Department of Marine Resources Site Review · 2019. 9. 3. · Department of Marine Resources Site Review Sea Stuff, LLC Christopher Papkee 15 Leavitt Street ... This area experiences

SEA STUFF, LLC (CASCO BAY) September 3, 2019 Page 1

Department of Marine Resources

Site Review

Sea Stuff, LLC

Christopher Papkee

15 Leavitt Street

Long Island, ME 04050

Figure 1: Vicinity map1

Location: North of Little Chebeague Island and west of Great Chebeague Island, Casco Bay,

Chebeague Island, Cumberland County, Maine

Purpose: Experimental lease for the suspended culture of sugar kelp (Saccharina latissima), horsetail

kelp (Laminaria digitata), and winged kelp (Alaria esculenta)

Site Review by: Jon Lewis and Flora Drury

Report Preparation by: Flora Drury, Marcy Nelson, and Jon Lewis September 3, 2019

1All figures in this report were created in ArcMap version 10.6 using digitized NOAA Nautical Charts or geo-referenced aerial

photographs provided by The Maine Office of GIS (orthoCoastalCascoBay2013).


On July 9, 2019, Maine Department of Marine Resources (MDMR) staff Jon Lewis and Flora

Drury visited the proposed experimental aquaculture lease. MDMR staff arrived on site at 12:05

pm; the tide was flooding.

The applicant is requesting 3.90 acres north of Little Chebeague Island and west of Great Chebeague

Island in Casco Bay, in the Town of Chebeague Island, for the suspended culture of marine algae.

Culture is proposed to occur on up to fifteen, one-thousand-foot horizontal longlines suspended

approximately seven feet below the surface of the water. At a minimum, the applicant proposes a ten-

foot gap between the deployed longlines. Longlines, depth control buoys, and weights would be

removed from the site July through September, annually. Thirty moorings, and associated mooring

lines and buoys, would remain on the site throughout the year.2

General Characteristics

The proposed lease occupies subtidal waters north of Little Chebeague Island and west of Great

Chebeague Island in Casco Bay (Figure 1). A tidally-exposed sandbar, located to the southeast of the

proposed lease, connects Great and Little Chebeague Islands (Image 1). The shorelines of the two islands

are comprised of rock and sand. The Great Chebeague Island uplands host residential (and possibly

commercial) buildings and a mixed forest; Little Chebeague Island is undeveloped (Images 1-5).

Image 1: Facing southeast from the approximate southern boundary of the

proposed lease site (July 9, 2019).

2 App, page 17


Image 2: Facing southwest from the approximate southern boundary of

the proposed lease site (July 9, 2019).

Image 3: Facing west from the approximate southern boundary of the



Image 4: Facing north from the approximate southern boundary of the


Image 5: Facing east from the approximate southern boundary of the



Depth

At the time of MDMR’s site assessment, depths at the corners of the proposed lease site ranged from

29.5 feet to 30.3 feet, as measured with a transom-mounted depth sounder. MDMR staff observed the

depths of the proposed lease site at approximately 12:05 pm. Low tide, with a height of -0.39 feet, was

predicted to occur at 11:21 am. Correcting for tidal variation derives water depths approximately 0.5

feet lower at the nearest low water and therefore ~0.1 feet lower (29.4-30.2 feet) at mean low water (0.0

feet).

Table 1: Tide predictions at Great Chebeague Island, Casco Bay, Maine (43.7217° N, 70.1417° W)3

Date Time Height (ft.)

7/9/19 5:04 AM 10.09 H

7/9/19 11:21 AM -0.39 L

7/9/19 5:44 PM 10.11 H

Position and Distances to Shore

POSAID Positioning Software was used to verify the distances and bearings between proposed

lease corners. Distances to shore were determined using the measuring tool in ArcMap 10.6,

digital orthophotography provided by the Maine Office of GIS (unless otherwise noted), and the

application coordinates.

WGS84 Coordinates – 3.90 acres (Figure 2)

Corner Latitude Longitude

SW 43.726004° N 70.145681° W then 1060.32 feet at 18.83o True to

NW 43.728757° N 70.144386° W then 160.61 feet at 102.58o True to

NE 43.728661° N 70.143793° W then 1069.71 feet at 198.86o True to

SE 43.725884° N 70.145101° W then 159.44 feet at 285.92o True to SW.

