oak island beach nourishment bio

ROY COOPER NORTH CAROLINA
Governor Environmental Quality
MICHAEL S. REGAN
Secretary
BRAXTON C. DAVIS
Director October 21, 2019
Mr. Johnny Martin
Moffatt & Nichol
4700 Falls of the Neuse, Suite 300
Raleigh, NC 27609
Dear Mr. Martin:
The Division of Coastal Management hereby acknowledges receipt of your application, acting as agent for the
Town of Oak Island, for State approval of the Town of Oak Island's beach nourishment project, located from
101h Place West to SE 631d Street, in Oak Island, Brunswick County, and adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean. It was
received as conditionally complete on 10/9/19 and appears to be adequate for processing at this time. The
projected deadline for making a decision is 12/23/19. 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 10/9/19 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,
.eathcCoat � �
Beach & Inlet Management Project Coordinator
cc: MHC Files, DCM David Kelly, Town of Oak Island
Ronnie Smith, COE Dawn York, Moffatt & Nichol
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Coastal Management
Wilmington Office 1127 Cardinal Drive Extension I Wilmington. North Carolina 28405
910.796.7215

DIVISION OF COASTAL MANAGEMENT
FIELD INVESTIGATION REPORT
APPLICANT'S NAME: Town of Oak Island
LOCATION OF PROJECT SITE: The project site is located on Oak Island, from 10" Place West to
SE 63" Street, Brunswick County.
Approximate State Plane Coordinates — Approx. Lat: 33.914404' N (start)/ 33.907539' N (end)
Long: 78.171628' W (start) / 78.10263 P W (end)
3. INVESTIGATION TYPE: CAMA / D&F
4. INVESTIGATIVE PROCEDURE: Dates of Site Visit — 9/26/19, 10/11/19
Was Applicant Present — No
5. PROCESSING PROCEDURE: Application Received—10/9/19 (conditionally complete)
Office — Wilmington
6.
SITE DESCRIPTION:
(A)
Local Land Use Plan — Town of Oak Island
(B)
AEC(s) Involved: OH, PTA
(C)
Water Dependent: Yes
(D)
Intended Use: Public
(E)
Wastewater Treatment: Existing
— Municipal Sewer
Planned
- N/A
(F)
Type of Structures: Existing
— Primarily residential structures and accessways
Planned
— Dune construction and beach renourishment project
(G)
Estimated Annual Rate of Erosion: 0'-2'/year SBF: 2'/year
HABITAT DESCRIPTION:
[AREA)
DREDGED FILLED OTHER
(A) Vegetated Wetlands (coastal)
(B) Other (Below MHW)
304 acres
— 122 acres
(C) Other (Above MHW)
—71 acres
(II) Total Area Disturbed: —193 acres of beach fill
Primary Nursery Area: No
(1) Water Classification: SB Open: No
8. PROJECT SUMMARY: The applicant is proposing a beach nourishment project from 10'h Place
West to SE 63`d Street.
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North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Coastal Management
Wilmington office 1127 Cardinal Drive Extension I Wilmington, North Carolina 28405
910.796.7215

