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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDareCounty.Buxton.bio.sitecard.PN.splitsheetDIVISION OF COASTAL MANAGEMENT FIELD INVESTIGATION REPORT APPLICANT'S NAME: Dare County, Buxton Beach Nourishment 2. LOCATION OF PROJECT SITE: The project site is located on Hatteras Island in and adjacent to the Village of Buxton, Dare County. Approximate State Plane Coordinates — Approx. Lat: 35'17'53.80"N (start)/ 35015'21.61 "N (end) Long: 75°30'44.78"W (start)/ 75°31'13.04"W (end) INVESTIGATION TYPE: CAMA / D&F 4. INVESTIGATIVE PROCEDURE: Dates of Site Visit — 6/24/21 Was Applicant Present — No PROCESSING PROCEDURE: Application Received (complete)—8/3/21 DWR Pre-app filing date: 6/14/21 DWR 30-day date: 7/14/21 Office — Wilmington 6. SITE DESCRIPTION: (A) Local Land Use Plan — Dare County (B) AEC(s) Involved: OH, PTA, EW (C) Water Dependent: Yes (D) Intended Use: Public (E) Wastewater Treatment: Existing — Private septic Planned - NIA (F) Type of Structures: Existing — Primarily residential structures and accessways Planned — Beach renourishment project (G) Estimated Annual Rate of Erosion:---4-10'/year SBF: 5-10'/year 7. HABITAT DESCRIPTION: [AREA] DREDGED FILLED OTNFR (A) Vegetated Wetlands (coastal) (B) Other (Below MHW) Up to 200 acres --• 105 acres (C) Other (Above MHW) —37 acres (IT) Total Area Disturbed: ---142 acres of beach fill/Up to 200 acres of excavation Primary Nursery Area: No (1) Water Classification: SB Open: No 8. PROJECT SUMMARY: The applicant is requesting reauthorization of the Village's beach nourishment project to include approximately 15,500' of oceanfront shoreline that spans the entire shoreline of Buxton (4,500') and 11,000' of oceanfront shoreline within Cape Hatteras National Seashore. North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Coastal Management Wilmington office 1 127 Cardinal Drive Extension I Wilmington, North Carolina 28405 910.7%.7215 Dare County- Buxton Beach Nourishment Page Two 9. PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The community of Buxton has an east facing beach on Hatteras Island in the Outer Banks, Dare County with the National Parks Services' Cape Hatteras National Seashore to the north and south. It is also bordered by Pamlico Sound to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. A State CAMAIDredge & Fill Permit (No. 136-15) was issued to Dare County for beach nourishment in Buxton in 2015 ((SAW 2015-01612; and DWR Project #15-1087). The project was constructed in 2017- 2018 and placed approximately 2.6 million cubic yards (mcy) of material along the project area. The state's LAMA/D&F permit expired on December 31, 2018. The Iong-term erosion rate for the proposed project area ranges from approximately 4-10'/year. The Division's calculated 100-year storm recession line for the Town is predicted to be 30-40'. In the 2015 permit application, the permittee identified a borrow site with an approximate area of 300 acres and located roughly 2 miles off the island. Sediments collected via Vibracore samples within the borrow area were calculated at a composite mean grain size of 0.46mm. Gravel & granular sized material (>2mm) was reported at approximately 2.5% (combined) with calcium carbonate calculated at 14%. No archeological resources were identified in the borrow area, although a few buffer areas were established. The previously permitted placement area extended from a northern point within the Cape Hatteras National Seashore across from the "Haulover" at Canadian Hole access through Buxton village to end on National Parks Service property at the end of Old Lighthouse Road (15,500 linear feet). The beach fill template included a variable width berm ranging from approximately 100' to 400' constructed to an elevation of f7' NAVD 88, with a 15:1 slope out to tie into existing grade around -4' to -22' NAVD 88. No dune construction was included in the original application as the dune system was expected to build via natural processes post -project. An anticipated fill placement volume of approximately 2.6 million cubic yards was calculated in the application, which was intended to achieve 10 years of protection:. At time of construction, approximately 2.6 million cubic yards was placed on the beach. A minor modification to the permit was later issued in 2018 to include sand fencing and post and rope fencing along 3,600' of the project area. The native beach was previously characterized with fines calculated at less than 1 %, and a mean grain size of 0.63 mm. Calcium carbonate was estimated at 6.2% and gravel and granular material was estimated at 6.6% (combined). The waters in the project area fall within the Pasquotank River Basin, as classified by the NC Division of Water Resources (DWR). The waters of the