Coastal Resources

2.3 COASTAL RESOURCES

Topography and Geology

The Town is composed of three distinct physiographic regions as a result of glaciation that ended 13,000 years ago. Wind, wave, rain and storm action has shaped dunes, beaches and other shoreline features, but the advance and retreat of glaciers primarily characterize Dennis.

The first region is the Harwich Outwash Plain south of Setucket Road. Here, the land slopes gently southward towards Nantucket Sound. Glacial furrows carved by meltwater in the outwash plain include Bass River and Swan River. Numerous freshwater ponds ranging in size from two to more than 100 acres were formed in this area when melting blocks of glacial ice left depressions in the outwash. Coarse to medium sands dominate the outwash soil.

The second region is defined by kame deposits in the area roughly Setucket Road and Route 6A. Kame deposits are mostly steep areas of gravelly sand and gravel. In fact, the highest elevations in town (Scargo Hill – 160 feet) and the steepest hillsides are in this area. Freshwater ponds and a few small wetlands are found in the rolling landscape.

Lands north of Route 6A comprise of third region. Gently rolling hills with slopes averaging 6 percent extend to sea cliffs and bluffs overlooking Cape Cod Bay. Expansive sand flats exposed by the ten-foot tidal range in Cape Cod are distinctive.

MARINE RESOURCE

In Dennis, the most important marine resources are located in the estuarine ecosystem. Estuaries are areas of high biological productivity and are an important link in the natural food chain of most marine resources. An estuary is defined as a tidal river or stream that contains a mixture of fresh and salt water. As with all ecological systems, the estuary is a habitat to a wide range of plant, bird, fish, mollusk and other invertebrates. A healthy ecosystem is dependent upon a balanced interrelationship among the various plant and animal communities. The estuarine environment is considered the most productive ecosystem in the world; it is also one of the most fragile and susceptible to major disturbances. Our estuarine areas support a wide range of marine life including, finfish, shellfish and some crustaceans. They provide locations for recreational as well as commercial fisheries and shellfisheries that combine to stimulate the local economy. These areas, also, provide vital wildlife habitats for waterfowl and some mammals.

Urbanization activities can adversely affect the estuarine biological productivity by altering natural drainage patterns, increasing harmful toxins, sediment and nutrient levels, and raising water temperatures. Furthermore, all of Dennis currently depends on septic systems where every gallon of wastewater is returned to our groundwater, ponds and marine water. This nitrate rich wastewater is the biggest threat to our estuarine environment, it has already adversely affected these resources by disrupting the biological processes.

Under carefully controlled and regulated management policies, some human activities may actually be beneficial to the ecosystem. For instance, observations have shown that hydraulically fluffing or aerating the sand flats will stimulate the set recruitment of several species of shellfish.

Coastline

Dennis North Coast is the land associated with Cape Cod Bay. A large commercial and recreational fishery exists off the north coast. The recreational fishery is primarily conducted from shore and from small boats. The commercial fishery is from larger boats. These fishing boats include lobster and sport fishing vessels with their homeport being Sesuit Harbor. The finfish sought by these fishermen are bluefish, tuna, striped bass, fluke, flounder, sea bass, tautog and mackerel. The Town of Brewster has one licensed fish weir that lands their catch at Sesuit Harbor. The weir’s catch includes blue back herring, mackerel, menhaden, squid, goose fish and tautog.

Dennis South Coast is the land associated with Nantucket Sound. A large commercial and recreational fishery exists along this coast. They fish primarily for striped bass, bluefish, butterfish, fluke, herring, mackerel, scup, sea bass, squid and tautog. Five fish weirs are permitted in Nantucket Sound that harvest mackerel, butterfish, squid, bluefish, black sea bass, scup, bonito and fluke.

Bass River supports a large fleet of boats that commercially and recreationally finfish. The preferred catch of this fleet is bluefish, striped bass, fluke, flounder and mackerel.

