A00871-612183.pdf
PDF 913 KB Posted
- Attached to
- 612183 GREAT BARRINGTON FAP No. HIP(NGB)-003S(961)X Bridge Replacement, G-11-002, Division Street
- Solicitation number
- BD-27-1030-0H100-0H002-130317
- Issued by
- Berkshire County, Massachusetts
About this file
This is a Massachusetts Endangered Species Act (MESA) Determination Letter issued by the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife regarding the Division Street Bridge replacement project over the Housatonic River in Great Barrington (NHESP File No. 24-18735, Proposal No. 612183-134691). The project involves the replacement of the Division Street Bridge and has been determined to fall within Priority Habitat of three state-listed species: the Creeper mussel (Strophitus undulatus), Brook Snaketail dragonfly/damselfly (Ophiogomphus aspersus), and Longnose Sucker fish (Catostomus catostomus). The Division found that the project must be conditioned to avoid a prohibited "Take" of state-listed species under 321 CMR 10.02. The determination was issued on October 10, 2025, and is valid for five years from the date of issuance, provided no changes are made to the project plans or additional work is conducted beyond what is shown on the approved site plans.
To proceed with the project, the contractor must implement two primary conditions. First, prior to any work within water or on banks, a qualified biologist pre-approved by the Division must conduct a mussel sweep between June 1 and October 1 to locate, identify, and relocate state-listed mussels to suitable habitat away from project impacts. The biologist must obtain a Commercial Scientific Collection Permit and submit survey results to the Heritage Hub within 10 days of completion, reporting all state-listed and watch-listed species findings. Second, no work shall occur within the water from April 1 through July 15 to protect state-listed fish species during critical periods. These conditions are mandatory and must be fully implemented to ensure compliance with MESA regulations and to avoid violations regarding the take of protected species.
View the file
Other files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| 612183 - Notice to Contractors.pdf | ||
| A00872-612183.pdf | ||
| A00832-612183.pdf | ||
| A00830-612183.pdf | ||
| A00820-612183.pdf | ||
| A00803-612183.pdf | ||
| A00811-612183.pdf | ||
| A00840-612183.pdf | ||
| 612183 - Plan Holders List 6-23-2026.pdf | ||
| A00870-612183.pdf | ||
| A00875-612183.pdf | ||
| A00802-612183.pdf | ||
| A00841-612183.pdf | ||
| A00831-612183.pdf | ||
| 612183 Bid Items List.txt | TXT text file | |
| A00801-612183.pdf | ||
| GREAT BARRINGTON-612183-134691-A-1.pdf |
Show all 17
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Text version
Massachusetts Department Of Transportation Highway Division Proposal No. 612183-134691
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DOCUMENT A00871
MASSACHUSETT DIVISION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE
MESA DETERMINATION LETTER
Massachusetts Department Of Transportation Highway Division
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October 10, 2025
Julia Hoogeboom
Massachusetts Department of Transportation - Highway Division, Environmental Services
10 park plaza
Boston, MASSACHUSETTS 02116
RE: Applicant: Julia Hoogeboom, Massachusetts Department of Transportation - Highway Division, Environmental Services
Project Location: Division Street over the Housatonic River
Project Description: 612183 - GREAT BARRINGTON- BRIDGE REPLACEMENT, G-11-002, DIVISION STREET
OVER HOUSATONIC RIVERGREAT
NHESP File No.: 24-18735
Dear Applicant:
The Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program of the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife (the
“Division”) received the MESA Project Review Checklist and supporting documentation for review pursuant to the
Massachusetts Endangered Species Act (MGL. c. 131A) and its implementing regulations (321 CMR 10.00) (MESA).
PROJECT DESCRIPTION (the “Project”)
The project, as currently proposed, includes the replacement of the Division Street Bridge over the Housatonic
River in Great Barrington as shown on the Project Plan.
STATE-LISTED SPECIES
The Project as currently proposed will occur within Priority Habitat of the following state-listed species:
Scientific Name Common Name Taxonomic Group State Status
Special ConcernMusselCreeperStrophitus undulatus
Special ConcernDragonfly/DamselflyBrook SnaketailOphiogomphus aspersus
Special ConcernFishLongnose SuckerCatostomus catostomus
State-listed species and their habitats are protected in accordance with the MESA.
