Penobscot Bay Watch

NORMANDEAU ASSOCIATES FINAL REPORT

1.0 INTRODUCTION

This report presents results of investigations of various marine resources in the vicinity of Sears Island, Maine in upper Penobscot Bay during 1992 (Figure 1-1). These investigations were undertaken to supplement baseline information on intertidal and nearshore habitat conditions and utilization of fisheries resources as a basis for evaluating impacts of the Maine Department of Transportation’s (MDOT) proposed Sears Island Dry Cargo Terminal. These investigations included studies of eelgrass (Zostera marina), soft-shell clams (Mya arenaria). marine worms (primarily baitworms Glycera dibranchiata and Nereis virens), lobsters (Homarus americanus), sea scallops (Placopecten magellanicus) and sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis). The northwest shoreline, in the area covered by the High Intensity Wildlife Survey (NAI 1993a), was encompassed in these investigations because this entire area was being reviewed for alternative port locations at the time. Information on other marine resources is recapitulated from the EIS.

The scope for field studies was developed and then conducted by Norniandeau Associates Inc. (NAI) and an Interagency Technical Team in August and September 1992. Representatives from MDOT, Maine Department of Marine Resources (MDMR), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region I (USEPA), and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) developed a qualitative survey approach for eelgrass. eelgrass habitat and intertidal habitat (emphasizing harvestable species, soft-shell clams and baitworms). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers deferred to USEPA and NMFS on recommendations for study design. Biologists from USEPA and NMFS participated in the field surveys for these resources. These surveys encompassed the northwest shoreline of Sears Island.

Current utilization of fisheries resources was investigated by updating the telephone survey conducted in 1986 for the EIS. The 1986 survey focused on lobster and scallop harvesting. At the request of NMFS, interviewees were also queried about potential sea urchin harvesting in 1992.

Subsequent sections of this report focus on individual resources: eelgrass and shallow subtidal habitat (Section 2.0); intertidal habitat, and soft-shell clam and bait worm resources (Section 3.0); and selected fisheries resources (Section 4.0). Each section documents methods and results of the specific studies undertaken and places results in the context of historical or regional information where possible. Finally, information on plankton (Section 5.0), benthic communities (Section 6.0) and finfish (Section 7.0), summarized from the EIS, is presented.