04/25/2023 HARBOR MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE Minutes

Home Browse Search

Town of Mashpee 16 Great Neck Rd North Mashpee, MA 02649 d Harbor Management Committee th For Tuesday April 25, 2023 Waquoit Meeting Room 16 Great Neck Road North MEMBERS PRESENT MEMBERS ABSENT Ashley Fisher, Director of Natural Resources Dale Oakley, Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Member Christopher Avis, Shellfish Constable Richard Noonan, Waterways Commission Representative Richard Cook, Shellfish Commission Representative Robert Tomaino, Harbormaster Michaela Wyman- Colombo, Select Board Member Andrew McManus, Conservation Agent Evan Lehrer, Town Planner PUBLIC COMMENT COMMUNICATIONS AND CORRESPONDENCE The issue raised in correspondence was the ability to have a pile dock structure in the Waquoit Bay area. Waquoit Bay’s Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) designation was sought to be removed to facilitate this. Ms. Fisher felt that it was possible as a part of the Harbor Management Committee process. It was questioned what the process would be. (“How would be it begin?” “Who would have to take action?”) to do so. Ms. Fisher made a note that certain things would be easier such as dredging. However, Ms. Fisher felt the current ACEC designation was working, and removal would be difficult to do (“A lot of people would be against it”). ACEC provides increased protection for the area and restricts Chapter 91 structures. The largest thing is Chapter 91 licenses (Dock structures) prohibited by the ACEC designation. In response to Mr. Cook, Ms. Fisher noted 10A floats are a loophole in the ACEC designation and enforcement nightmare. There are some areas that have no life left where the removal might make sense. Ms. Fisher thought that the 10A floats were just as detrimental as pile docks. Ms. Fisher noted that her preference was to keep the ACEC designation at least for Waquoit Bay proper. However, 10A floats were an area of lax enforcement with some now being connected landward with ramps and the appearance of piping as time went on. Enforcement would be difficult to do now. There was no action to take on this item at this time.