3 http://tbone.biol.sc.edu/tide/tideshow.cgi

Table 2: Approximate Distances to Shore (Figures 1 & 2):

NW Corner to Lower Basket Ledge (MLW) ~3,150 feet to the west

NE Corner to Nearest Point, Great Chebeague Island (MLW) ~1,030 feet to the east

SE Corner to Nearest Point, Great Chebeague Island (MLW) ~1,430 feet to the northeast

SE Corner to Nearest Point, Little Chebeague Island Uplands ~3,800 feet to the south

SW Corner to Red Nun “14” (NOAA Chart) ~2,400 feet to the southwest


Figure 2: Proposed lease area.

The criteria MDMR uses to determine the suitability of an experimental aquaculture operation to a

particular area (MDMR Regulations Chapter 2.64(7)(A)) are discussed, with respect to the

proposal, below:

(1) Riparian Owners Ingress and Egress

The proposed lease is located to the north of Little Chebeague Island and to the west of Great

Chebeague Island, in Casco Bay (Figure 1). During the MDMR site assessment on July 9, 2019,

houses and docks were observed along the western shoreline of Great Chebeague Island. Boats

were observed moored or at anchor to the southeast of the proposed lease, near the sandbar that

connects Great and Little Chebeague Islands at lower tidal stages. No moorings were observed

within the immediate vicinity of the proposed lease site, although, according to the Chebeague

Island Harbormaster, there are permitted moorings within the proposed lease boundary.4 The

proposed lease is located over 1,000 feet from all nearby shorelines, and therefore it appears that

riparian access would not be prevented if the proposed lease were granted. However, it is likely

that some landowners may have to alter their traditional course when navigating to and from the

Great Chebeague Island shoreline. According to the Chebeague Island Harbormaster the

proposed lease would impede the ability of riparian owners to “safely navigate to their mooring

and docks”.

4 Harbormaster Questionnaire (May 26, 2019)


(2) Navigation

The proposed lease is located in navigable waters to the west of Great Chebeague Island in

Casco Bay. This area experiences heavy vessel traffic, especially during the summer months. On

July 9, 2019, MDMR staff observed both commercial and recreational vessels operating in the

general area. Boats were also observed moored or anchored near the sandbar that connects Great

and Little Chebeague Islands at lower tidal stages. During the summer months, when vessel

traffic in the area is likely the heaviest, longlines would be removed from the proposed lease and

vessels would be able to navigate through the proposal. However, it is possible that vessels

would continue to avoid the area due to the thirty mooring balls that would remain onsite

throughout the year.

Since the proposed lease is located over 1,000 feet from all adjacent shorelines, it is unlikely that

vessels navigating in the area would be prevented from traveling between the proposed lease and

the Great Chebeague Island shoreline, if the proposed lease were granted.

A marked navigation channel between the Chebeague Islands and Lower Basket Ledge is located

to the west of the proposal (Figure 1). The proposal is positioned approximately 475 feet to the

east of a straight line drawn between the two red nuns (“14”and “16”) marking the eastern side

of the navigation channel (Figure 1).

In addition to the area being heavily transitted, the Chebeague Island Harbormaster stated that the

proposed lease would “affect anchorage due to the fact that it is taking up bottom”.5 At this time,

MDMR does not know the extent to which the proposed lease area is used as an anchorage.

(3) Fishing and Water-Related Uses

At the time of MDMR’s site assessment on July 9, 2019, no commercial or recreational fishing

activities were observed within the proposed lease boundaries. Minimal lobstering activity was

observed nearby the proposal, although heavy lobster fishing was visible to the west. According

to the Chebeague Island Harbormaster, the area of the proposed lease is heavily fished by both

commercial and recrreational users.6

The application proposes that longlines and depth control buoys/weights would be removed from

the site from mid-June to mid-October. Thirty moorings and associated mooring balls would

remain on the site year round.7 Due to the timing of the proposed lease activities, is unlikely that

the proposed lease would interfere with recreational hook and line activity. However, the extent to

which lobstermen might avoid the proposed lease area in the summer months due to the proposed

year-round moorings is unknown.