Atlantic Ocean are classified as SB by the DWR. The NC Division of Marine Fisheries has NOT designated any of the areas to be impacted as a Primary Nursery Area. Fw o...im 1cadflr ]North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Coastal Management Wilmington Office 1 127 Carc[inal Drive Extension I Wilmington, North Carolina 28405 910.796.7215 Dare County- Buxton Beach Nourishment Page Three PROPOSED PROJECT: The applicant is proposing to reauthorize the limits of the previously permitted beach nourishment Dare County at Buxton along with the addition of engineered dune construction along the developed part of the shoreline. The project site extends along approximately 2.9 miles (15,500'), which includes the shoreline within the unincorporated village of Buxton and an additional 11,000' of shoreline to the north along the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. A permit application has also been submitted to the National Parks Service for their approval of the nourishment along their shoreline within the National Seashore. As proposed, the beach berm would be filled to an elevation of +7' NAVD 88 with a 15:1 slope out to tie into existing grade at approximately -5' to -24' NAVD 88. The berm would be constructed at a variable width ranging from—50-250'. The applicant is proposing to include an engineered dune along the 3,500' of shoreline in Buxton, constructing to an elevation of +13' NAVD with an average 20' design crest width and a 3:1 slope down to the +7' berm elevation. As proposed, a maximum excavated volume of up to 1.2 million cubic yards of sand is indicated based on current conditions. However, the applicant has stated that the final design will not exceed a total volume of 1.2 million cubic yards and the final templates will be submitted to permitting agencies prior to construction for final approval. It is currently estimated that 105 acres would be filled below MHW. Up to 37 acres of beach fill material would be placed above the MHW line. Sand fencing and vegetative plantings are also proposed along the engineered dune. The narrative states that sand fencing and planting Iocations would finalized post -construction, but the plan provided shows the location of a single row of sand fencing located along the center of the engineered dune crest. The plan shows sand fencing would be limited to 10' long sections spaced a minimum of 7' apart and installed at a diagonal orientation (Sheet 15) and American beachgrass, sea oats and bitter panicum (or potentially other dune plant species) to be installed immediately adjacent to the sections of sand fencing. The narrative further states that land -based equipment will be brought to the site over public roads and will enter the beach at designated beach access areas. Any alteration of dune vegetation/topography necessary for equipment access will be authorized prior to undertaking any work and be repaired to pre - project conditions. The applicant is proposing to use a - 200-acre borrow area located approximately 2-3 miles from the Buxton shoreline and to the north of the previously utilized borrow area. The borrow area is currently estimated to contain approximately 3.3 mcy of material, based on bathymetric data collected by CSE in October 2020. Excavation is proposed at 10' of depth- with borrow area excavation proposed to result in final project depths ranging from approximately -33' to -48' NAVD 88. Vibracores (10 cores taken to a core depth of 10') were taken from the proposed borrow area in 2021 and were calculated at a mean grain size of 0.517 mm with an average composite sand content of 91.7%. The average composite gravel content for material within the 10' proposed dredge depth in this borrow area is 0.6%, the average granular content of 7.1%, average fines content is 0.6% and average calcium carbonate content was 15.6%. Q F.Q� o.rr.+ r�w.w..nri oora� /"S North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Coastal Management Wilmington Office 1 127 Cardina[ Drive Extension I Wilmington, North Carolina 28405 910.796.7215 Dare County- Buxton Beach Nourishment Page Four According to the applicant, no known cultural resources are believed to exist in the proposed borrow area. A cultural resources investigation was conducted in 2017-2018 by Tidewater Atlantic Research with another investigation focused on the borrow area conducted in July 2021 (see Appendix G). Only one small magnetic anomaly was found; said to be a small ferrous object not appearing to be a significant submerged cultural resource. As such, no buffers or avoidance areas are proposed. Dredging would be conducted via a cutterhead dredge, a hopper dredge, or a combination of the two methodologies. Construction is proposed year-round due to weather -related constraints. The narrative states