SWAMPSCOTT — Repairs to the town pier are on hold as state regulators push for additional review of eelgrass in the harbor, delaying a project local officials say has already been studied and is increasingly urgent.
The pier repair work is centered on replacing deteriorated pilings. The project has been on the town’s radar for several years. A 2023 feasibility study evaluated the condition of the pier, mapped eelgrass in the harbor, and outlined potential repair and redevelopment options.
The study stated that “the overall condition of the pier is known to be distressed … with the pier now well beyond its design life,” and referenced years of storm damage and worsening structural conditions.
Swampscott’s Community and Economic Development Director Marzie Galazka met with members of the Harbor & Waterfront Advisory Committee Wednesday night and gave an update on the project. She said that though the town has opened a notice of intent and secured a contractor, they’ve run into new concerns from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.
“They wanted us to do a little bit of work on eelgrass,” Galazka said. “They are concerned about the replacement of the pilings and how that might impact the eelgrass.”
Galazka said she had asked the DEP if an underwater camera might be able to get enough information on the placement of the pilings — they said that data would probably be sufficient, but they asked the town to provide a more detailed picture of the project, including how construction equipment might disrupt the seafloor and affect eelgrass growth.
“They said, ‘How are you going to document … where the barge will be located and whether or not that creates a shadow cast on eelgrass within the area?’” Galazka said.
Local officials said the additional review is slowing a project they believe has already addressed those issues.
“We do have video of this… I don’t really understand the process of why we have to duplicate that for this repair,” Danielle Leonard, the Select Board liaison to the committee, said during the meeting.
Committee members pointed to the fact that the town had already participated in an eelgrass study, conducted by the DEP between 2019 and 2023. That study identified Swampscott as having one of the largest natural eelgrass beds in the region.
The 2023 feasibility study identified that protecting the eelgrass population would be a key factor in pier repairs, noting the plant’s role in supporting marine life and stabilizing local ecosystems. The study also noted that the frequency and volume of eelgrass growth varied greatly throughout the time the DEP data was collected.
Town officials have said the repair work is not expected to directly impact those areas, with DEP officials now asking for additional information.
This most recent delay has raised concerns about missing a narrow construction window tied to the boating season and contractor availability.
“I’m concerned about our timing because now we’re entering boating season,” Galazka said. “I hope that we’re not going to miss a timeline to be able to do that work.”
Galazka said that the work had been planned to coincide with another project in nearby Beverly, allowing the contractor to mobilize equipment and complete both jobs efficiently. With the delay, that window may close.
Committee members also questioned whether this might affect the project’s financial bottom line. Further efforts to study the piling placements would nearly double the cost of the project.
“The last time we did the bathymetry data was $125,000,” Committee Chair Ted Dooley said. “So it’s the same amount that we would be requesting here to send cameras down … so our budget would be doubled.”
Officials also warned that delaying the project carries other risks, particularly given the condition of the structure.
“There’s liability there. If something is to happen, if someone goes on that pier and falls, trips, hurts themselves?” Leonard said. “We have the money allocated. Capital is already committed.”
Galazka said the project needs a file number from the DEP to move forward. Committee members were hopeful that they could get some support from the town’s Conservation Commission, expected to meet later this month, to help move the project forward.