MASSACHUSETTS ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT (MESA)
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24-18735NHESP No. Page 2 of 3 Issued October 10, 2025
The MESA is administered by the Division and prohibits the Take of state-listed species, which includes actions that
“in reference to animals, means to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, hound, kill, trap, capture, collect, process, disrupt the nesting, breeding, feeding or migratory activity or attempt to engage in any such conduct, or to assist such conduct, and in reference to plants, means to collect, pick, kill, transplant, cut or process or attempt to engage or to assist in any such conduct. Disruption of nesting, breeding, feeding or migratory activity may result from, but is not limited to, the modification, degradation or destruction of habitat of state-listed wildlife species”
(321 CMR 10.02). The purpose of the Division’s review under the MESA regulations is to determine whether a Take of state-listed species will result from the proposed project.
Based on the information provided and the information contained in our database, the Division finds that the
Project must be conditioned to avoid a prohibited Take of state-listed species (321 CMR 10.18(2)(a)). To avoid a prohibited Take of state-listed species, the conditions attached to this letter must be met.
Provided the attached conditions are fully implemented and there are no changes to the project plans, this project will not result in a Take of state-listed species. We note that all work is subject to the anti-segmentation provisions
(321 CMR 10.16) of the MESA. This determination is a final decision of the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife pursuant to 321 CMR 10.18. Any changes to the proposed project or any additional work beyond that shown on the site plans may require an additional filing with the Division pursuant to the MESA. This project may be subject to further review if no physical work is commenced within five years from the date of issuance of this determination, or if there is a change to the project.
If you have any questions regarding this letter please contact Tim McGuire, Endangered Species Review Biologist, at timothy.mcguire2@mass.gov, (508) 389-6366.
Sincerely, Jesse Leddick
Assistant Director cc: david paulson, Massachusetts Department of Transportation
Julia Hoogeboom, Massachusetts Department of Transportation
Attachment: List of Conditions
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24-18735NHESP No. Page 3 of 3 Issued October 10, 2025
List of Conditions
Applicant: Julia Hoogeboom, Massachusetts Department of Transportation - Highway Division, Environmental Services
Project Location: Division Street over the Housatonic River
Project Description: 612183 - GREAT BARRINGTON- BRIDGE REPLACEMENT, G-11-002, DIVISION STREET OVER
HOUSATONIC RIVERGREAT
NHESP File No.: 24-18735
Heritage Hub Form ID: RC-96012
Approved Plan: Proposed Superstructure Replacement Great Barrington Division Street Over Housatonic
River
Plan date: 9/4/25 Revised Date: N/A
To avoid a prohibited Take of state-listed species, the following condition(s) must be met:
1. Mussel Protection: Prior to the start of work within Land Under Water and Waterbodies or Bank, a one-time mussel sweep shall be conducted immediately prior to the work. The purpose of the sweep is for a qualified biologist to search the area area of work in-water and vicinity for mussels and translocate them outside of area subject to alteration.
a. State Listed Mussel Sweep: Mussels shall be located, identified, and moved to suitable habitat away from impacts associated with the project immediately prior to work within habitat.
b. Pre-Approval: The Division must pre-approve the candidate biologist(s) prior to any Work subject to this condition. The ability to locate and identify state-listed mussels requires significant experience with the target mussel species. The resume/curriculum vitae of the candidate biologist, demonstrating extensive experience locating state-listed mussels, shall be sent to the Division for written pre-approval.
c. Collection Permit: The biologist must obtain a Commercial Scientific Collection Permit for this project site prior to conducting mussel sweeps. Commercial Scientific Collection Permit Application & filing fee information can be found at: https://www.mass.gov/doc/commercial-scientific-collection-permit-application/download.
d. Survey Timing: Survey and relocation of mussels shall only occur between June 1 and October 1.
e. Reporting: The survey report, reporting positive or negative finding (aka ‘fail to find’) shall be submitted to the Division as outlined in the survey guidelines reporting all state-listed and watch-listed species. Please note that survey data must be submitted via the Heritage Hub (www.mass.gov/heritagehub) within 10 days of the completion of the survey.
2. Fisheries Protection: To avoid impacts to state listed fish, no work shall occur within water from April 1 - July
15.
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| A00871 MA DIV FISH & WILDLIFE MESA Determination Ltr |
| A00871 MA DIV FISH & WILDLIFE MESA Determination Ltr |
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