5 Harbormaster Questionnaire (May 26, 2019) 6 Harbormaster Questionnaire (May 26, 2019) 7 App, page 10


(4) Other Aquaculture Uses

Five leases and six Limited Purpose Aquaculture (LPA) licenses are located within one mile of

the proposed lease (Figure 3). The closest active aquaculture activity to the proposal is standard

lease CAS CHEB2, which is permitted for the suspended culture of marine algae. CAS CHEB2 is

located approximately 1,210 feet to the south.

At the time of this report’s publication, one pending lease application, submitted to MDMR by

Chebeague Island Oyster Company, LLC, was located within one mile of the proposed lease

(Figure 3).

Figure 3: Aquaculture activity near the proposed lease area.

(5) Existing System Support

Wildlife

According to GIS (Geographic Information System) data maintained by the Maine Department of

Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIF&W) and available through the Maine Office of GIS, the

proposed lease is approximately 830 feet from mapped Tidal Wading Bird and Waterfowl Habitat.

This habitat type, which is defined under Maine's Natural Resources Protection Act (NRPA) as

Significant Wildlife Habitat, is located along the western shoreline of Great and Little Chebeague

Islands.


On May 3, 2019 Rebecca Settele (Wildlife Biologist, MDIF&W) responded, by email, to a “Request

for Agency Review and Comment” stating “Minimal impacts to wildlife are anticipated for this

project”.

Figure 4: Tidal Wading Bird and Waterfowl Habitat8 and Endangered, Threatened,

or Species of Special Concern Habitat9, Seabird Nesting Islands10 near the proposed

lease site.

Eelgrass

Historical eelgrass (Zostera marina) data collected by The Maine Department of Environmental

Protection in partnership with the Casco Bay Estuary Partnership indicate that, in 2018, the closest

observed eelgrass bed to the proposed lease was located more than 845 feet to the east (Figure 5).

The proposed lease operations are unlikely to shade or disrupt documented eelgrass.

8 Data obtained from MDIWF maintained SDE Feature Class “GISVIEW.MEIFW.Twwh” 9 Data obtained from MDIWF maintained SDE Feature Class “GISVIEW.MEIFW.ETSC” 10 Data obtained from MDIWF maintained SDE Feature Class “GISVIEW.MEIFW.sni”


Figure 5: Historical eelgrass (Z. marina) in vicinity of proposed lease.11

(6) Source of Organisms to be Cultured

The applicant lists Ocean Approved in South Portland, Maine, as the proposed source of marine

algae. This source is approved by MDMR.

(7) Interference with Public Facilities

There are no beaches, parks, or docking facilities owned by federal, state, or municipal government

within 1,000 feet of the proposed lease site (Figure 6).12 The Sunset Road Right-of-Way, owned

by the Town of Chebeague, is located approximately 1,240 feet to the east of the proposal at mean

low water. According to the Chebeague Island Harbormaster, “the town is working on a proposed

municipal docking facility” nearby the proposed lease which would potentially “serve as a primary

ferry berth for entire island”.13 More information on the location and scope of the proposed

municipal docking facility is required in order to determine any potential impact the proposed lease

may have on this project.

11 Data obtained from DEP maintained Feature Class available here: https://geolibrary-

maine.opendata.arcgis.com/datasets/mainedep-eelgrass-2018-casco-bay-only 12 Data obtained from SDE Feature Class sourced from The Maine Office of GIS “GISVIEW.MECONSLANDS.Conserved_Lands” 13 Harbormaster Questionnaire (May 26, 2019)

https://geolibrary-maine.opendata.arcgis.com/datasets/mainedep-eelgrass-2018-casco-bay-only

https://geolibrary-maine.opendata.arcgis.com/datasets/mainedep-eelgrass-2018-casco-bay-only


Additionally, Little Chebeague Island, which is owned by The Maine Department of Agriculture,

Conservation, and Forestry, Bureau of Parks and Lands, is located over 3,000 feet to the south of

the proposed lease (figure 6). Little Chebeague Island is accessible by foot from Great

Chebeague Island via a sandbar exposed at low tide. Access to the island from the water requires

anchoring in the shallows offshore or landing vessels directly on one of the beaches.

Recreational boaters, kayakers, and beachgoers regularly use the island.

Figure 6: Publicly-owned land near the proposed lease site.

Documents

Department of Marine Resources Site Review · 2019. 9. 3. · Department of Marine Resources Site Review Sea Stuff, LLC Christopher Papkee 15 Leavitt Street ... This area experiences