A Town Meeting vote on May 11 will determine whether or not a plan to restore the habitat of Bird Island in Marion will move forward. What is required is Town Meeting approval of an easement granting the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game access to the town-owned land for the restoration of the decimated nesting habitat of the Roseate Tern, a state and federally-listed endangered species, and the Common Tern.
Bird Island is home to 30 percent of the North American Roseate Tern colony. The island, owned by the Town of Marion and managed by the Conservation Commission, is about four acres of conservation land that rises up to ten feet above sea level.
On April 28, Carolyn Mostello, a biologist from Mass Fish & Game, gave an overview of the project to the Marion Board of Selectmen, as well as to Harbormaster Michael Cormier, ConCom Chairman Norman Hills, and other interested parties such as Vin Malkowski of the Marion Marine Resources Commission.
Mostello said a problem that needs fixing is a combination of seawall deterioration and sea level rise due to climate change that is eroding the island at a faster rate.
“Former Common Tern nesting areas adjacent to the seawall have turned into salt marsh and salt pane, which is not suitable for nesting,” said Mostello. “The Common Terns have moved into interior nesting areas, forcing Roseate Terns out.”
The objective is to rebuild the revetment to reduce erosion from wave energy, nourish the eroded areas to raise the elevation with fill, and re-vegetate the island to enhance the terns’ nesting habitat.
Mass Fish & Game is partnering with the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers on the project, and hopefully with the Town of Marion for the access and permission to develop and maintain the finished project.
At no foreseeable cost to the Town, a concern at first for selectmen and the Finance Committee, the federal share of the project would be $2.7 million, and the Commonwealth share would be $1.5 million, for a total of $4.2 million.
There were concerns about the language in the easement, which general counsel for Mass Fish & Game Richard Lehan addressed over the course of the evening.
Selectman Stephen Cushing said his main concern was the town’s ability to continue to use the property as it always has, while granting the easement “without significantly losing the historic rights of the town.”
“I don’t want the rug, so to speak, pulled out beneath us,” said Cushing.
The only restricted access, he was told, would be the same restrictions that are currently placed during tern nesting season.
“The terns restrict what happens on the island,” said Mostello. “We do feel we’ll greatly extend the longevity of the island.”
And that is what is important, replied Cushing.
Selectmen and Cormier wanted reassurance that the Town of Marion would not be responsible for the maintenance of the project once it is completed, nor would the Town assume any responsibility for damage or neglect of the island. The State would assume all responsibility thereafter.
“We would say we’re enhancing [the island],” said Lehan. “We’re making it better. Because Bird Island has always been conservation land, this project is going to enhance it.”
Lehan said the State is on the hook, not the town. The restoration of Marion’s natural resources, as Lehan pointed out, is part of the town’s Master Plan.
“It’s great that you are stepping up to the table,” said Lehan. “What’s good is that you don’t have a legal obligation…”
Cushing said the easement would be an insignificant act, in a sense, to ensure the restoration of the island.
“It’s the least we can do,” said Cushing. “It’s going to pay us back, I think.”
If granted the easement, the project would begin in November and be completed by spring of 2017.
Board of Selectmen Chairman Jonathan Henry called the project exciting.
“For a small patch of ground there sure is a lot of work,” he said. “But it shows you the complexity in maintaining this environment.”
The next meeting of the Marion Board of Selectmen should be scheduled for May 5 at 7:00 pm at the Marion Town House.
By Jean Perry
