Saquatucket Light Tower Coming Down

 HARWICH – The timber structure that has held the navigational light marking the east side jetty entrance to Saquatucket Harbor for more than a half century is coming down. The conservation commission has approved a notice of intent application filed by the U. S. Coast Guard to remove the structure.    

 Harbormaster John Rendon said that structure, which is located just south of the jetty, no longer serves as the primary aid to navigation entrance light for mariners searching for the harbor. A new navigation light was installed on that jetty about six months ago, Rendon said.

Christine Perron, an environmental scientist with the firm of McFarland Johnson, said the Coast Guard is repairing, demolishing or replacing 10 aids to navigation along the Massachusetts coastline and this is one of the projects. The structure is based on piles with a timber superstructure with no navigational aid equipment on it currently, she said.

It’s in critical condition and its purpose has been superseded by a nearby navigational aid. “The plan is to remove it in its entirety,” Perron said.

The process will create 110 square feet of disturbance to the ocean bottom when removing the structure, said Perron.

Conservation Administrator Amy Usowski recommended a turbidity curtain be put in place during the removal so as not to impact shellfish in the area. The commission agreed.

Perron said there are three state -listed tern species in the area, but the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program and the state Division of Marine Fisheries have expressed no concerns with the proposal. Perron said the National Marine Fisheries Service has yet to issue a comment. Any action necessary from the federal agency would be directed to the Coast Guard, Usowski said. 

The platform is being used by cormorants as a nesting platform, said Usowski. She also suggests that the work be done when the cormorants are not nesting. The nests are inactive July through March, according to Usowski. The commission added that provision to the order of conditions