Monday, March 9, 2009

• 2009 Shellfishing permits available at Selectman's office in Town Hall. Non commercial shellfishing regulations
• Mooring permit applications due by February 15th.

Completed:

• The town's oysters were put out on the flats from winter storage on Saturday March 7th. Thanks to all the volunteers who make this program possible.
• New DNR boat selected and delivered; work ongoing to get it ready for the season.
• Field maintenance at Wings Island is generally complete for the spring. Additional work will continue to clean up areas inaccessible by the tractor. AmeriCorp assistance on March 2 during a snow and sleet storm was essential in completing this work.
  
• Stony Brook crossing at Rt. 6A. The feasibility study to remove the tidal restriction and restore saltmarsh south of 6A, while maintaining the herring run, is complete, and we are working on engineering design with partners from the state Coastal Zone Management, APCC and the Museum of Natural History.
• Beach erosion control fencing was installed at Spruce Hill conservation area with the help of AmeriCorp on March 6th. We also did trail maintenance and cleaned up about 1/2 truck full of garbage from the swamp near the end of the trail.

Oyster propagation funding from the county for 2009 has been reduced by 3/4 for oyster seed, and no quahog seed; so the department is looking for creative ways to fundraise so we can continue this popular program. We've raised a few hundred $ through sales of the "Brewster Oysters" shirts and hats in a joint venture with the other private aquaculture grants in town.

Ongoing:

• New kiosks and trail maps for Punkhorn Parklands.
• Establishing a "Friends of the Punkhorns" group, email Brian at BDinizio@town.brewster.ma.us
  
• Wildfire fuel reduction in the Punkhorn Parklands.
• Regulatory sign review to replace worn/damaged signs.
• Permitting and design work for stormwater control at Betty's Curve and the culvert project at Stony Brook and 6A.
  
• Oyster propagation work.
• Refit of the new DNR boat.
• Repair to the DNR building (replacing some rotten floor joists, new supports for garage floor, rotten sill and floor in garage area, garage door repair or replacement)...