National Estuary Program - NOAA Community-Based Restoration Partnership
Massachusetts Bays Program Preproposal
October 5, 2009
I. Applicant Information
Massachusetts Bays Program
251 Causeway Street suite 800
Boston, MA 02114
II. Project Contact
Jay Baker, Executive Director
jason.baker@state.ma.us; www.massbays.org
(p) 617-626-1204; (f) 617-626-1240
MA Congressional Districts 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10
III.
Project Information
1. Project title: Use of “conservation moorings” as a component of eelgrass (Zostera marina) restoration
and rehabilitation in two Massachusetts Harbors
2. Project start date: February 1, 2010
3. Project end date: September 30, 2011
3. Project location: Two sites within the Massachusetts Bays Program Planning Area have been selected
for this project: Provincetown Harbor, Cape Cod, Massachusetts (Barnstable County) and Manchester
Harbor on the Massachusetts North Shore (Essex County).
4. Land Ownership: Waters and submerged lands covered under this project fall within the three-mile
jurisdictional limit of Massachusetts State Waters and are held in the public trust.
5. Type(s) of habitat (marsh, reef, seagrass bed, etc.): This project will restore our dominant local
seagrass, Zostera marina or eelgrass.
6. NOAA Trust Resource(s) to benefit from restoration: The NOAA Trust Resource to benefit directly
from the proposed project will be eelgrass (Zostera marina). Myriad secondary benefactors include:
commercial and recreational fishery resources such as American lobster (Homerus americanus), Atlantic
cod (Gadus morhua), tomcod (Microcadus tomcod), winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus),
summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus) and bay scallop (Argopecten irradians); diadromous species
such as American eel (Anguila rostrata) and striped bass (Morone saxatilis); and juvenile stages of fish
and invertebrates that serve as forage for the species above.
7. Partners involved The project team includes the following agencies and organizations:
a. The Massachusetts Bays Program NEP (MBP)
b. The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF)
c. NOAA / National Marine Fisheries Service Northeast (NMFS)
d. The Environmental Protection Agency Region I (EPA)
e. Salem Sound Coastwatch (SSCW)
f. The Association to Preserve Cape Cod (APCC)
g. The Towns of Manchester by the Sea and Provincetown - Harbormaster’s Offices (PHM, MHM)
h. The Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies (PCCS)
i. LightHawk volunteer aviators
j. Volunteer divers from Cape Cod and the Massachusetts North Shore
8. Federal, state or local permits required: Massachusetts Wetland Protection Act permit (as issued by
local Conservation Commissions). Army Corps of Engineers section 404 permit (possible).
IV. Project Abstract
1. Project objectives (100 words maximum): Eelgrass is declining in Massachusetts due to a variety of
anthropogenic stressors, including water quality impairment and physical loss from dredging,
construction, and boating impacts, such as damage from traditional mooring systems. This project will
restore eelgrass to denuded areas around traditional block and chain moorings, which cause scars in
eelgrass beds due to chain drag and physical scouring, at two sites in Manchester and Provincetown
Harbors. The project team will mitigate the physical damage by replacing 14 existing moorings within
eelgrass beds with “conservation mooring” systems, designed to eliminate chain scour, and
transplanting eelgrass into a portion of the disturbed area. With the help of local partners and
volunteers, the project is expected to restore approximately 1200 m2 of eelgrass and improve up to 1.5
hectares of heavily impacted eelgrass beds.
2. If the project is part of a larger regional and/or local effort, briefly describe this effort
A limited pilot study and demonstration project has been initiated in the Town of Tisbury and, more
recently, Gloucester to address the impacts of moorings on eelgrass beds. Led by DMF, EPA, and NMFS,
both projects involve the transfer of one traditional mooring to a conservation mooring system.
Associated monitoring will demonstrate their effectiveness for restoring eelgrass to mooring scars.
There is a clear need, however, to expand this effort to make larger scale improvements in the condition
of eelgrass beds and to better document the utility of conservation moorings for similar restoration
efforts. The proposed project will employ the monitoring protocol designed for the pilot efforts in
Tisbury and Gloucester, providing a larger pool of data for evaluating restorative capabilities of
conservation moorings and resulting in measurable improvements in eelgrass bed condition.
