department of marine resources christopher dickinson site … · 2020-06-18 · dickinson (hog is.,...

DICKINSON (HOG IS., DAMARISCOTTA RIVER) PAGE 1 June 18, 2020

Department of Marine Resources

Site Review

Christopher Dickinson

179 Nobleboro Road

Bremen, ME 04551

Figure 1: Vicinity map1

Location: SW of Hog Island, Damariscotta River, Damariscotta and Newcastle, Lincoln County

Purpose: Standard lease for the suspended culture of American/eastern oysters (Crassostrea

virginica)

Site Review by: Jon Lewis, Marcy Nelson and Flora Drury

Report Preparation by: Marcy Nelson, Flora Drury, and Cheyenne Adams

Report Submitted: June 18, 2020

1With the exception of Figure 4, all figures in this report were created in ArcMap version 10.5 using digitized NOAA Nautical

Charts or geo-referenced aerial photographs provided by The Maine Office of GIS

(orthoCentralCoast2003and2005, previously known as Low_Tide_2004).


Maine Department of Marine Resources (MDMR) staff Jon Lewis, Marcy Nelson, and Flora Drury

assessed the proposed lease site on November 20, 2019. MDMR arrived on site at 11:00 am and

remained through slack low water.

The applicant, Christopher Dickinson, is requesting 1.152 acres southwest of Hog Island in the

Damariscotta River for the suspended culture of American/eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica).

The applicant proposes to deploy a maximum of 400 floating mesh bags, each measuring

18”WX32”LX4.5”H and arranged in 5 parallel groupings, for the nursery culture of American

oysters. Each grouping would consist of ~60 bags attached at both ends to, and evenly spaced along,

a pair of lines each measuring 150 feet in length. The applicant proposes 20 feet of space between

parallel groupings. The directional orientation of the proposed lines/groupings is not clear from the

application. Floating bags containing juvenile American oysters would be deployed in May;

shellfish would remain in the floating bags until October, at which time they would be broadcast

freely on the bottom of the applicant’s existing lease site, DAM SL (Figure 3). 3

General Characteristics

The proposed lease area is located in waters southwest of Hog Island and south of Goose Ledge in

the Damariscotta River (Figure 1). The Newcastle and Damariscotta uplands to the east and west,

respectively, of the proposed lease comprise a mixture of forest, fields, and residential buildings

(Images 1-6). Hog Island is wooded, with a rocky and sandy shoreline. A house and dock are

located on the southern shoreline of the island (Image 7).

Image 1: Looking northwest from the proposed southern boundary of the lease

(November 20, 2019).

2 Applicant originally requested 1 acre. DMR calculations, based on the coordinates provided by the applicant, indicate the

area is 1.15 acres. 3 Application, pages 8-9


Image 2: Looking southwest from the proposed southern boundary of the lease


Image 3: Looking south towards Perkins Point from the proposed southern

boundary of the lease (November 20, 2019).


Image 4: Looking southeast from the proposed southern boundary of the lease


Image 5: Looking east towards Huston Cove from the proposed southern

boundary of the lease (November 20, 2019).


Image 6: Looking north between Little and Hall Points from the proposed

southern boundary of the lease (November 20, 2019).

Image 7: Looking north towards the southern shoreline of Hog Island, from lease

DAM HI5 (April 5, 2018)4

4 Photo taken during site assessment for lease DAM HI5 (Docket #2018.01.11S)


Depth

MDMR staff collected depth measurements at the proposed lease using a transom-mounted depth

sounder. Soundings were taken at approximately 11:00 am on November 20, 2019. The predicted

low tide was at 11:09 am on this date (Table 1). Water depths at the corners, and within the

boundaries, of the proposed lease were generally uniform, ranging from 3.1 feet to 3.6 feet.

Correcting to Mean Low Water (MLW, 0.0 feet) yields water depths approximately 1.03 feet lower

than those observed on November 20, 2019 (2.1 to 2.6 feet). The floating bags proposed by the

applicant measure 4.5 inches in total depth and would therefore remain suspended at all but low tidal

stages greater than ~1.8 feet below MLW.

Table 1: Tide predictions at Newcastle, Damariscotta River, Maine (43.0333° N, 69.5367° W)5

Date Time Height (ft)

11/20/2019 4:59 AM 9.07 H

11/20/2019 11:09 AM 1.03 L

11/20/2019 5:14 PM 9.74 H

11/20/2019 11:49 PM 0.04 L

Bottom Characteristics

MDMR staff observed the bottom characteristics of the proposed lease site via a snorkel transect on

November 20, 2019 (Figure 2). Bottom characteristics were categorized using the Coastal and

Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS), a national standard for describing features of

the marine environment (Table 2). Sediment information was determined based on visual analysis of

the video; no sediment samples were taken, or grain size analysis performed. The bottom of the

proposed lease site is composed of soft mud (Image 8).

Table 2: Bottom characteristics of proposed site

Substrate Origin Substrate Class Substrate Subclass Substrate Group

Geologic

Substrate

Unconsolidated Mineral

Substrate

Fine Unconsolidated

Substrate Mud

5 http://tbone.biol.sc.edu/tide/tideshow.cgi?site=Newcastle%2C+Maine&units=f

http://tbone.biol.sc.edu/tide/tideshow.cgi?site=Newcastle%2C+Maine&units=f

http://tbone.biol.sc.edu/tide/tideshow.cgi?site=Newcastle%2C+Maine&units=f


Image 8: Representative sediment composition of the proposed lease site,

November 20, 2019.

Position and Distances to Shore

A hand-held Global Positioning System (GPS) was used on November 20, 2019 to verify the

location of the proposed lease. POSAID Positioning Software was used to verify the distances

and bearings between proposed lease corners. Distances to shore were determined using the

measuring tool in ArcMap 10.6, digital orthophotography provided by the Maine Office of

GIS, and the application coordinates.

Application Coordinates – 1.15 Acres (Figure 2)

Corner Latitude Longitude

SW 44.011071°N 69.5464303°W then 246.43 feet at 0.00o True to

NW6 44.011747°N 69.5464303°W then 204.24 feet at 90.00o True to

NE 44.011747°N 69.545654°W then 246.43 feet at 180.00 True to

SE 44.011071°N 69.545654°W then 204.24 feet at 270.00o True to SW.

6 Application (page 4) lists the NW longitude as 69.546303. Based on a comparison of all other coordinates it appeared the

longitude should match that of the SW corner. The applicant confirmed the error on June 8, 2020 in a telephone

conversation with Marcy Nelson (MDMR). The longitude for the NW corner has been corrected in this report.


Figure 2: Proposed lease area with approximate dive transect conducted on

November 20, 2019.

Table 3: Approximate distances from proposed lease to surrounding features (Figures 1 & 2).

Unless otherwise noted, measurements were made using digital orthophotography provided by

the Maine Office of GIS (orthoCentralCoast2003and2005).

Feature Distance

NW corner to nearest point, west shore (~MLW) ~580 feet to the west

SW corner to nearest point, west shore (~MLW) ~600 feet to the west

NW corner to red nun “20” (NOAA Chart) ~170 feet to the northwest

NE corner to nearest point, Hog Island (~MLW) ~770 feet to the northeast

NW-NE boundary to nearest point, Goose Ledge (~MLW) ~710 feet to the north

NE corner to nearest intertidal, east shore (MLW, NOAA Chart) ~1,550 feet to the northeast

SE corner to nearest intertidal, east shore (MLW, NOAA Chart) ~1,600 feet to the northeast

SE corner to green daymark “19” (NOAA Chart) ~1,480 feet to the south


The criteria MDMR uses to determine the suitability of an aquaculture operation to a particular

area (MDMR Regulations Chapter 2.37(1)(A)) are discussed, with respect to the proposal, below:

(1) Riparian Ingress and Egress

On November 20, 2019, a dock was observed on the southern shoreline of Hog Island, more

than 770 feet to the northwest of the proposed lease. A float on a mooring was also observed

off the southern shoreline of Hog Island. Three houses and two docks were also noted opposite

the proposed lease, along the western shoreline of the Damariscotta River. Five additional

homes with docks were easily observed on Hall Point to the north of the proposal (Image 6).

The proposed lease is more than 580 feet from the nearest shoreline and surrounded by shoal

water to the north and south. The proposed activities are, therefore, unlikely to impede riparian

landowner access.

No moorings with which the proposed lease, if granted, might interfere were observed on

November 20, 2019.

(2) Navigation

The proposed lease is located in shoal water lining the east side of the marked navigation

channel of the Damariscotta River (Figure 1). The river is heavily used by both recreational

and commercial mariners. At low tidal stages, navigation within the boundaries of the proposed

lease is limited to vessels that draw less than 1-2 feet of water. Due to shoal water to the south

and Goose Ledge to the north of the proposal (Figure 2), most vessel traffic traversing

north/south through the area is expected to adhere to the marked navigation channel. Red Nun

“20”, which delineates the eastern side of the channel, is located approximately 170 feet to the

northwest of the proposal.

At higher tidal stages however, commercial and recreational mariners, particularly those with

familiarity of the area, are expected to traverse through the proposed lease. The applicant

proposes 20 feet of spacing between lines of suspended gear; it is unclear from the application

whether these corridors would allow transit through the lease area in a north/south or east/west

direction. A minimum of 700 feet of water of a similar depth to that of the proposed lease site,

is available for navigation between Goose Ledge and the proposal. Waters to the south of the

proposal would also remain open for navigation.

While motorized vessels and smaller hand-powered craft such as canoes and kayaks will retain

the ability to navigate through the area and around the proposed lease at appropriate tidal

stages, vessels under sail may be limited in their ability to tack through the area. The proposed

lease, if granted would border the eastern boundary of the marked navigation channel. Another

aquaculture lease that employs suspended gear (DAM GL2, Figure 3) is on the west side of the

channel . If the lease is approved, approximately 418 feet of water available for navigation

would remain between the two sites. According to Paul Bryant, Harbormaster for the Towns of

Newcastle and Damariscotta, the proposed lease site “should not be a problem for navigation if

the nun buoy [Red Nun “20”] is being observed”.7

7 Harbormaster Questionnaire, October 20, 2019.


(3) Fishing

During MDMR’s site assessment on November 20, 2019, no commercial or recreational

fishing activities were observed in the vicinity of the proposed lease site. Soft clams (Mya

arenaria) and oysters (C. virginica) are harvested from the extensive tidally exposed mudflats

and ledges present in the general area. The proposed lease does not overlap with the mudflats

located on either shoreline of the Damariscotta River and therefore would not impede

commercial and recreational harvesters from utilizing these areas.

Recreational fishing is also known to occur throughout the Damariscotta River, from both boat

and shore. According to MDMR’s Recreational Fishing Program, striped bass fishing occurs in

the Damariscotta River and is often conducted close to shore, in waters less than 20 feet

deep.8

Other Aquaculture Uses

Seven active aquaculture leases, one pending aquaculture lease, and four Limited Purpose

Aquaculture (LPA) licenses are located within 1,000 feet of the proposed lease site. The 4

LPAs within 1,000 feet of the proposal belong to the applicant and will be relinquished if the

proposed lease is granted. Of the 8 active or pending leases within 1,000 feet of the proposal, 4

employ, or propose to employ, floating and/or submerged gear to contain cultured product. The

nearest lease tract that utilizes floating gear, DAM GL2, is located ~418 feet to the west of the

proposal (Table 4). There are an additional 7 active aquaculture leases and 12 LPAs within 1

mile of the proposal (Figure 3 and Table 4).

Table 4: Active and pending aquaculture leases/licenses within 1,000 feet of the proposed lease

Lease/License

Acronym

Lease/License

Holder Acreage Purpose

Distance from

Proposed Lease (feet)

DAM HI5 Dodge Cove

Marine Farm, LLC 3.55

Bottom Culture of

Shellfish 385

2019.04.03 S Blackstone Point

Oyster, Inc. 11.09

Bottom Culture of

Shellfish 400

DAM GL2 Pemaquid Oyster

Company, Inc

0.92

ONE

TRACT

Suspended Culture of

Shellfish 418

DAM HI Muscongus Bay

Aquaculture, Inc 2.00

Suspended and Bottom

Culture of Shellfish 590

DAM HI2 Dodge Cove

Marine Farm, LLC 6.95

Bottom Culture of

Shellfish 593


Company, Inc 8.02

Bottom Culture of

Shellfish 618

2019.04.03 S Blackstone Point

Oyster, Inc. 1.95

Suspended Culture of

Shellfish 695

DAM PPN Norumbega

Oysters, Inc. 5.86

Suspended and Bottom


8 Email conversation between F. Drury and members of MDMR’s Recreational Fishing Program (C. Uraneck and C.

Brown).



Company, Inc 10.17

Bottom Culture of

Shellfish 815

CDIC417 Christopher

Dickinson 0.01

LPA for Suspended


CDIC317 Christopher

Dickinson 0.01

LPA for Suspended


CDIC117 Christopher

Dickinson 0.01

LPA for Suspended


CDIC217 Christopher

Dickinson 0.01

LPA for Suspended


Figure 3: Active aquaculture leases and Limited Purpose Aquaculture (LPA) licenses

near the proposed lease.


(4) Existing System Support

On November 20, 2019, MDMR staff conducted a snorkel transect through the proposed lease

site to assess the epibenthic ecology of the area (Figure 2). The bottom of the proposed lease

was dominated by soft mud sediment. Brown benthic microalga were the primary species

observed, forming a notable organic film covering the sediment surface throughout the video.

Other epibenthic microalgae species were prevalent towards the southern extent of the transect.

Sea slugs, presumably feeding on algal species, represented the primary epibenthic macrofauna

and were abundant throughout the proposed lease area (Refer to “Emerald Green Sea Slug”

subsection, pages 12-14).

Table 5: Species observed during dive transect on November 20, 2019.

Species Observed Relative Abundance

Brown microalgae Abundant

Emerald green sea slug (Elysia chlorotica) Abundant

Carpet sea squirt (Didemnum vexillum) Occasional

Filamentous red algae (Rhodophyta) Common

Filamentous green algae (Cladophora sp.?) Common

Emerald Green Sea Slug (Elysia chlorotica)

On November 20, 2019, an abundance of sea slugs never observed by MDMR Aquaculture

Scientists in more than 40 years of combined diving experience along the Maine coast,

including within the general vicinity of the proposed lease, were recorded within the proposed

lease boundaries (Images 9 and 10). Efforts at identification led to a species of Sacoglossan

mollusk in the genus Elysia, most likely Elysia chlorotica (emerald green sea slug or eastern

emerald elysia). To confirm their findings, MDMR Scientist Marcy Nelson contacted Dr.

Karen Pelletreau, Director of Faculty Educational Development at the University of Maine

Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning.9 Dr. Pelletreau has published numerous

scientific articles related to Sacoglossan sea slugs, and E. chlorotica specifically10. Dr.

Pelletreau expressed confidence that the slugs observed were, in fact, of the species E.

chlorotica. Furthermore, Dr. Pelletreau stated that, prior to this discovery on November 20,

2019, she was aware of only two extant populations in the world (located in Martha’s Vineyard

and Nova Scotia).11

9 Email correspondence: Nelson and Pelletreau (March 31, 2020 through June 3, 2020) 10 Links to samples of Dr. Pelletreau’s work with Elysia chlorotica: https://jeb.biologists.org/content/214/2/303;

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/263047312_Behavioral_Characteristics_in_the_Sea_Slug_Elysia_crispata_in_R

elation_to_Light_Intensity;

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/324571005_Active_Host_Response_to_Algal_Symbionts_in_the_Sea_Slug_Ely

sia_chlorotica 11 Email correspondence: Nelson and Pelletreau (March 31, 2020 through June 3, 2020)

https://jeb.biologists.org/content/214/2/303

https://jeb.biologists.org/content/214/2/303

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/263047312_Behavioral_Characteristics_in_the_Sea_Slug_Elysia_crispata_in_Relation_to_Light_Intensity




https://www.researchgate.net/publication/324571005_Active_Host_Response_to_Algal_Symbionts_in_the_Sea_Slug_Elysia_chlorotica





Image 9: Benthic microalgal mat and emerald green sea slugs (Elysia chlorotica),

November 20, 2019.

Image 10: Emerald green sea slugs (Elysia chlorotica) feeding on epibenthic microalgae

within the proposed lease, November 20, 2019.

The habitat of the emerald green sea slug includes shallow salt marshes of the Eastern United

States and Canada. The species typically ranges in size from 20-30 mm, and up to a maximum

observed size of 60 mm.12 The slugs observed in the Damariscotta River on November 20,

2019 were near the larger end of the reported size range (~50 mm) and presumed to be adults.

Emerald green sea slugs have a life cycle of approximately 11 months, with a mass die-off of

the adults following mating in the spring. Settlement of larvae and metamorphosis of juveniles

into the adult form require contact with and consumption of the microalgae Vaucheria litorea.

Emerald green sea slugs are one species of mollusk that exhibit a trait known as kleptoplasty,

whereby they steal the chloroplasts from their algal prey and incorporate them into the cells 12 https://www.britannica.com/animal/Elysia-chloroticas

https://www.britannica.com/animal/Elysia-chlorotica

https://www.britannica.com/animal/Elysia-chlorotica


lining their digestive tract. The slugs become bright green in color and may survive for the

remainder of their life cycle on the energy obtained from photosynthesis of the stolen

chloroplasts.13 Although the slugs observed on November 20, 2019 appear to have

metamorphosed into the adult form of E. chlorotica, they did not display the bright green color

of adults that have fed on V. litorea. Studies have, however, shown that the slugs can revert to

a gray color if the stolen chloroplasts are lost prior to the completion of the slug’s life cycle.14

Having never previously observed this species in the Damariscotta River, MDMR Scientists

wonder if timing of the site assessment may have corresponded with a migration event,

potentially between Great Salt Bay, a large shallow salt marsh to the north, and some other

location. No information relating to the potential seasonal movements of this species was

found. As a result, MDMR Scientists plan to revisit the proposed lease site during the summer

of 2020 to assess whether the species may be present in the area year-round.

