Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) plays a critical role in maintaining the health of aquatic ecosystems. Both the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and how and the Mystic Harbor Management Plan note its importance and provide that new docks should not damage this critical resource. An article in The Day on Dec 7, 2020 titled "The Elegance and Value of Eelgrass," describes the critical role SAVs play in the environment and how human activity has dramatically decreased the amount of SAV in Long Island Sound the SAV beds protect agains erosion, produce oxygen, filter water sediment and provide food, critical habitat and nursery areas for many fish and invertebrate species.

Here is why this is important. 

The proposal submitted by Louriero Engineering on behalf of Mr. Chandrasekhar Naik, showed a limited area of underwater vegetation that the dock would cross over. What it did not show is a large area of vegetation further out that would actually be covered by the dock and boats. The proposed dock and boats would cause severe damage to this vegetation. 

I used a drone to evaluate and photograph  the extent of the SUV at the site. Areas of SUV show up darker than areas where there is no vegetation. The photograph shows a large area of SUV. 

It isn't clear why this large area of vegetation was overlooked, but it is a very significant omission. Besides the severe shade effect, boat propellers in shallow water cause direct physical damage and indirect damage through silt deposition. A study published in 1999 by Burdick and Short titled, "The Effects of Boat Docks on Eelgrass Beds," found docks less than 3 meters high were likely to damage Eelgrass in areas with less than a 1 meter of tidal range. This is the exact situation where the proposed dock will be! 

Regulations regarding docks are designed to be a compromise between providing property owners access to the water and protecting the environment that affects everybody. Rules apply equally to all citizens, not just to those who can't afford expensive lawyers and engineering firms. Environmental damage extends well beyond the property lines, and effects everybody. Good citizens don't allow others, even friends,  to break environmental laws.