that project construction is anticipated to take 3 months if permitted to work during the calmer summer months. The native beach has was characterized through transect sampling and analysis of the samples taken along 10 transects within the project area. Mean grain size was calculated at 0.32 mm. Calcium carbonate was calculated at 7.2%, with fines at Iess than i%, granular material at 1.1% and gravel at 0.1%. The calculated composite content of the proposed borrow area to excavation depths of 10' as referenced above meet the thresholds established in 15A NCAC 07H .0312. Large sediment material was calculated along the project area, resulting in an average of 20 shell fragments over 3" in size and 2 sediment samples greater than I" in diameter for a 10,000 square foot area. Mitigation and monitoring measures to account for work outside of the environmental window are proposed, similar to the original permit conditions, as described in Appendix B- Monitoring and Mitigation Plan. These measures were also developed in consideration of the NPS's recently published FEIS (NPS 2021a) and ROD (NPS 202Ib). An interagency meeting for the project was held back on November 7, 2019. 10. ANTICIPATED LVIPACTS The proposed dredging associated with the project would result in impacts to up to 200 acres of submerged bottom at the borrow area. The project would result in the fill of approximately 37 acres of upper beach (above MHV) and would fill approximately 105 acres of intertidal area and nearshore shallow bottom. The dredging and beach fill would result in temporary increases in turbidity. Temporary impacts to benthic and invertebrate infaunal communities can be expected. The applicant states they propose to dredge year-round due to weather constraints and anticipate permit conditions similar to the original permit. As a result, mitigative measures are proposed as outlined in the narrative and Appendix B. The applicant has committed to utilizing existing beach accessways with heavy equipment to minimize impacts to the dunes. Submitted by: Heather Coats Date: August 23, 2021 Office: Wilmington D_EQ�� a ;a�..,�i aw�� North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Coastal Management Wilmington Office 1 127 Cardinal Drive Extension I Wilmington, North Carolina 28405 910.796.7215 ROY COOPER Governor ELIZABETH S. BISER Secretary BRAXTON DAVIS Director Ms. Haiqing Kaczkowski Coastal Science & Engineering PO Box 8056 Columbia, SC 29202 Dear Ms_ Kaczkowski: NORTH CAROLINA Environmental Quality September 2, 2021 The Division of Coastal Management hereby acknowledges receipt of your application, acting as agent for Dare County, for State approval to authorize the Village of Buxton's beach nourishment beach nourishment project extending 15,500' from the Haulover beach access within the Cape Hatteras National Seashore (National Parks Service property) south to span the Bunton oceanfront shoreline and terminating on National Parks Service Property at the end of Old Lighthouse Road, Dare County, and adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean. It was received as complete on 8/3/21 and appears to be adequate for processing at this time_ The projected deadline for making a decisions is 10/17/21. An additional 75-day review period is provided by law when such time is necessary to complete the review. If you have not been notified of a final action by the initial deadline stated above, you should consider the review period extended. Under those circumstances, this letter will serve as your notice of an extended review. However, an additional letter will be provided on or about the 75th day. If this agency does not render a permit decision within 70 days from 8/3/21 you may request a meeting with the Director of the Division of Coastal Management and permit staff to discuss the status of your project. Such a meeting will be held within five working days from the receipt of your written request and shall include the applicant and project designer/consultant. NCGS 113A-119(b) requires that Notice of an application be posted at the location of the proposed development. Enclosed you will find a "Notice of Permit Filing" postcard which must be posted at the property of your proposed development. You should post copies of this notice at a conspicuous point along the project area where it can be observed by the public. Failure to post this notice could result in an incomplete application. An onsite inspection will be made, and if additional information is required, you will be contacted by the appropriate State or Federal agency. Please contact me if you have any questions and notify me in writing if you wish to receive a copy of my field report and/or comments from reviewing agencies. Sincerely, awz Heather Coats Beach & Inlet Management Project Coordinator cc: MHC/E City Files, DCM Bobby Outten, Dare Co Josh Pelletier, COE Rick Trone, DWR — N 0 0 QECK North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Coastal Management Wilmington Office 1127 Cardinal Drive Extension j Wilmington, North Carolina 28405 910.796.7215 H, a AMA'PERMIT APPLIED FOR Applicant requested reauthorization of the Village's uris roject to inciuc, e a Atlantic Ocean in Dare County. 