NCWRC. CMDF_Town of Surf City_Banks Nourishment

ROY COOPER
MICHAEL S. REGAN
BRAXTON DAVIS
December 23, 2019
MEMORANDUM:
FROM: Heather Coats, Beach & Inlet Management Project Coordinator
NCDEQ - Division of Coastal Management
127 Cardinal Drive Ext., Wilmington, NC 28405
Fax: [phone] (Courier 04-16-33)
heather.coatsrcDncdenr.gov
SUBJECT: CAMA /Dredge & Fill Application Review
Applicant: Town of Surf City
Project Location: South of Humphrey Ave to north of 9l" Street, adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean/AIWW,
Surf City, Pender & Onslow counties
Proposed Project: Beach nourishment project
Please indicate below your agency's position or viewpoint on the proposed project and
return this form to Heather Coats at the address above by January 15, 2019. If you
have any questions regarding the proposed project, contact Heather Coats at [phone]
when appropriate, in-depth comments with supporting data is requested.
REPLY: This agency has no objection to the project as proposed.
*Additional comments may be attached**
This agency has no comment on the proposed project.
V// This agency approves of the project only if the recommended changes
are incorporated. See attached.
This agency objects to the project for reasons described in the attached comments.
PRINT NAME rl 1 -)�WRn
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State of North Carolina I Environmental Quality I Coastal Management
127 Cardinal Drive Ext , Wilmington, NC 28405 919 796 7215

® North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission 9
Gordon Myers, Executive Director
MEMORANDUM
TO: Heather Coats
NC Division of Coastal Management
FROM: Maria T. Dunn, Coastal Coordinator
Habitat Conservation Division
DATE: January 15, 2020
SUBJECT: CAMA Dredge/Fill Permit Application, Town of Surf City, Pender County, North
Carolina.
Biologists with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) reviewed the permit
application with regard to impacts on fish and wildlife resources. The project site is located within the
waters of Banks Channel as well as the oceanfront shoreline from south of Humphrey Avenue to north of
9t' Street, extending the entire limits of the Town of Surf City and tapering into the limits of Topsail
Beach and North Topsail Beach, NC. Our comments are provided in accordance with provisions of the
Coastal Area Management Act (G.S. 113A-100 through 113A-128), as amended, Sections 401 and 404 of
the Clean Water Act, as amended, and the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (48 Stat. 401, as amended;
16 U.S_C. 661 et seq.).
The Town of Surf City proposes a beach nourishment project that would place material dredged from
Banks Channel and material mined from the ST Wooten 421 Mine along the entire oceanfront shoreline
of the town (approximately 32,500'). Previously permitted activities to manage the shoreline include a
permit for beach bulldozing, Permit No. 190-05, and a modification of that permit in 2019 to allow dune
restoration. For the current proposal, the beach would be filled to an elevation of +5'NAVD88 with a 20:1
slope to tie into existing ground grade around -10' NAVD88. The berm fill would vary between 50' to
125' with an average 85' in width. No dune construction is specified in this proposal, though the applicant
states repair may occur to dunes if escarped, returning them to a 5:1 slope_ Approximately 1.6 MCY of
material is projected to be used to complete the project. The native beach material was characterized
using data collected in 2018. Fines were calculated at 0%, sand composition at 99%, granular and gravel
material less than 0.5% (overall), mean grain size at 025mm, and calcium carbonate at 6.6%. The
proposed dredging within Banks Channel closely follows the template for the Topsail Beach project
(Permit No. 22-09), but eliminates the side channels, cut -through and connector channels, Topsail Creek,
and inlet dredging_ Water depths would be dredged to -16' +2 MLW from Stations 35+00 to 40+00 and -
Mailing Address: Habitat Conservation • 1721 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]

12'+2' MLW from Station 41+00 to 245+00. Channel width is limited to 200'. Banks Channel material
was characterized to be 94.1% sand with a mean grain size of 0.33mnn, 0.1% fines, less than 3% gravel,
and 16.5% calcium carbonate. The dredged material would be delivered to the beach at Oleander Drive
via a temporary pipeline crossing sleeve over NC Hwy 210 that meets NCDOT's preferred crossing
method. Material from the ST Wooten 421 Mine is calculated to be 98% sand with a mean grain size of
0.27mm, less than 2% fines, and 0.1% gravel. To reduce the risk of large material being placed on the
beach, all mined material from the ST Wooten 421 Mine will be screened at the mine site prior to truck
haul. Access to the beach would be via existing vehicle crossovers at Kinston Avenue and Broadway
Avenue. The area of Banks Channel to be dredged is classified SA by the Environmental Management
Commission and is not designated by NC Division of Marine Fisheries (NCDMF) as a primary nursery
area (PNA). The Atlantic Ocean has a SB classification.
The NCWRC has reviewed the project application and is familiar with the project area and the
environmental resources. Our agency has also reviewed and commented on similar projects in the
vicinity. Federally listed species found within the area include wintering piping plover (Charadrius
melodus) and red -knot (Candris canutus rufa), as well as Kemp's Ridley (Lepidochelys kempi), hawksbill
(Eretmochelys imbricata), leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), loggerhead (Caretta caretta), and green
(Chelonia mydas) sea turtles. In addition to the federally listed species, other shorebird species utilize the
inlet complex, sand spits, shoals, and marshes. Although the portion of the project within Banks Channel
is not directly within a designated PNA, the adjacent waters and marshes are designated by NCDMF and
exhibit PNA functions.
We have considered the project proposal and the avoidance and minimization measures presented to
minimize impacts to the above resources. Therefore, we request the following measures be included as
conditions prior to permit issuance:
• To minimize impacts to nesting sea turtles, a May I --November 15 (or until the last known sea
turtle nest has hatched) moratorium should be observed. All activities on the beach, including the
placement of material, any necessary remediation, and the removal of equipment should be
completed by May 1.
• The NCWRC recognizes the importance of marine resources in the area and defers any in -water
moratoria recommendations to the NCDMF to protect their marine resources.
• Several shorebird species utilize habitat areas near and within the project area. Efforts should be
made to avoid and not harass birds during all aspects of the project, even if the work being
conducted is within the allowed working window.
• Beach quality material that is compatible with native beach material and meets the NC Division
of Coastal Management's sediment criteria is essential to insure quality habitat. If during
construction non -compatible material is placed on the beach, nourishment activities should stop,
state and federal agencies should be notified, and it should be determined if the dredge needs to
move to an alternative location within the borrow source to once again obtain compatible
material. Mitigative measures should then be implemented, removing the non -compatible
material from the shore.
• NCWRC concurs all material should be screened at the upland borrow site prior to trucking to the
beach. This removes the need to have a screening station near the project area, insures
undesirable material does not reach the beach and dune systems, and saves time and money by
not transporting non -desirable material.

• Material used to restore dunes should follow beach compatibility standards, including grain size
and color. Any non -compatible material placed on the dunes or beach should be removed
immediately. Non -compatible material, including organic material, clay, and rocks, adversely
affect sea turtle nesting activities and sea turtle nest viability.
• AIthough not described in this permit application, any sand fence installation or dune planting
should not be conducted without consultation with the NCWRC and US Fish and Wildlife
Service. Sand fence installation can have significant influence on sea turtle nesting activities,
especially when dunes that have less steep slopes serve as nesting habitat and as dunes, including
fencing and planted grasses, are positioned closer to mean high water.
The NCWRC appreciates the opportunity to review and comment on this permit application Please
contact one at [phone] or at maria.dunnrncwildlife.org with any additional information,
comments, or questions.