Coastal Resources Element 2.2 Inventory The Coastal Resources inventory identifies and summarizes a variety of Falmouth’s beaches, coastal banks, shellfish beds, commercial waterfronts, harbors, access points and coastal facilities. Detailed and specific coastal resource information, such as the Shellfish Management Plan and The Future of Falmouth’s South Shore, are found in various Town Hall departments. Shellfish Beds & Habitat Areas The majority of Falmouth’s tidal ponds and rivers are seasonally approved for the harvest of shellfish from November thru April on an annual basis, with each water-body having various quantities of quality shellfish habitat. Areas open for year-round harvest vary from year to year and are more limited in scope, but typically consist of locations in Waquoit Bay, Bournes Pond, Little Harbor (Woods Hole), Great Harbor (Woods Hole), Quissett Harbor and Megansett Harbor. Shellfish resource habitat maps highlight these water-bodies and are available at the Town of Falmouth Shellfish Department and the Conservation Commission office. The significant shellfish habitat areas are as follows: The Megansett Harbor area (1,049 acres) has significant populations of seeded quahogs, clams and oysters as well as occasional populations of bay scallops. West Falmouth Harbor (201 acres) is a significant resource for quahogs, soft-shell clams, oysters and scallops. The scallop population has been recently improved due to a local scallop program executed by the Shellfish Constable. Great Sippewissett Marsh (29 acres) has pockets of clams and quahogs, but has been experiencing degradation in water quality from runoff and septic systems, which has led to a prohibition on shellfishing. The designation of this area as a District of Critical Planning Concern is attempting to curb some of this degradation. Quissett Harbor (113 acres) is known for its oyster habitat and resources. This area is heavily used for recreational boating and is marginally utilized for shellfishing due to limited access and parking. Great Harbor Woods Hole (288 acres) contains some bay scallops and a significant population of quahogs. This area is generally approved (open for fishing), but isn’t extensively harvested due to poor access. Great Pond (274 acres) has historically contained significant populations of quahogs and clams, but over development, road runoff, septic systems, and marine use continue to degrade its resource. These aforementioned factors have led to water quality issues and seasonally closed shellfishing. Municipal sewering, and fewer moorings and docks would improve this resource. Falmouth Local Comprehensive Plan 1 Coastal Resources, Element 2.2 DRAFT December 22, 2004 Green Pond (136 acres) exhibits quality quahog habitat and growth, but has experienced declining populations of soft-shell clams. Heavy recreational boating, leaching septic systems, road runoff and algal blooms have inhibited this resource. Bournes Pond (152 acres) is seeded and has been largely approved for the harvest of shellfish and contains a Family Area near the mouth of the pond. This pond also has viable areas of eel grass, an indicator of good shellfish habitat. Eel River/Childs River (243 acres) has significant quantities of seeded soft-shell clams and quahogs, and is fished both commercially and recreationally. This is an area impacted by over-development, stormwater run-off and recreational boating, which combined, have destroyed the eelgrass beds and scallop resources. Waquoit Bay (1,035 acres) is a good quahog and soft-shell clam resource area that is seeded on an annual basis. This embayment has been impacted by nutrient loading and boating activity, but is actively monitored and enhanced by the Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Reserve. Significant Harbors & Coastal Locales Falmouth’s 67.9 miles of shoreline on tidal water contain the following twelve significant harbors and coastal locales: Megansett Harbor is a coastal area in North Falmouth, north of Wild Harbor Road and inland of Buzzards Bay, and contains the water bodies of Megansett Harbor, Rand’s Canal, Fiddler’s Canal and Cedar Lake. The majority of the shoreline in this area is classified as sandy beach with additional coastal resources, such as setback dunes behind southern Megansett Harbor and the west side of Rand’s Canal and the cliffs off the north side of Westwood Road. Fiddler’s Cove consists primarily of marina infrastructure, as do areas within Rand’s Canal. The remainder of this coastal area varies in topography and contains several freshwater wetlands and a salt marsh. Megansett Harbor is valuable from both a shellfish and recreational aspect. The northern section contains significant shellfish beds and the southern area supports mooring areas, a landing and beach. Fiddler’s Cove contributes only to the recreational aspect, containing a marina with additional moorings. This protected cove is an ideal location for storing boats, while offering easy