0 COMMENTS ACCEPTED THROUGH October 2021 APPLICANT: FOR MORE DETAILS CONTACT THE LOCAL PERMIT OFFICER BELOW: Dare County - Village of Buxton c/o Robert Outten IV. of Coastal 9*4 Marshall o ins urive 127 Cardinalr. Ext. Wilmington, Agent.- Coastal Science & Engineering c/o Haiging Kacxkowski (803) 799-8949 44 NORTH CAROLINA Environmental oualrh, September 3, 2021 legals@thecoastlandtitnes.com 2 Pages The Coastland Times Legal Advertisement Section Re: Major Public Notice for: • Dare County — Village of Buxton • Dare County — Village of Avon ROY COOPER Governor ELIZABETH BISER Secretary BRAXTON DAVIS Director, Division of Coastal Management Hello: Please publish the attached Notice in the Sunday, September 12, 2021 issue of The Coastland Times. The State Office of Budget & Management requires an original Affidavit of Publication prior to payment for newspaper advertising. Please send the original affidavit and invoice for payment to: Tanya Pietila at the NC Division of Coastal Management 127 Cardinal Drive Extension, Wilmington, NC 28405, 910-796-7226. Paying by credit card. Please email a copy of the credit card receipt to me. Thank you for your assistance in this matter. If you should have any questions, please contact me at our Wilmington office. le�1 cc MHC Files USACE WIRO Files U--"(kV etila support & Customer Assistance State of North Carolina I Environmental Quality I Co. s Management 127 Cardinal Drive Ext_, Wilmington, NC 28405 919 796 7215 NOTICE OF FILING OF APPLICATION FOR CAMA MAJOR DEVELOPMENT PERMIT The Department of Environmental Quality hereby gives public notice as required by NCGS 113A- 119(b) that the following applications were submitted for a development permits in Areas of Environmental Concern as designated under the CAMA: On September 2, 2021, The County of Dare, Villages of Burton & Avon, requested reauthorization of the Village's beach nourishment project to include approx. 15,500' of oceanfront shoreline that spans the entire Buxton shoreline within the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, and approx. 13,200' oceanfront shoreline from approx. 4,000' north of the Avon pier to the southern limits of the Village, adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean, in Dare County. Copies of these applications can be examined or copied at the office of Heather Coats N.C. Dept. of Environmental Quality, Division of Coastal Management, 127 Cardinal Drive Ext., Wilmington, NC 28405, (910) 796-7302 during normal business hours. Comments mailed to Braxton C. Davis, Director, Division of Coastal Management, 400 Commerce Avenue, Morehead City, NC 28557-3421, prior to October 3, 2021 will be considered in making the permit decision. Later comments will be accepted and considered up to the time of permit decision. Project modification may occur based on review and comment by the public and state and federal agencies. Notice of the permit decision in these matters will be provided upon written request. Major Permit Fee Schedule Project Name: ]),A-oej�F- 60 _ County: V w ; Up eAA)�'TDts D&e4 LOS/ [ ZV4_3 Check No & Amount: Development Type Fee DCM % DWQ % (14300160143510009316256253) (2430016024351000952341) I. Private, non-commercial development that does not involve the tilling or excavation of any wetlands or $250 100% ($250) 0% ($0) open water areas II. Public or commercial development that does not involve the filling or excavation $400 100% ($400) 0% ($0) of any wetlands or open water areas: Ilt. For development that involves the filling and/or excavation of up to 1 acre of wetlands and/or open water areas, determine if A,B, C, or D below applies: III(A) _ Private, non-commercial development, if General Water Quality $250 100% ($250) 0% ($0) Certification No. 4175 can be applied: III(B). Public or commercial development, if General Water Quality Certification S400 100% ($400) 0% ($0) No 4175 can be applied: III(C)_ If General Water Quality Certification No. 4175 could be applied, but DCM staff determined that additional review and written DWQ concurrence is $400 60% ($240) 40% ($160) needed because of concerns related to water quality or aquatic life- I"(D). If General Water Quality Certification Edo_ 4175 cannot bee lied $40� 60% ($24D) 40% ($160) IV_ Development that involves the fiilin and/or excavation of more than one acre $475 60% ($285) 40% ($190) of wetlands and/or open water areas: