5/24/2012 CONSERVATION COMMISSION Minutes

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crashing-on thea. Mr. o'Gra ki states that they have looked at two major aquaculture facilities that are both public in Wellfleet and Dennis and are both in similar if not more active flood zones. They stick four PVC. 1. pipes into the ground by hand and thea throw the racks on thea. These areas are 50 times the size of what Mr. cool( is proposing and there has never been an issue with either of thea in 30- 0 years of operation. Dennis was permitted in the o's and they are in the process of permitting much, more. There is a,3000 sf. area in Nantucket-being proposed and will eventually be permitted. Mr. Cools has gone way beyond ghat is normally done for the anchoring system to, satisfy all comments and concerns about storm bora debris. This type of system allows the water to pass by under and above the system. The water quality will be improved as they are filter feeders and actually clean the grater. Mr. Shaw asks how this design differs from vellfleet or Dennis. Mr. o'Graski states that the other areas basically stick pipes in the ground and pe the racks onthem. Mr. cook's design uses a string of anchored lines with Danforth Anchors which have solid holding poorer. Each of the nets are secured with tuna/swordfish,clips which hold 00-500 lbs each clip and are clipped right on the string. The Danforth Anchors will keep resetting itself; and will set better with increased forces placed upon it. Richard crouse, President of Aquaculture Research corporation in Dennis, provided testimony that he has been in the aquaculture business for approximately 40 years. He has extensive-experience in Wellfleet, Dennis and Barnstable. Mr. Crouse states that he has been through heavy storms and the gear does not go anywhere. occasionally a bag might get loose and washes,up on the shore but they will quickly retrieve it as it is valuable. The physics,of the wave does not allover a wave bigger than the depth of the water so the waves are no bigger than foot high. When the damaging waves come in, the gear is well underwater, possibly -10' under water-during high tide when a storm is blowing in. Mr. Crouse, in 40 gears, has never seen the gear.go anywhere. Agent McManus asks Mr. crouse if he has ever run into an enforcement situation from a regulatory agency about any adverse impacts to rare species habitat resulting from shellfish aquaculture operations. Mr. Crouse states that they deal with the Audubon extensively in Wellfleet as they have a major presence there and they might have lost a couple of turtles in the last 30 years. Steve Hyde from Punkhorn Point Road is an abutter to Mr. Cook's farm in Ockway Bay for 11 years and he has watched the work. r Hyde-Mated that "there is one man in a Boston Whaler, no noise and considers Mr. Cook one of the best neighbors and is in full support of the proposed aquaculture". Attorney Brian Wall from Troy Wall Associates is representing 23 property owners from Daniels. Island and Popponesset bland. Mr. Wall states that Mr. Cook has relocated his proposed farm but in doing so has increased the size of the grant by two-fold and also increased the number of cages. He is stilt within the velocityzone and is also primarily within priorityhabitat of rare species and an p estimated habitat,of rare wildlife. Mr. Wall explains that he has brought Stan Humphries from LEC Environmental and also wildlife consultant (Call of theWild-Diane Buretos). Mr. Wall states that they have three categories of concern as it is currently presented; flat are the procedural issues and he would like to--state for the record that he is in disagreement of the opinions of odnsel regarding notification of abutters. The second category is the informational issues which have somewhat been discussed tonight and then the third is specific issues of compliance to the performance standards. Mr. Wall says that Mass Audubon and The call of the Wild are both very concerned because this particular area is a staging area for migratory species and the human activity associated with,the grant is going to affect and diminish the ability of the birds to forage and utilize the tidal belt area. Mr. Wall mentons that he spoke to Norman Hayes from BSC Group; e consultant who performs a lot of work for Save Popponesset Bay and Mr. Hayes explained that they have an ongoing Order of Conditions that allows for dredging of Popponesset Island geek which allows the spoils to be placed onto the spit for nourishment purposes. Mr. Hayes concern is.if the cages break and get into the bottom of the geek, the damage that can be done to the dredge as it is,designed to pick 'up siltation only. Mr. Wall also contends that there i also inaccurate information in the lol which claims that only .04 acres of land is bung altered. Mr. Wall's contention is that the project is 1.99 acres in size with 15,000 bags.