Town of Oak Island Beach Nourishment
Page Two
9. PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
The Town of Oak Island is a south facing barrier island located in Brunswick County between
Lockwoods Folly Inlet and the Town of Holden Beach to the west and the Town of Caswell Beach and
the Cape Fear River to the east. The Town of Caswell Beach is also located on the island. The Town of
Oak Island is approximately 9 miles in length. It is bordered by the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway
(AIW W) to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the south. The island is accessed via 2 bridges. The
western bridge leads into the Town of Oak Island located off NC Highway 211 via Middleton Blvd. The
eastern bridge leads onto the island between Oak Island and Caswell Beach and is accessed from NC
Highway 133.
The project site extends approximately 21,000 linear feet from IOth Place West to SE 63rd Street. The
long-term erosion rate for the project area ranges from 0'-2'/year. The Division's calculated 100-year
storm recession line for the island was predicted to be 180'.
In 2001, the Town of Oak Island received sand on its beachfront via a deepening project of the
Wilmington Harbor federal channel and a federal habitat restoration project. The Town also periodically
receives sand along the eastern portion of its shoreline through ongoing maintenance of the federal
navigation channel through the Wilmington Harbor Sand Management Plan. The Town also constructed a
project in 2015 which dredged a portion of Eastern Channel with beneficial placement of sand on the west
end of Oak Island (State Permit #21-15 & ACE Action ID #2014-02180). Earlier in 2019, the US Army
Corps of Engineers placed a small quantity of sand on the western end of the island through maintenance
dredging of the Lockwoods Folly Inlet crossing. Following Matthew, a dune restoration project was also
authorized in 2017 that permitted the Town to repair the eroded frontal dune. That project ultimately
resulted in the placement of material that elicited significant compatibility concerns (Minor Permit #0I-
17-11). Due to ongoing storm erosion, the frontal dune throughout the project area ranges from being
heavily eroded to absent. Most of the material from the 2017 constructed dune project has since eroded,
with exception of a few diminished sections at the eastern end of the project and near Ocean Crest pier.
The applicant has identified a —304 acre borrow site off Jay Bird Shoals to supply sand for the project.
The current water depths at the site vary from approximately -20 to -28' NAVD88. (See Sheet C-301/
Index 21 of 22). Sediments collected via Vibracore samples within the borrow site showed a Unified Soils
Classification System (USCS) designation of predominantly SP-SM or SW. Gravel sized material
(>4.76mm) ranged from 0-7% with a maximum composite weight of 4.25%. Fines (<0.0625 mm) in
individual samples ranged from 1.29% to 9.87% with a maximum composite weight of 6.79% overall. A
a low -intensity, long -duration linear feature was identified within the borrow site by a remote sensing
survey and a minimum 50' buffer area on each side of the anomaly is proposed (see Appendix D-
Archeological Remote Sensing for more information). A follow-up Phase II Remote -Sensing
Archeological Survey was later submitted for inclusion in the application package. Additionally, a
question came up at the local stakeholder group with neighboring communities whether contaminated
sediments could be found within the borrow area due to the Duke Energy Brunswick Electric Steam Plant
outfall. The outfall (conveying non -contact cooling water from the nuclear plant) terminates
approximately 2,000' (-0.38 miles) offshore, south of the discharge canal at Caswell Beach. The borrow
area is located approximately 1 mile off Caswell Beach, a distance of more than half a mile from the
outfall. According to a representative of Duke
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Coastal Management
Wilmington Office 1127 Cardinal Drive Extension I Wilmington, North Carolina 28405
910.796,7215

