2/16/2006 CONSERVATION COMMISSION Minutes

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(16) G ATIo 16 Coastal Bank (Devised and approved: 4 A. I INITI : A Coastal Bank.means the seaward face or side of ars elevated landform other than a coastal dune, which lies at the landward edge of a coastal beach, land subject to tidal action or storm flooding, or other wetland. Any minor discontinuity of the slope notwithstanding, the top (uppermost boundary) of the coastal bank shall be defined as per des ptions/definitions/illustrations as appear in Wetlands Protection Program Policy -1 (Definition and Delineation Criteria for Coastal Bank, issued on March 3, 1992 by DEP's Division of Wetlands and Waterways), but with the following exceptions: under Chapter 172 of the Mashpee Code, the top of the coastal bank shall be considered to be (1) vertical foot higher upslope from the top of bank as def*i ed illustrated in Program Policy 2-1. This additional foot is warranted because of anticipated sea-level rse, (Note: The additional one-foot higher top of bank designation shall only apply where the slope continues to manifest a slope ratio of equal to or greater than)I' in 10'. The coastal bank should be delineated and mapped on a plan orl lana to a scale of l inch 20 feet, including a plan view and a cross section or cross sections) of the area being delineated and showing the slope profile, and the location of the linear distance. In addition, there needs to be an indication as to which of the five diagrams s shown in wetlands Protection Program Policy - is are representative of the site (s). The Commission reserves the right to require additional plans information, sears as it so deems appropriate. B. CRITICAL CHARACTERISTICS AST PRESUMPTIONS F SIGNTICANCE: The critical characteristics and presumptions of sigxficance for Coastal Banks under the Mashpee wetlands Protection Bylaw are the same as is expressed in the regulations for M.G.L. Chapter 13 1, section 0 section 10-*3 0 1 Preamble of 3 10 CNM 10:00, Frith the exception of the addition of the following paragraph: Whenever any portion of a coastal bank is vegetated, such portio' n"s topography, plant community composition and structure, and soil characteristics provide important food, shelter, migratory and or- wintering areas and breeding, nesting and brood--rearing areas for wildlife, especially birds and mals. Coastal banks, especially those bo7rden'ng salt marshes and/or waterbodie , are very important ecologically. "'Riparian areas are transitional between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and are distinguished by gradients in biophysical conditions, ecological processes and biota. They are areas through which surface and subsurface hydrology connect waterbodies with their adjacent uplands. They include those portions ofterrestral ecosystems that significantly influence exchanges ofenergy an matter with aquatic ecosystemsi.e., zone ofinfluence). Riparian areas are adjacent to..,.estuanne- - manne shorelines (NCR 2002). (Brennan and Culver ell, p.l * Vegetated coastal banks are important to the wetland value of(protection of) wildlife habitat. "Healthy i.e., intact and functional) along marine shorelines support abundant and diverse assemblages of wildlife"). (Brennan and C Iverw ll, p. ` -3 K