Estuaries

Map 2-3-1 illustrates the coastal embayment areas, which are also referred to as estuaries. The most important estuary is the Bass River system, which includes the south including Weir Creek, the center including Horsefoot Cove and Grand Cove, and the north including Kelly’s Bay and Follins Pond. The Bass River estuary is perhaps the most important estuarine system on the Cape. The marshes behind West Dennis beach and along the edge of the river provide an abundant amount of nutrient as well as a good habitat for fish and shellfish resources. The Division of Marine Fisheries has identified forty-three species of finfish in this estuary. Some of the more important sport finfish found in the river include bluefish, white perch, striped bass, tautog, scup and winter flounder.

The other estuary along the town’s south coast is the Swan Pond River system. This system bisects West Dennis and Dennisport. The estuary is linked to an extensive nutrient rich marsh and wetland system. At one time, the estuary was very productive; however, in recent years due to over development, environmental pressure and bacteria and nutrient loading the system has experienced eutrophication and water quality closures for shellfishing. Recognizing this, the town has taken steps to improve conditions by: 1) constructing a seawall to improve the flushing of the river; 2) implementing road drainage improvements; 3) adopting an anti –bird feeding by-law; and 4) sponsoring a septic system upgrade program. Bluefish, winter flounder, striped bass, and white perch (in Swan Pond) are the most important commercial and sport fish found in this area.

The town has on its north coast three estuaries. Chase Garden Creek is the border between the towns of Yarmouth and Dennis. Chase Garden Creek has an extensive marsh and wetlands associated with the system. At the mouth of the system lies an area called Chapin Beach where the town supports a conservation area. Winter flounder, bluefish and striped bass are found in this system.

Sesuit Harbor and Sesuit Creek are productive but underutilized because of harbor activities and associated boating related contamination. Large marsh and wetland systems are associated with Sesuit Creek. An anadromous (herring) and catadromous (American eel) fish run flows through this system from Scargo Lake. Winter flounder, bluefish and striped bass are found in this system.

Quivett Creek is the border between the towns of Brewster and Dennis. It also has an extensive marsh and wetlands bordering its banks. An anadromous (herring) and catadromous (American eel) fish run flows through the system from Bound Brook Pond. Winter flounder, bluefish and striped bass are found in this system.

INVENTORY

The Town of Dennis has a total of 62.95 miles of coastline. The coastline measurement includes all estuaries, large creeks and marsh islands. The various areas are broken down in Table 2-3-1 and are shown on Map 2-3-2. Concerning shellfishing, there is a total of 22,922.3 acres of total marine shellfish areas. This is broken down in Table 2-3-2.

TABLE 2-3-1

DENNIS COASTLINE

North Coastal (CCB:23) – 7.24 miles

Chase Garden Creek (CCB:27) – 18.82 miles

Sesuit Harbor (CCB:25) – 3.57 Miles

Quivett Creek (CCB:24) – 2.04 miles

South Coastal (SC:32) – 4.12 miles

Bass River South (SC:33) – 9.77 miles

Bass River Central (SC:34) – 6.70 miles

Bass River north (SC:35) – 2.15 miles

Swan Pond and Swan Pond River (SC:36) – 8.52 miles

Total Coastline in Dennis 62.95 miles

Source: Dennis Shellfish Management Plan.

NOTE: Number in ( ) denotes DMF area code as shown on Map

TABLE 2-3-2 – DENNIS SHELLFISH AREA

North Coastal (CCB:23) – 12,016.8 acres

Chase Garden Creek (CCB:27) – 140.0 acres

Sesuit Harbor (CCB:25) – 45.5 acres

Quivett Creek (CCB:24) – 25.0 acres

South Coastal (SC:3) – 10,097 acres

Bass River South (SC:33) – 117.3 acres

Bass River Central (SC:34) – 206.4 acres

Bass River North (SC:35) – 94.3 acres

Swan Pond and Swan Pond River (SC:36) – 180.0 acres

Total marine shellfish area = 22,922.3 acres

The various shellfishing areas are described below. Please note that MA General Laws, Town of Dennis By-laws and Town of Dennis Regulations are promulgated to protect the Town, its lands and all its resources.

