(File Attachment comment) From: Perry, Bill To: Stukas, Heather CIV USARMY CENAE (USA) Subject: [Non-DoD Source] Fw: [EXTERNAL] FW: Safe Harbor Marina Expansion Date: Friday, October 15, 2021 11:04:30 AM Attachments: Environmental Assessment Narrative.pdf From: Burns, Matthew Sent: Thursday, October 7, 2021 10:31 AM To: Perry, Bill Subject: [EXTERNAL] FW: Safe Harbor Marina Expansion This email has been received from outside of DOI -Use caution before clicking on links, opening attachments, or responding. Bill, See below from project team: -Bucket size TBD pending receipt of construction bids. -Attached description of substrates (3.1). Most boulders and cobbles were found outside of the project area. Let me know if this works or if you need more detail. Thanks for all of your help on this. Matt From: Michael Sabatini Sent: Thursday, October 07, 2021 10:09 AM To: Burns, Matthew Cc: 'Davis, Justin' Subject: Safe Harbor Marina Expansion EXTERNAL: This email originated from outside of the State of Maine Mail System. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Matt, Per our discussion, the bucket size for the dredge operation will be left open pending bidding unless regulators have a restriction. Attached is a description of that was included in our NRPA application. It talks about boulders and cobbles (possible cod habitat), but it says it is outside the project area. Hope this helps. Regards, Michael J. Sabatini, P.E. Landmark Corporation Surveyors & Engineers 135 Rockland Street Rockport, Maine 04856 207-236-6757 (office) 207-975-3886 (cell) Virus-free. www.avast.com Environmental Assessment 1.0 Introduction ECO-ANALYSTS, INC. (EA) has been conducting work at the formally Yachting Solutions Marina in Rockland, Maine (now Safe Harbor Rockland, LLC) since 2017. EA has used that experience plus a June 17, 2021 site visit to re-familiarize and supplement earlier observations to provide an Environmental Assessment of existing conditions as well as well as predicting post construction conditions at the site. Work to be conducted includes dredging with already permitted upland disposal, modifications to the existing structures, and the addition of more ramps and floats. Those activities are described in detail in other exhibits in the Application. 2.0 Methodologies Following the receipt of a Sampling and Analysis Plan (SAP) from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, EA collected core samples to dredge depth throughout the Marina Basin. We also used a view tube to inventory the habitats throughout the site which initially included areas outside of the proposed dredging and expansion areas. EA has been conducting marine evaluations for approximately 30 years and has a sight image of all plant and animal species (including macro-invertebrates) typically encountered in Intertidal and Sub-tidal habitats. We also observe activities such as lobster trap buoys and other harvesting activities to determine whether or not species not readily observed may be in the project area. Particular attention is paid to Eelgrass (Zostera marina). 3.0 Observations 3.1 Substrates Considerable amounts of boulders and cobbles were found to the south and east of the existing granite crib pier. Probing in that area did not reveal any bedrock. The areas between the exposed rocks included fine sediments which overlaid glacial till. The final design is outside ECO-ANALYSTS, INC. of that area. The remainder of the substrates throughout the proposed project area are fines over till. There are widely scattered cobbles out to the ten foot contour line on the south and east side of the existing granite crib pier. Some woody debris is also present. The outer areas towards the Federal Channel has previously been dredged and generally has a layer of fines over till. No rocks or debris were noted. The inner area to the west which will be dredged to 6 feet has a couple of abandoned granite mooring blocks with chain still attached plus some woody debris over fines and till. 3.2 Vegetation No Eelgrass was observed. The scattered boulders and cobbles have Sugar Kelp (Saccharina latissima), Horsetail Kelp (Laminaria digitata) and Bladder Wrack (Fucus vesiculosus) growing on them. Both species of kelp were observed on the abandoned mooring chains. Bladderwrack is growing on the abandoned mooring blocks and the woody debris. These species all are abundant on the granite pier. 3.3 Animals A few Blue Mussels (Mytilus edulis) were observed attached to the scattered boulders and cobbles. They, Rock Barnacles (Semibalanus balanoides), and Periwinkles (Littorina littorea) are abundant on the granite pier. Sandworms (Nereis virens) were found in sediment sample cores collected for Bulk Chemistry analyses, indicating that they are common throughout. 4.0 Post Dredging Habitat Experience at numerous dredge projects has shown that seaweeds and kelps colonize pilings post dredging which in this project will provide more habitat than will be removed on boulders and cobbles. The same will be true for Blue Mussels. Sandworms are mobile and are pelagic spawners and will quickly recolonize the dredged area. No adverse impacts to habitats and communities is expected. ECO-ANALYSTS, INC.