3. Describe the specific on-the-ground activities to be undertaken to achieve project objectives:
This eelgrass restoration project includes the following activities
a. Site Selection: (Completed September, 2009) Two sites have been selected, Manchester Harbor and
Provincetown Harbor, based on significant overlap between mooring fields and eelgrass beds, the
presence of visible mooring scars in eelgrass in aerial photography (see attached photos), and local
interest in eelgrass conservation and restoration
b. Preliminary site assessment: (October 2009) Project partners will conduct field surveys to: determine
whether selected sites are suitable for diving and monitoring; confirm the presence and location of
defined mooring scars; and confirm the location of moorings to be replaced.
c. Baseline assessment: (April-May 2010): Project partners and volunteer divers will conduct prerestoration dive surveys to document current condition along transects within and around mooring
scars. All monitoring/assessment work will be developed in accordance with the “Restoration
Monitoring Planner” as applicable.
d. Aerial photography: (May, September 2010; May, September 2011) Four sets of low altitude aerial
photography will be taken at each site, one pre-restoration and three post-restoration.
e. Installation of Conservation Moorings: (May 2010) Up to 7 conservation moorings at each site (14
total) will be installed in place of traditional moorings.
f. Transplant eelgrass into mooring scars: (May June 2010) Professional and volunteer divers will
transplant eelgrass into 3-4 of the mooring scars at each site. Shoots will be individually harvested
and transplanted from surrounding eelgrass beds. Four squares of roughly 100 shoots will be
transplanted into each scar (north, south, east west) following protocols developed for previous
transplants in Massachusetts. Rate of recovery of scars with transplants will be compared to rate of
recovery within the remaining scars.
g. Monitoring: May 2010-September 2011) A monitoring protocol will be adapted from efforts outlined
in section IV.2. A minimum of four follow-up dive surveys will be conducted: June 2010, September
2010, June 2011, and September 2011. Follow-up aerial photography described above will also be
analyzed for change/recovery.
4. Describe project partners and their contribution: MBP will serve as the overall project manager and
fiscal agent for the project. DMF will coordinate technical elements of the project including eelgrass
transplants and training of volunteer monitors. EPA and NMFS will assist with monitoring and
transplants and provide technical guidance on all project elements. Two non-profit partners, SSCW and
APCC, will coordinate community involvement including volunteer dive teams and assist with local
outreach. PCCS will assist with monitoring and the acquisition of aerial photography in cooperation with
LightHawk volunteer aviators. Local harbormasters will assist with site selection, monitoring, transfer of
moorings, and permitting.
5. Describe the community involvement through an educational and/or volunteer component:
Community involvement will be critical for the success of the program. Local harbormasters will be
essential for final site selection and assessment and transfer of moorings. Volunteer dive teams will
account for 1/3 of diving hours for eelgrass transplants and the majority of the monitoring effort. Two
local non-profits, APCC and SSCW, will liaise with communities and coordinate the volunteer effort.
Local boaters who use the moorings will be engaged through a conservation mooring satisfaction survey
and educated on the purpose of the project. Signage related to the project will be placed at each site,
and an aggressive web, print, and public speaking campaign will be initiated that highlights the value of
eelgrass beds and the threats posed by physical disturbance.
V. Budget
1. Amount of NEP/CRP Partnership funds requested: MBP and the project team are requesting a total
of $30,000 in funding. Grant funding will be used for the purchase of conservation moorings
2. Matching Contributions: Qualifying non-federal match will be in the form of DMF in-kind contributions
($16,375-personnel and boat time), volunteer dive time ($3,000), in-kind from local non government
organizations (APCC, SSCW, and PCCS $9,378), local harbormasters ($6000), and LightHawk volunteer
aviators (estimated value of 8 flyovers =$16,000). Non-qualifying match includes a $10,000 cash
contribution from MBP to support dive time and development of educational materials), and in-kind
services of EPA and NMFS.
3. Budgeted line item expenditures
Partnership
Request
Amount and
Source of Funding
Match*
Non Qualifying
Match
Personnel

$5,088 (DMF in-kind
212 hours)

$6,378 (APCC,
SSCW in-kind 160
hrs)

*$6,000
(Harbormasters inkind)

$3,000 (PCCS inkind 80 hours)
*$3,000 (150 volunteer
hours)
Staff
Volunteers
*$20,000 (Estimated
MBP, EPA, and NMFS inkind contribution for
project management,
diving, and technical
support )
Fringe Benefits
Travel
Equipment
$30,000 (14
conservation
moorings x
$1500; 9 helical
anchor x $1000)

Supplies
$8,400 (7 day
contribution of DMF
Vessel Alosa)
Contractual
*LightHawk aerial
photography (estimated
value for 8 flights
$16,000

*$6,000 (MBP cash in
support of dive time
for DMF and PCCS
=$4,000)
*$4,000 (MBP cash
contribution for
outreach materials)
Construction
Other (specify)
Total Direct Charges
$2,886.00 (DMF Indirect
for staff time)
Total Indirect Charges **
TOTAL BUDGET
$30,000
$50,752
$30,000
 Indicates estimated in-kind value based on preliminary discussion. Value of in-kind services will be
confirmed for full proposal.
VI. Supplemental Information
1. Project location and conservation mooring details
Figure 1. Proposed Restoration Site 1, Manchester Harbor
Circular mooring
scars within eelgrass
meadow
Figure 2. Visible mooring scars in Manchester Harbor eelgrass
beds
Figure 3. Proposed Restoration Site 2, Provincetown Harbor
Circular mooring
scars within
eelgrass meadow
Figure 4. Visible mooring scars within Provincetown Harbor
eelgrass beds
Figure 5. Graphical representation of chain scour associated with
traditional mooring systems in comparison to conservation
moorings. (From Hazelett Marine web site
www.hazelettmarine.com)
Figure 6. Graphical representation of
conservation mooring systems with and
without helical anchors (From Hazelett
Marine web site www.hazelettmarine.com)
2. Letters of support
Massachusetts Bays Program
251 Causeway Street, Suite 800, Boston, MA 02114
(617) 626-1230 / Fax (617) 626-1240
www.massbays.org
Lore Hantske O'Hanlon
NEP/CRP Partnership Manager
O'Hanlon Environmental Consulting
1110 Raintree Drive
Charlottesville, VA 22901
October 2, 2009
Dear Ms. O Hanlon:
The Massachusetts Bays Program is pleased to submit the attached application for funding to the NEP/NOAA
Community Based Restoration Partnership. As you know, seagrass populations are declining around the world, and
Massachusetts is no exception. Our dominant local seagrass, Zostera marina, or eelgrass, faces threats from a variety
of human derived stressors, not the least of which is physical disturbance from boating activities. We feel that it is
important to limit these physical stressors in areas where water quality can support healthy eelgrass beds, and we
have developed this proposal to both begin restoration work in these areas, and to introduce local communities to
new mooring options that can have positive and lasting impacts on eelgrass meadows.
We have assembled a strong team to ensure that this project is a success. Our partners include environmental
experts in eelgrass ecology and restoration, local non-profit partners with vast experience in managing local
restoration initiatives, and local communities that care deeply about their natural resources and are eager to reduce
their impact on eelgrass beds. The considerable in-kind contributions are an indicator of the commitment to
eelgrass conservation and the belief in this approach on the part of the project team.
We anticipate that this proposed project will have lasting impacts that extend far beyond the restoration effort
planned for Provincetown and Manchester-by-the-Sea. There are many opportunities to foster the implementation
of low impact boating infrastructure through education and outreach, local stewardship initiatives, and various
permitting processes. We anticipate that the eelgrass restoration successes documented through this project will
provide momentum for the initiation of many more eelgrass conservation and restoration efforts throughout
Massachusetts.
Thank you for providing us with this unique opportunity, and please let me know if I can provide any further
information.
Sincerely,
Jay Baker
Executive Director
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Division of Marine Fisheries
251 Causeway Street, Suite 400
Boston, Massachusetts 02114
Paul J. Diodati
Director
October 1, 2009
(617)626-1520
fax (617)626-1509
Deval Patrick
Governor
Ian A. Bowles
Secretary
Mary B.
Griffin
Commissioner
Ms. Lore H. O’Hanlon
1110 Raintree Drive
Charlottesville, VA 22901
RE: NEP/CRP Project Submission
Dear Ms. O’Hanlon:
The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (MarineFisheries) is pleased to provide support and participation in
partnership with the Mass Bays Program, in their application for the NOAA NEP/CRP habitat restoration grant proposal
entitled, Use of “conservation moorings” as a component of eelgrass (Zostera marina) restoration and rehabilitation in
mooring scars. If funded, this project will provide an important contribution to the effort of mitigating impacts of moorings
on eelgrass beds and enable a better understanding of the utility of “conservation moorings” in protecting and restoring
eelgrass.
MarineFisheries’ project role will include the site selection and suitability analysis, coordination of eelgrass transplanting,
coordination of eelgrass and mooring scar monitoring and training volunteer divers. In- kind contribution will include
approximately 212 staff hours and 7 boat days on the MarineFisheries’ R/V Alosa, for a total in-kind match of $16,375.
Thank you for considering this proposal.
Sincerely,
Tay Evans
Marine Fisheries Biologist
Jay Baker
Massachusetts Bays Program
251 Causeway Street, Suite 800
Boston, MA 02114
September 24, 2009
Dear Mr. Baker;
We are pleased the Massachusetts Bays program has considered Provincetown as a participant for your proposed
conservation moorings project. We enthusiastically support your grant request. Provincetown has overlapping
eelgrass beds and mooring fields. The aerial photos of the harbor clearly show the circular scouring of the
vegetation by the mooring chains. It is not possible for the Town of Provincetown to ban moorings from these
areas as our economy and the safety of our commercial fishing fleet depends on secure moorings in our harbor.
A study measuring the effects of conversation moorings on the surrounding vegetation also introduces our
citizens to a new, more sensitive way of mooring their vessels. As with other pilot projects we have done, the
education component leads to increased public participation mitigating damage and increasing environmental
solutions.
Mr. Baker, you can count on our support and participation to prepare your grant request. We hope your success
will lead ours as well.
Sincerely,
George Hitchcock, Chairman
Provincetown Public Pier Corporation
Office of the Harbormaster for Provincetown
Jay Baker, Executive Director
Massachusetts Bays Program
251 Causeway Street suite 800
Boston, MA 02114
Dear Mr. Baker;
Salem Sound Coastwatch (SSCW) is very excited about the Massachusetts Bays Program’s eelgrass
restoration project in Salem Sound. The eelgrass beds along the Manchester – Beverly coast are extensive
and an important resource for fishes and marine life within Salem Sound and the Massachusetts Bay. The
eelgrass in the outer harbor of Manchester-by-the-Sea is clearly denuded around the conventional
moorings from chain scouring. Replacing these moorings with conservation moorings would allow for
eelgrass restoration.
Currently, there are no conservation moorings in use within Salem Sound. SSCW has committed for this
NEP-NOAA Community-Based Restoration Partnership Project to promote the use of conservation
moorings and to be the liaison with the Manchester-by-the-Sea harbormasters and the local boating
community. We will also coordinate community involvement, which will include local community outreach,
volunteer dive monitoring teams and aerial photography of the project area.
SSCW is the coastal watershed protection organization for Salem Sound and works cooperatively with
public and private sectors to solve environmental problems and foster responsible and sustainable resource
management practices within Salem Sound. This eelgrass restoration project will provide SSCW many
opportunities to expand awareness of eelgrass, increase the number of conservation moorings across Salem
Sound, and most importantly restore and improve the health of eelgrass within the Sound.
We hope you will fund this grant request to furthering eelgrass restoration in the Massachusetts Bays.
Sincerely,
Barbara Warren, Executive Director
Salem Sound Coastwatch