1. North Coastal – CCB:23

The north coastal is the shellfish area associated with Cape Cod Bay. Cape Cod Bay experiences an average change in tidal height of 9.5 feet twice daily. These heights do vary with the lunar pull, storms and winds. Starting from the furthest point west in town, the area closest to the Town of Yarmouth is called Chapin Beach. The main features include miles of exposed fine to medium sand beaches where tidal flats are exposed at low tides or long rolling sand flats with facing dunes. When standing at the high tide line-facing north at the time of low tide, the low line is a good mile in the distance. Chapin Beach is one of the 30 largest barriers beaches in the state according to the Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management. Continuing east along the area to Bayview Beach, the expanse of flats is reduced and the dunes are interspersed with coastal bank. From Bayview Beach to Corporation Beach, the flats continue to diminish but the dune is replaced with coastal bank rising on occasion forty feet from the beach floor. The shellfish resources present in this area are soft-shell clams, razor clams, blue mussels and sea clams. Corporation Beach marks the end of this first geological feature. It is the first in a series of more than eight rocky promenades formed by the glaciers that extended across the rest of the north coastal. The area between each rocky point is laced with narrow white sand flats. The area furthest east or closest to the Town of Brewster is called Crowes Pasture Beach. This beach is partially fronted with a marsh and starts to expand similar to Chapin Beach to miles of long rolling sand flats.

2. Chase Garden Creek – CCB:27

Chase Garden Creek is the longest of the three north coastal estuaries and is located as the town bounds between Dennis and Yarmouth. This estuary has the largest marsh system of all the Dennis marine systems. The shellfish resources present in this area are soft shell clams, razor clams and sea clams.

3. Sesuit Harbor – CCB:25

Sesuit Harbor is a large marsh estuary that has been altered by man to accommodate a historic fishing fleet now in the form of a private and municipal marina. This system is one of two that are totally within the bounds of the town. The shellfish resources present in this area are soft shell clams, quahogs, blue mussels, and oysters.

4. Quivett Creek – CCB:24

Quivett Creek is the system that is furthest east on the north side of town and shared with the Town of Brewster. It has a large marsh area and an annual herring run to its head, Bound Brook Pond. The shellfish resources present in this area are soft shell clams, razor clams.

5. South Coastal – SC:32

Dennis South Coastal is the area associated with Nantucket Sound. The tidal height of Nantucket Sound averages 3.4 feet. Its physical characteristics are predominately wave cut platform beaches with the addition of man-made seawalls and groins along its distance. The shellfish resources in this area are soft shell clams, blue mussels and scallops.

6. Bass River South – SC:33

Bass River is located at the west side of southern Dennis and is the Dennis/Yarmouth town line. Bass River South includes the portion of Bass River from the Route 28 Bridge south to the mouth. There are approximately 117 acres in the Town of Dennis. A marsh island (Stage Island) found near the mouth divides the river and the branch to the east is locally known as “the fingers”. A large marsh in this area drains into the river. Two ponds, Kelley’s Pond and Uncle Steven’s Pond drain Weir Creek, which is the head of the fingers. Weir Creek has a marsh system. Most of Bass River has a narrow fringe marsh.

The shellfish resources for all of Bass River are quahogs, soft shell clams, soft shell clams, blue mussels, razor clams, scallops and oysters.

7. Bass River Central – SC:34

Bass River Center is the middle portion of Bass River in the towns of Dennis and Yarmouth. It is the area in the river north of Route 28 Bridge and south of the Route 6 Bridge. The area in Dennis is 206 acres. Most of the entire coast of Bass River Center is fringed with marsh.

8. Bass River North – SC:35

Bass River North is the upper portion of Bass River in the towns of Dennis and Yarmouth. It is the area north of the Route 6 Bridge and consists of Kelley’s Bay, the narrows and Follins Pond. Again, this section is predominately fringed by marsh.