Town of Oak Island Beach Nourishment
Page Three
Energy, a composite sampler at the outfall pipe is tested by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
(NRC), testing levels for gamma emitters and tritium have consistently tested negligible to absent, and
results are in compliance with NRC guidelines and the State's National Pollutant Discharge Eliminatory
System (NPDES) permit.
The native beach was characterized using data collected by Athena earlier this year. Fines were calculated
at 1.88%, with sand comprising 98.96%, and granular and gravel material each at less than 1%. Mean
grain size was calculated at 0.27mm. Calcium carbonate was reported at 9.72%. Clast counts of shell and
rock material greater than 3" in size was initially evaluated at three 50,000 square foot sites; however,
only one location (Area 2) was within the project area boundaries. Concerns were expressed by the
applicant that the count performed within the project area may be artificially low due to recent bulldozing.
Forty-four (44) shells or rocks greater than 3" in size were found in Area 2, located between Stations
490+00 and 500+00. Due to rule language that requires the 50,000 square foot area assessed to be within
the project area, additional sampling from another area was requested of the applicant if it is felt that the
count at Site 2 does not accurately represent native material. Another cast count was subsequently
conducted between 22nd Place East and 25" Place East. In that area, 743 clasts were reported by the
applicant within a 50,000 square foot area. However, the report noted that most of the material was rock
remnants from the 2001 Turtle Habitat Restoration Project. As such, DCM does not concur that the area
qualifies as representative of the native beach and is requesting another location be evaluated. This
information will be relayed to agencies upon receipt of an acceptable report.
The waters in the project area fall within the Lumber and Cape Fear River Basins, 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, and there are no foreseen impacts to shellfish resources at this time.
PROPOSED PROJECT:
The applicant is proposing a beach nourishment and dune restoration project for the Town of Oak Island.
The project area would extend from 10" Place West to SE 63`d Street in the Town of Oak Island. The
overall proposed project length is approximately 4 miles (21,000 linear feet). The beach would be filled to
an elevation of+7' NAVD 88 with a 20: 1 slope out to tie into existing grade from -P to -10' NAVD88.
A dune is also proposed at an elevation ranging from 13.5' to 14.5' NAVD88, constructed with a 6' wide
dune crest, and at a 5:1 slope. This appears to advance the frontal dune area of the beach profile
approximately 35'- 65' waterward of its pre -Matthew location along approximately 30% of the project
area. Remaining sections appear to more closely follow the historic dune profile. Anticipated fill volumes
for the initial project range from 15 to 65 (average= 37) cubic yards per linear foot. As proposed, a gross
excavated volume of up to 1.1 million cubic yards of sand has been calculated to account for an estimated
placement loss of up to 30%. A final net volume of approximately 846,000 cubic yards is anticipated to
be placed on the beach, given current conditions. It is currently estimated that 5,315,000 square feet
would be filled below MHW (337,453 cubic yards). Of that material, approximately 2,178,000 square feet
(101,166 cubic yards) would also be located below MLW. Approximately 3,085,000 square feet (508,547
cubic yards) of beach fill material would be placed above the MHW line. The applicant also estimates
approximately 100' of fill would be placed waterward of the current MHW line on average, within a
maximum projected distance of 330' placed below MHW. While the application states the estimated
equilibrated recreational beach width (the distance between +7' NAVD88 to MHW) will roughly
approximate the existing beach width prior to Matthew, additional information submitted to
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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

Town of Oak Island Beach Nourishment
Page Four
DCM showed a slight overall narrowing of the beach width as compared to the more current recreational
beach width existing as of June 2019. A table provided by the applicant shows the average pre -Matthew
beach width at 66', the average pre -construction (June 2019) beach width at 81', and the average
anticipated post -construction equilibrated beach width at 63'. Estimated equilibration was simulated using
SBEACH 2-year return period storm. The applicant has also stated this project is the first phase of the
Town's overall plan and the Town intends to apply for a more comprehensive beach restoration project in
the near future.
As previously stated, the applicant states they propose to dredge the approximately 1.1 million cubic
yards of material from the Jay Bird Shoals site at a varying design depth to reduce impacts to the integrity
of the shoal feature and effects on the nearshore wave environment. The site has been divided into three
zones: Zone 1 would be excavated to a depth of -27' NAVD88. Zone 2 would be excavated to a design
depth of -31' NAVD88 and Zone 3's proposed dredge depth is -27' NAVD88. The material would be
dredged either via a hopper dredge, and transported to offshore temporary mooring, and then pumped by
submerged pipeline onto the beach, or excavated via cutterhead dredge and piped directly to the beach
from the borrow area.
10. ANTICIPATED IMPACTS
The proposed dredging associated with the project would result in impacts to up to 304 acres of
submerged bottom state waters. The project would result in the fill of approximately 71 acres of upper
beach (above MHW) and would fill approximately 122 acres of intertidal area and near -shore 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 is proposing to limit
work between November 16 through April 30, thereby avoiding peak periods of biological activity. The
applicant has also committed to monitoring sand placement throughout the project to ensure material is
compatible and complies with State Technical Standards (15A NCAA07H .0312) as well as utilizing
existing permanent beach accessways with heavy equipment and via existing public access corridors. The
narrative states they would locate staging areas for construction equipment off the beach, but daily
equipment staging would be located on the beach seaward of the dune line. The narrative also states the
applicant also agrees to abide by many of the other standard conditions as addressed in Section 4 of the
Narrative (Proposed Conservation Measures).
Submitted by: Heather Coats Date: October 21, 2019 Office: Wilmington
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