Although according to Dr. Pelletreau, there are only two other known populations of the

emerald green sea slug, this species has no known special state or federal conservation status

(i.e. Threatened or Endangered Species). Furthermore, the applicant proposes to culture oysters

in floating plastic mesh bags only. Except for moorings, and during some extreme low tides,

aquaculture gear should not be in physical contact with the bottom.

Eelgrass (Zostera marina)

Historical eelgrass surveys, conducted by MDMR in 1994 and 2005, do not indicate the

presence of eelgrass near the proposed lease. The closest documented eelgrass bed, in 1994,

was located ~800 feet to the east; in 2005 the closest documented eelgrass bed was located

~2,175 feet to the south (Figures 4a and 4b). No eelgrass was observed during MDMR’s

underwater site assessment of the proposed lease on November 20, 2019 (Figure 2).

13 Mary E. Rumpho, Karen N. Pelletreau, Ahmed Moustafa, Debashish Bhattacharya. The making of a photosynthetic

animal. 2011 Journal of Experimental Biology 214: 303-311. 14 https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Elysia_chlorotica/

https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Elysia_chlorotica/

https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Elysia_chlorotica/


Figures 4a and 4b: Historical records of eelgrass (Z. marina)15 in the vicinity of the

proposed lease site, 1994 and 2005.

Wildlife

According to GIS (Geographic Information System) data maintained by MDIF&W and available

through the Maine Office of GIS, the tidally exposed mudflats located approximately 600 feet to the

west and 1,530 feet to the east of the proposal are categorized as Tidal Wading Bird and Waterfowl

Habitat (Figure 5).

In an email dated October 25, 2019, Becca Settele, a Wildlife Biologist for MDIF&W, stated

“minimal impacts to wildlife are anticipated for this project”.

15 Data obtained from Maine Department of Marine Resources Open Data “MaineDMR – Eelgrass 2010” and “Maine DMR

– Eelgrass 1997”.


Figure 5: Tidal Wading Bird and Waterfowl Habitat16 near the proposed lease site.

(6) Interference with Public Facilities

The proposed lease is not within 1,000 feet of any beach, park, docking facility, or conserved

lands owned by federal, state, or municipal governments. Goose Ledge, located approximately

710 feet to the north of the proposed lease site, is classified as a “Coastal Island” and managed

by MDIF&W (Figure 6). In an email dated October 25, 2019, Becca Settele, a Wildlife Biologist

for MDIF&W, stated “minimal impacts to wildlife are anticipated for this project”.

16 Data obtained from MDIWF maintained SDE Feature Class “GISVIEW.MEIFW.Twwh”


Figure 6: Public facilities near the proposed lease site.17

(7) Water Quality

The proposed lease area is currently classified as “Open/Approved” by the Maine DMR

Bureau of Public Health for the harvest of shellfish.

(8) Lighting

According to the application, lights will not be used on the proposed lease, if granted, and the

applicant does not anticipate being on site after dark. 18

(9) Noise

The applicant proposes to use a 17’ Seaway Skiff to tend the site once per week from May

through October, annually. The size of the proposed vessel is consistent with typical

commercial and recreational activity on the Damariscotta River. No other power equipment is

proposed for use at the lease site, if granted.19

17 Data obtained from SDE Feature Class sourced from The Maine Office of GIS

“GISVIEW.MECONSLANDS.Conserved_Lands” 18 App, page 14 19 App, pages 13-14


(10) Visual Impact

The applicant proposes the use of plastic mesh floating bags that measure 4.5” in total height,

with approximately 2” to 2.5” of each bag extending above the water’s surface. No other

floating or submerged gear is proposed for the lease site, if granted. The proposed gear

complies with the MDMR’s height limitations.

(11) Source of Organisms to be Cultured

The applicant intends to acquire American oyster seed from Muscongus Bay Aquaculture in

Bremen, Maine and/or Mook Sea Farm in Walpole, Maine.20 Both proposed sources are

approved by MDMR.

20 App, page 2

department of marine resources christopher dickinson site … · 2020-06-18 · dickinson (hog is.,...

Documents