9. Swan Pond and Swan Pond River – SC:36

Swan Pond and Swan Pond River is the second river system that is contained entirely within Dennis. Its river is narrow in width and long and leads to a large shallow water pond. It has two smaller creeks associated in its system. One, Otter creek is found half way up the river and forks to the east to drain the remains of a White Cedar Swamp. The second is the head of the pond and the only surface water source of fresh water to the pond. The shellfish resources for this area are soft shell clams, oysters, blue mussels and quahogs.

TOWN LANDINGS – ACCESS TO WATER

NORTH COASTAL

Chase Garden Creek, Dennis/Yarmouth

• Limited access through Chapin Beach Conservation Area’s

• 4-wheel drive and Yarmouth (The town off-road vehicle program is the subject of a Conservation Commission Order of Conditions and management plan and are incorporated in an Appendix).

Chapin Beach, Dennis (including Chase Garden Creek, Chapin Beach and Bass Hole)

• Chapin Beach – access to water, Chapin Beach Road, 68 acres

• 73 vehicle paved parking lot

• Major supervised beach

• Bath house

Chapin Beach Conservation Area, Beach, Town way to water, additional 29.42 acres

• 4- wheel drive access to mouth of Chase Garden Creek – PERMITS REQUIRED

• main access at the end of Chapin Beach Road

• winter access at Dr Bottero Road Landing

Bottero Road Landing – way to water, 0.59 acres

• at Dr Bottero Road and Chapin Beach Road

• No Parking

Taunton Avenue – common landing, access to water, 0.66 acres

• at the end of Taunton Road

• No Parking

Horsefoot Path Landing – landing, way to water, 0.08 acres

• At the end of Horsefoot Path

• Municipal Vehicle ONLY 4-wheel drive access

• No Parking

Horsefoot Path Beach – beach, access to water, 0.75 acres

• No Parking

Mayflower Beach – Beach, access to water, 10.69 acres

• At Dunes Road

• Major supervised beach

• Concession Stand

• Rest Rooms seasonally

• 220 Vehicle Parking dirt lot

Dunes Road Landing – access to water, 0.05 acres

• Foot traffic primary access to Mayflower Beach

• No Parking

Bay View Road Beach – beach, access to water, 2.19 acres

• Major supervised beach

• Access through and at the end of Bay View Road

• Municipal vehicle ONLY 4-wheel drive way to water

• 62 vehicle parking paved lot

Shore Road Landing – access to water, 0.07 acres

• No parking

Nobscussett Road Common Landing – access to water, 0.22 acres

• No Parking

Nobscussett Harbor (old harbor not in use), way to water

• At the end of Corporation Road

• Boat Launching (small craft – ONLY)

• No moorings

• Town Beach Parking Area

Corporation Beach – beach, access to water, 10.6 acres

• At the end of Corporation Road

• Major supervised beach

• Concession Stand

• Rest Rooms

• Play ground

• 122 vehicle parking paved lot

Howes Street Beach – beach, access to water, 1.05 acres

• Major supervised beach

• Bath house

Harborview Beach – beach, access to water, 0.42 acres

• Municipal use ONLY, 4-wheel vehicle access.

• 14 car dirt parking

• Wide flat stone jetty.

Sesuit Road Landing, access to water, 0.1 acres

• Wood walkway to outer harbor

Harbor Road Landing, access to water, inactive, 0.75 acres

Sesuit Harbor – harbor, slips, ramps.

• Major Harbor – Harbor of Refuge

• Town marina, west side, Sesuit Neck Road

  • excellent double-wide paved ramp

  • courtesy pier and dock for tie-ups

  • 100 car paved and gravel parking, lighted

  • restrooms

  • pay phone

  • Extensive docks and floats

  • Commercial dock

  • Porta-potty dump out station

  • Town dock access to 136 town slips (leases only).

• Ramp – Cold Storage Road, east side

• excellent State Public Access Board double-wide paved ramp

• 100 vehicle paved parking

• courtesy pier and dock for tie-ups

• pay phone across street

• Town marina, east side

  • Porta-potty dump out station

  • Extensive docks and floats

  • Town dock access to 137 town slips (leases only)

  • Parking for 30 vehicles, dirt lot.

