pdf.