0 Deer Island - Request for Determination

What is proposed

The applicant, Robert Brisebois of Amesbury Outdoors and the Deer Island Planning Group, filed a Request for Determination of Applicability with the Amesbury Conservation Commission for modest infrastructure repairs and ecological restoration at the Deer Island parking area. The submission describes localized shoreline and parking stabilization, replacement of degraded guardrails, creation of short stable access pads to interpretive boards, targeted removal of the invasive Oriental bittersweet, and immediate native revegetation of cleared areas.

The filing requests that the Commission determine whether the proposed work is subject to the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act and whether a more detailed filing (for example, a Notice of Intent and an Order of Conditions, the wetlands permit) will be required before work proceeds.

Where and how big

Deer Island is approximately 4.7 acres in the Merrimack River on the Amesbury–Newburyport border and is accessed from Amesbury via the Derek S. Hines Memorial Bridge. The project focuses on the small gravel parking lot at the island entrance, which provides roughly 12 parking spaces, and the immediate adjacent shoreline, kiosk, and trailhead area. The plan materials include coordinates (latitude 42.83454, longitude -70.90622) and a May 27, 2026 project plan describing work at the northeast section of the parking lot where erosion has been documented.

Photographs submitted show the existing kiosk/interpretive shelter and the vegetated edge near the parking area; most proposed work is within the parking perimeter and the narrow adjacent buffer between the lot and shoreline.

Project components and technical details

Shoreline and parking stabilization: The applicant proposes localized placement of riprap or bioengineered coir logs along the degraded northeast edge to dissipate runoff energy, backfilling the eroded area with crushed stone and compacting to match the existing parking grade, and installing temporary erosion‑control blankets on disturbed slopes until vegetation is established.

Guardrails: The project calls for removal and off‑site disposal of existing, deteriorated guardrails and installation of new timber‑frame or steel‑backed timber guardrails along the parking perimeter. The submission lists Atlantic Coast Fence Company (Amesbury, MA) and an estimated guardrail replacement cost of $6,926.

Access and pedestrian improvements: To improve access to interpretive signage, the plan proposes clearing and grading low‑impact walking paths from the main kiosk to interpretive boards (north side) and narrowing the existing south‑side path to encourage vegetation regrowth. At each interpretive board the applicant proposes a 6' x 6' level viewing pad constructed of compacted stone dust or pervious pavers to provide stable, accessible standing areas.

Invasive species management and revegetation: The filing describes a targeted removal plan for Oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus), including cutting mature vines at the base and removing smaller roots where feasible with minimal soil disturbance, and off‑site disposal of invasive biomass per local guidelines. Immediate revegetation to reduce re‑establishment and control erosion is proposed using native species selected for erosion control, understory and pollinator habitat: Fragrant Sumac (Rhus aromatica), Northern Bush Honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera), Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa), and Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis).

Environmental protections and technical terms

The applicant lists mitigation measures intended to limit impacts to resource areas: pre‑installation of silt fences and straw wattles downslope of all work zones, restricting heavy equipment to the existing gravel parking surface to avoid compaction in vegetated buffer zones, use of temporary erosion‑control blankets on exposed slopes, and scheduling earthwork during dry weather windows to reduce muddy runoff.

Key regulatory/technical terms used in the filing:

• Request for Determination of Applicability (RDA): a submission asking the Conservation Commission whether the proposed activities fall under the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act and whether further permitting is needed.

• Notice of Intent and Order of Conditions: if the Commission determines the work is subject to the Wetlands Protection Act, the applicant may need to file a Notice of Intent and obtain an Order of Conditions (the permit issued under the Act that sets conditions for work in jurisdictional areas).

• Riprap and coir logs: methods for stabilizing shorelines and slopes; riprap refers to rock armor, while coir logs are bioengineered coconut‑fiber products that stabilize banks while allowing vegetation to establish.

Status and next steps

The materials include a project proposal and a WPA Form 1 (RDA) dated May 27, 2026, submitted by Robert Brisebois; the property owner is listed as the City of Amesbury. The applicant has requested a hearing with the Amesbury Conservation Commission so the Commission can review the proposal, determine whether the work is subject to the Wetlands Protection Act, and decide on the appropriate filing pathway (for example, issue a negative determination allowing work to proceed, or require a Notice of Intent and Order of Conditions). The hearing is also the opportunity for the Commission and staff to request additional clarifying plans, specify required mitigation, or set conditions for allowable work.

If you want, I can extract the plan map excerpts (limits of work), list typical information the Commission often requests for RDAs, or prepare a plain‑language timeline of likely permitting steps for this type of project.