Private Access

• Sesuit Marine Service – Sesuit Neck Road

  • Full service

  • Fuel: gas and diesel

  • MSD Pump out facility

Special Features

• Fish run

• Culvert at Sesuit Creek under Bridge Street

• 5 other culverts under 6A, Paddocks Path and Dr Lords to Scargo Lake

• 2’ wide pipe

• Limit of tidal penetration

Cold Storage Beach, access to water, end of Cold Storage Road, 13 acres

• Municipal use ONLY 4-wheel drive access to beach

• 40 vehicle paved parking

• 64 vehicle dirt parking

• rest rooms in season

• wide flat stone jetty

Salt Works Common Landing, access to water, off Cold Storage Road, 1.14 acres

• inactive

Sea Street Beach, end of Sea Street, East Dennis

• 62 vehicle paved parking

• rest rooms in season

Quivett Creek – Dennis/Brewster

• Primary access through Crowe’s Pasture Conservation Area’s 4-wheel drive trail (Permits Required).

• Beach – Crowe’s Pasture Conservation Area off South Street, Dennis

• Quivett Creek mouth beach area, also.

Special Features

• Culvert at Rte. 6A over Quivett Creek at Dennis/Brewster town line 3’ wide; mostly fresh water but very limited tidal penetration; submerged at high tide.

• Culvert at Sea Street, two old 30” culvert (compromised) 3’ wide, submerged at high tide, strong tidal penetration.

• Fish Ladder at Bound Brook Conservation Area, off Airline Road) Alewife ladder; Old Stone totally freshwater

SOUTH COASTAL

BASS RIVER – NORTH Dennis/Yarmouth, including Kelly’s Bay and Follins Pond.

Follins Pond Landing, access to water, boat launch, parking, 0.890 acres.

• Ramp (Follins Pond Road off Mayfair Road, Dennis)

• half-paved, half-hard sand ramp

• 100’ long beach

• 30 dirt parking

Old Fish House Landing, access to water, small parking. 0.210 acres.

Kelly’s Bay Overlook Conservation Area, Access to water, 7.4 acres

• 6 car dirt parking

Private Access

Marina Mayfair Boatyard (old Mayfair Road, South Dennis)

• Full service

• Fuel: gasoline

Special Features

• Bridges East and West Route 6 and Railroad over Bass River

  • Vessel clearance: 25’ wide, 8’ high

  • Extremely strong tidal current

BASS RIVER – CENTER, South Dennis (from Route 28 to Route 6, including Horsefoot Cove and Grand Cove to the railroad bridge)

Horsefoot Cove Landing, access to water, boat launch, parking, 0.980 acres.

• Off Route 28

• Good paved ramp

• 10 car paved, 10 car dirt parking

Aunt Julia Ann’s Dock, access to water, pier, parking, 0.450 acres.

• Aunt Julia Ann’s Road off Cove Road

• Hard sand access – dingy only

• 40’ long fixed wooden dock with float

• 7 dirt car dirt parking

Cove Road – West Dennis, access to water, pier, parking, 0.090 acres.

• Cove Road, West Dennis at Grand Cove

• 20’ long fixed wooden dock with float

• no launch due to bulkhead

• 10 car paved parking; lighted

Cove Road – South Dennis, access to water, boat launch, parking, 0.460 acres

• Cove Road, South Dennis at Grand Cove

• Excellent paved ramp

• 20 car dirt parking

Bass River Park – West Dennis, marina, access to water, parking. 3.2 acres

• small craft launch

• Motorized vessels discouraged at launch

• Kayak rental available

Old Main Landing (Fisherman’s Landing), access to water, 0.110 acres

• Fisherman’s Landing, dirt road to Grand Cove, adjacent 33 Main Street, South Dennis

• Hard sand ramp – 5 car dirt parking

Highbank Landing, access to water, pier, small parking, 0.340 acres

• Highbank Road, South Dennis

• No launch due to bulkhead

• 30’ long dock with float

• 5 car dirt parking, lighted

• 10 car paved parking across road

Private Access

South Dennis Yacht Club, Grand Cove (Heirs Landing off Old Main Street, South Dennis)

Marina: Bass River Marina (Route 28, West Dennis

• Full service

• Fuel: Gasoline only

BASS RIVER – SOUTH

West Dennis or Davis Beach off Loring Avenue to east end of river mouth)

• Major supervised beach

• Restrooms x 2

• Concession stand

• Play ground

• Municipal use only – 4 WD access very difficult due to wooden bulkhead between parking lot and beach, and dunes between parking lot and marsh

• 1,200 vehicle paved parking lot extending to jetty at river mouth.

