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Chaput Yacht Club float plan continued after depth, shellfish and eelgrass concerns
Summary
The Chaput Yacht Club presented hydrographic survey results for three proposed seasonal floats in West Falmouth Harbor; staff and commissioners asked for float draft details, shellfish/ eelgrass input and harbor master guidance before approval. The commission continued the application to April 15 for more information.
Chaput Yacht Club representatives presented a bathymetric survey and follow‑up data intended to show that the three proposed seasonal floats would sit in areas with at least 3 feet of mean lower low water (MLLW) depth. Certified hydrographer Christopher Wright said the team converted NAVD88 survey data to mean lower low water and that the surveyed locations generally show depths consistent with the proposal.
"We took that data when we were contacted by Mr. Jackson and converted the data to mean lower low water data," Wright said, noting the 2022 survey and a more recent follow‑up. The yacht club said the intended draft of the floats when fully loaded would be a maximum of eight inches.
Staff (Jen) told the commission the application lacked firm details on how deep the floats would sit at their lowest point — a regulatory measurement that affects compliance — and noted the shellfish advisory committee had tabled consideration and flagged potential concerns from commercial shellfishermen about the original mooring locations. Commissioners raised technical questions about whether MLLW gives sufficient margin against extreme low tides, how float draft and displacement with loaded boats would affect clearance, and whether the proposed anchor strategy would keep floats inside the surveyed deeper contours.
Commissioner Dan urged the yacht club to calculate the lowest predicted clearance by subtracting float draft and survey error from extreme low tide forecasts. Several commissioners asked the harbor master and the shellfish constable or advisory committee for explicit recommendations on eelgrass and shellfish impacts.
Given those outstanding ecological and navigational questions — including eelgrass shading and possible grounding at extreme low tides — the commission voted to continue the application to its April 15 meeting and requested specific follow‑up items: float draft/displacement calculations, harbor master input on anchoring, and shellfish/eelgrass survey or written advice from the shellfish constable or advisory committee.
What happens next: The applicant will provide more detailed float‑draft and displacement calculations and staff will solicit shellfish/eelgrass input and harbor master guidance for the commission’s April 15 meeting.