access to the Bay. Rand’s Canal is lined by a moderate amount of residential development and has several private docks and moorings. Both Rands Canal and Cedar Lake are active herring runs. The Old Silver Beach Coastal Area is in North/West Falmouth, south of Wild Harbor Road and north of Little Island Road, and contains the open water resources of Wild Harbor and the Herring River. Most of the shoreline consists of gently sloping sandy beaches and low-lying inland topography with the exception of the Falmouth Cliffs, Falmouth Local Comprehensive Plan 2 Coastal Resources, Element 2.2 DRAFT December 22, 2004 which abruptly rise 50 to 60 feet from the shore. Both Wild Harbor and the Herring River possess significant tidal areas with large tracts of salt marsh. The Old Silver Beach area supports both shellfishing and recreation. The Wild Harbor River contains shellfish beds (but is closed to shellfishing) and a herring run. The Herring River offers a herring run and salt marsh area, providing a diverse habitat for wildlife. Old Silver Beach itself is a popular locale for beach-goers. West Falmouth Harbor is a well-protected water body made up of several arms and coves. This coastal area extends from Little Harbor Road in the north to the Oyster Pond/Brick Kiln Road area to the south. The harbor is the single open water area in this locality, and is the largest harbor on the Falmouth coast. This coastal area also possesses the largest dune complex in Town (with the exception of Washburn Island) located in the neck of the Chapoquoit peninsula. This tract is bordered by sandy beach to the west and salt marsh to the east, and makes up approx. 140 acres. Freshwater wetlands are also found inland of these resources. A mix of sandy beach (Chapoquoit Beach) and salt marsh, providing varied habitat for wildlife, borders the harbor itself. West Falmouth Harbor, and its environs, is a very popular spot for recreational boaters. The harbor has a number of moorings and can be accessible via a high-traffic landing site. There is also valuable shellfish habitat and eel grass within the harbor, coexisting with the heavy recreational uses. The Sippewissett Coastal Area is located south of the West Falmouth Harbor area and north of Gunning Point Road. This coastal area consists largely of wetlands, with Little Sippewissett Pond being the only open water resource. The Great Sippewissett Marsh encompasses approximately 140 acres of marshlands, ponds, tidal rivers and upland. Black Beach is located north of the Great Marsh and is a conservation area offering extensive wildlife habitat. Little Sippewissett Marsh contains at least 40 acres of wetlands and is largely town-owned. Woodneck Beach is a popular family beach in the area, and acts as a separation between the Bay and the Little Marsh. Falmouth Local Comprehensive Plan 3 Coastal Resources, Element 2.2 DRAFT December 22, 2004 Together the Great and Little Sippewissett Marshes constitute 180 acres of salt marsh. Expanses of barrier beaches, coupled with strips of dune, separate these marsh areas from the Bay. South of the marshes the topography changes from flat tidal areas to sea- cliffs as the moraine becomes evident in the vicinity of Gunning Point Avenue and the Cape Codder condos. The Quissett Coastal Area is the area south of Gunning Point Road, north of Gansett Road, and east of Buzzards Bay. Sandy beach lines much of the shorefront from the cliffs of Sippewissett to the mouth of Quissett Harbor. Racing Beach is located within this stretch and is composed of a large dune composite behind the sandy beach. Quissett Harbor has a mix of sandy beaches and rocky shore and shellfish resources abound. The Knob peninsula is protected by the Salt Pond Bird Sanctuaries and offers a great public access point for passive recreation and scenic vistas to the west. The Quissett Harbor Marina serves recreational boaters in the area, as does the town landing and a large number of moorings. The Woods Hole Coastal Area is bounded by Buzzards Bay to the west, Vineyard Sound to the east and the Woods Hole Channel to the south, and includes the open water areas of Great Harbor, Little Harbor and Eel Pond. There are six town landings and two beaches, Stoney Beach (private) and Nobska Beach, within this coastal area. Nobska Point, and lighthouse, dominate the eastern landscape and offer views and access from Church St. and Nobska Rd. A large portion of Woods Hole supports sandy beach, with man-made shorelines along both Great and Little Harbors serving the Steamship Authority, oceanographic institutions, U.S. Coast Guard and commercial fishing facilities. Great Harbor is a significant port for ferries, research vessels, recreational boaters and one or two commercial fishing operations. Navigational aids and shoreline markers are critical to this active harbor. There is access to this water body via the three public landings, a public park and a fishing pier, but limited parking has, and continues to be, an issue.