North River Marine is seeking a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District to conduct work in waters of the United States in conjunction with retaining and maintaining structures, adding new structures and dredging at a commercial marina in Marshfield and Scituate, Mass.
The applicant proposes to retain and maintain existing structures at the marina (beyond what was approved in prior Corps of Engineers permits issued for a marina at this location) including existing shore-connected floating docks, both pile-anchored and bottom-anchored, to retain 12 existing separate bottom-anchored river mooring floats, to add new pilings to more securely anchor the shore-connected floating docks, to dredge, with unconfined open water disposal of the dredged material at the Cape Cod Bay Disposal Site, a new basin in and around the existing floating docks and to establish a reconfiguration perimeter around the existing shore-connected docking system within which floating docks and pilings may be rearranged and which will accommodate 64 vessels.
Eleven of the bottom-anchored river mooring floats are in the town of Marshfield waters. The remaining river float is in Scituate waters. The work is proposed in the North River at the marina property located at 12 Chief Justice Cushing Highway (Route 3A) in Scituate.
The dredging portion of this project will impact approximately 46,600 square feet of Essential Fish Habitat for various species and life stages. Habitat at this site can be described as silt and sand. Loss of this habitat may adversely affect these species. However, since the dredging and disposal will occur during the specified time of year windows when the life stages of these species are not likely to be affected and the impacts are likely to be short term and transitory, the Corps has made a preliminary determination that the site-specific adverse effect will not be substantial.
Further consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service regarding Essential Fish Habitat conservation recommendations is being conducted and will be concluded prior to the final permit decision.
The application for the federal permit was filed by the applicant with the Corps of Engineers in compliance with Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, which regulates the discharge or fill of material in United States waters, including wetlands; and with Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act, which provides for federal regulation of any work in, or affecting navigable waters of the United States.
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Dredging Today Staff, March 14, 2012;