• Municipal vehicle ONLY 4 wheel drive access

Uncle Freeman’s Landing, access to water, boat launch, pier, parking, 0.480 acres,

• off Uncle Barney’s Road

• Excellent doublewide paved ramp; steep

• 40’ long fixed wooden dock with float at end

• 10 car paved parking; lighted

Ferry Street Landing, access to water, pier, 0.02 acres

• Common Landing at Ferry Street extension

• No launch; 40’ long fixed wooden dock with float at end

• 2 car paved parking

Private Access

Marinas

Ship Shops (off Pleasant Street, Yarmouth)

• Full service; paved ramp and railway

• Fuel: gasoline and diesel

Other Private

Wrinkle Point (end of Uncle Barney’s Road, West Dennis)

• Docks; Beach House

• 20 car dirt parking

West Dennis Yacht Club

• Docks and moorings

• Club house

• 50 car parking

Special Features

Bridge (Bass River Bridge, Route 28 over Bass River)

• Vessel clearance: 30’ wide, 15’ high

• total length: 500’; concrete stanchions

Culvert (Fisk Street, West Dennis over ditch to Kelley’s Pond)

• 2’ wide pipe; very little tidal penetration

Wooden Bridges (Weir Creek to Uncle Stephens Pond)

• Lighthouse Road

• Loring Ave

Trotting Park Road Common Landing, access to water, 0.150 acres.

South Village Road Beach, access to water, at the end of South Village Road,

• 0.62 acres

• Major supervised beach

• 80 vehicle dirt parking lots

• rest rooms in season

• Municipal use ONLY 4 wheel vehicle access

SWAN POND RIVER, West Dennis

Bakers Way, access to water, boat launching (small craft), 0.750 acres

• Small craft

• Loose sand launch

Hart Farm Wetlands Area, common landing, access to water, Upper County Road over Swan Pond River, 0.590 acres

• Footpath only to water

• 12 vehicle dirt parking

• 10 car dirt parking

Indian’s Ford, Indian Trail (off Upper County Road), access to water, boat launching, 1.33 acres.

• Small boat launch, dirt ramp

• 20 car dirt parking

Clipper Lane Landing, access to water, boat launching, 1.330 acres

• Small boat launching, partially paved ramp

• 30 car dirt parking, lighted

Special Features

Bridge (Lower County Road over River

• Clearance: twin 12’ wide, 4’ high

Bridge (Route 28 over River)

• Clearance: twin 12’ high, 4’ high

Bridge (Upper County Road over River)

• Clearance: twin 10’ high, 4’ high

Haigis Beach, access to water, 2.6 acres

• 58 vehicle paved parking lot

• play ground

• rest rooms in season

Glendon Road Beach, access to water – see Glendon Road Common Landing, 0.52 acres

Glendon Road Common Landing, access to water, 1.030 acres

• 65 vehicle paved parking, lighted

• rest rooms in season

• Municipal vehicle ONLY 4 wheel drive access.

Sea Street Beach, Dennisport, Town Park, access to water, 2.83 acres

• 120 vehicle paved parking lot, lighted

• concession stand (private)

• rest rooms in season

Raycroft Beach, Town Park, access to water, 0.72 acres

• 10 vehicle paved parking lot

Depot Street Beach, beach, access to water, 0.35 acres

• No vehicle parking

Inman Road Beach, beach, access to water, 0.62 acres

• 46 vehicle dirt parking lot

• rest rooms in season

• Municipal vehicle ONLY 4-wheel drive access

 New November 18, 2011