Proposed Project | Save Masons Island

Note the proximity to the Eel Grass. In prior years the Eel grass has extended well beyond the depicted boundary. Eelgrass beds are dynamic, so it is possible that by the time construction starts, living eelgrass beds will be destroyed.

This is an artists rendition of the plan that has been submitted. It is expected that the plan will change somewhat. EDIT the dock has been extended by 10ft! The dock, as initially proposed, will have an elevated walkway with railings, lights, and power lines, that will be high enough for people to walk under it. A ramp will descend to a floating dock that will provide access to a jet ski and a motorboat both of which will be hoisted in the air by massive lifts. All of this will be built on a small but pristine beach and crossing over an incredible patch of eel grass. It will obviously destroy the view from many directions, not only for home owners but also for the many people who walk down School House rd. on a daily basis.

"Docks and their associated floats and boats placed over eelgrass beds can cause severe localized impacts to eelgrass. Impacts occur through shading from docks as well as boats, and prop dredging by boat motors, leading to the elimination of eelgrass under and around many docks. Impacts under floating docks generally result in complete eelgrass loss."

"To reduce fragmentation and stress to eelgrass beds in estuaries like Waquoit Bay, dock regulations that minimize impacts to eelgrass beds must be adopted and enforced."

"In Waquoit Bay, stresses to eelgrass habitats from eutrophication, disease, docks, and boating activities are leading to the large scale declines in eelgrass distribution recently observed"

"Floating docks have severe impacts to eelgrass, and usually eliminate all shoots growing under them."

Current view

This is my best attempt to show what a 46' boat would look like. I used Google Earth Pro and the picture to estimate the perceived dimensions so there may be variation from the actual perspective.

1. The floating dock is almost twice the size that is allowed but the state. The shadow cast by the boats, ramp, and floating dock with starve underwater vegetation of light during the critical growing season in the summer.
2. Damaging even small amounts of underwater vegetation can effect. Walker et al 1989 found that although the direct damage to seagrass beds was small relative to the entire area of the beds (1.6% of the seagrass bed area was damaged), the physical integrity of the remaining habitat was compromised, leaving it more susceptible to other types of damage.
3. Burdick, D, and Short F. published, The Effects of Boat Docks on Eelgrass Beds in Coastal Waters of Massachusetts. They determined that dock height above the marine bottom is the primary factor controlling light levels and eelgrass bed quality under docks. Dock orientation is more important to eelgrass than dock width. Poor orientation (east–west) can double the dock height required to support eel- grass, from 1.7 to 3.5 m The floating dock and hoisted boats presents an enormous area of shade the critical E-W direction

"The architecture, size, materials color, and texture, of new structures should be blended with the existing qualities and characteristics of the surrounding man-made and natural environments."

"Visual access to the water should be maintained improved or enhanced." Mystic Harbor Management Plan