0 Deer Island - Request for Determination

What is proposed

A parking‑lot improvement and ecological restoration project at Deer Island that would stabilize an eroded section of the parking area, replace deteriorated guardrails, formalize short pedestrian routes to interpretive signs, and remove invasive plants followed by native revegetation. Specific measures described include installing localized shoreline protection (riprap or bio‑engineered coir logs), backfilling and compacting the eroded edge with crushed stone, replacing the existing guardrail with new timber‑frame or steel‑backed timber rails, constructing 6' × 6' level viewing pads at two interpretive boards using compacted stone dust or pervious pavers, and targeted removal of Oriental bittersweet with off‑site disposal and immediate replanting.

Where and how big

The work is located on Deer Island in the Merrimack River (island described as 4.7 acres), accessed from Amesbury by the Derek S. Hines Memorial Bridge. The parking area serving the site is a mid‑sized gravel lot with roughly 12 parking spaces adjacent to the island entrance. The proposal principally affects the northeast section of the parking lot and adjacent vegetated buffer along the eastern, city‑owned conservation portion of the island.

Parking, access and site work

Project elements affecting the lot include regrading the gravel surface, backfilling the eroded edge, and replacing decayed rails along the parking perimeter to improve vehicular and pedestrian safety. Two short, low‑impact walking paths would be formalized from the main kiosk to interpretive boards (one on the north side, one on the south); the south path would be narrowed to encourage natural edge growth. Each interpretive location would receive a 6' × 6' flat pad to provide a stable, level standing area for visitors. Heavy equipment use is proposed to be limited to the existing gravel parking surface to minimize disturbance in vegetated buffer zones.

Vegetation, habitat and erosion controls

The applicant identifies a large infestation of Oriental bittersweet on the north side of the parking lot. The proposed invasive‑species work includes cutting mature vines at the base, carefully removing smaller roots without major soil disruption, hauling invasive biomass off‑site, and immediately replanting with native species aimed at erosion control and habitat value: Fragrant Sumac (Rhus aromatica), Northern Bush Honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera), Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa), and Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis). Suggested erosion and sediment controls include installation of silt fences and straw wattles downslope of work areas, and scheduling work during dry weather windows.

Status

A Request for Determination of Applicability (WPA Form 1) and a project proposal were submitted by Robert Brisebois on May 27, 2026. The submission requests a Conservation Commission hearing to review the plan, determine the appropriate filing pathway (RDA versus Notice of Intent), and establish a project timeline. The proposal is pending review by the Amesbury Conservation Commission.