Oregon Inlet Q1 2024 Maintenance Event Request DCM

COASTAL PROTECTION ENGINEERING OF NORTH CAROLINA, INC
4038 MASONBORo Loop ROAD
COASTAL — ' WILMINGTON, NC28409
PROTECTION 910-399-1905
ENEINEERINR
January 5, 2024
Heather Coats
Beach & Inlet Management Project Coordinator
And
Gregg Bodnar
Major Permits Coordinator
North Carolina Division of Coastal Management
127 Cardinal Drive
Wilmington, NC 28405
Subject: Oregon Inlet Channel Maintenance Project — Written Notice of Intent to
Conduct Maintenance Dredging in Q1 of 2024 (Major Permits #49-19, 126-23,
127-23, and 128-23)
Dear Ms. Coats and Mr. Bodnar:
The Division of Coastal Management (DCM) issued a CAMA Major Permit (#49-19) for the
maintenance of Oregon Inlet on June 24, 2019. This permit was most recently modified on September
20, 2023 and has a current expiration date of December 31, 2024. This letter serves as a written notice
of Dare County's intent to initiate dredging under the subject permit.
Furthermore, the Division of Coastal Management (DCM) issued CAMA Major Permits for the
maintenance of Walter Slough, The Crack, and the Shortcut Route, which are all non-federal channels
(#126-23), Manteo Channels Ranges 4A through 17 Extension including the Wanchese Channel (#127-
23), and Old House Channel Range 2 (#128-23). These permits were issued on December 1, 2023 and
have an expiration date of December 1, 2028. This letter serves as a written notice of Dare County's
intent to initiate dredging under these permits as well.
Oregon Inlet Channels (Major CAMA Permit #49-19):
Per CAMA Major Permit #49-19, Dare County intends to utilize the dredge Miss Katie to maintain the
Oregon Inlet Ocean Bar, the portions of the Oregon Inlet to Hells Gate channel refereed to as the
Alternate Route, and Old House Channel Range 1 channels as shown on the attached work plans (Event
7 — QI 2024 Oregon Inlet Channel Maintenance Project) dated January 3, 2024. Dredged material
from these channels will be placed in proximity to the remaining portion of the Bonner Bridge refereed
to as the Proposed Inshore Disposal Area and in the Nearshore Disposal Area offshore Pea Island, in
accordance with the permits and the attached work plans. As previously coordinated with your office,
dredging has been conducted in the Ocean Bar Channel since August 2022 and in the portion of the
Oregon Inlet to Hells Gate channel referred to as the Alternate Route since October 2022. Dredging is
scheduled to continue as needed from January 1 through March 31 2024. Given the frequent need for
maintenance dredging at Oregon Inlet, Dare County anticipates the Miss Katie will perform regular

maintenance work under the subject permit for the foreseeable future. However, this correspondence is
specifically noticing for dredge operations anticipated to occur in Q1 of 2024 (January through March).
The forthcoming dredge maintenance event is anticipated to be limited to dredging within the portions
of the Oregon Inlet Ocean Bar Channel, the Oregon Inlet to Hells Gate Channel (Alternate Route), and
Old House Channel Range 1 as shown on the attached plans dated January 3, 2024. Dredging of the
Ocean Bar Channel will follow best water as determined through coordination with the USACE
Wilmington District Navigation Branch. Dredging will be limited to a 400-foot-wide channel with
bottom elevation of -16 ft. MLLW. Dredging of the Oregon Inlet to Hells Gate Channel (Alternate
Route) will be limited to the specific footprint shown on the attached plans to comply with requirements
of the Dept of Army permit. Dredging in this channel will be limited to a 100-foot-wide channel with
bottom elevation of -10 ft. MLLW. It is Dare County's understanding that the USACE Wilmington
District is likely to complete the NEPA review and documentation that will allow the Alternate Route to
be maintained in the position of best water prior to March 31, 2024. When that occurs, Dare County
will inform DCM of any changes to the proposed location of the Alternate Route. Dredging of the Old
House Channel Range 1 Channel will be limited to the specific footprint shown on the attached plans,
which includes a 100-foot wide channel with bottom elevation of-12 ft. MLLW.
Based on the latest bathymetric surveys conducted for the Ocean Bar Channel by the USACE
Wilmington District Navigation Branch on October 26, 2023, the estimated volume of material within
the channel template is approximately 15,000 cubic yards. Based on bathymetric surveys conducted by
the USACE Wilmington District Navigation Branch on December 12, 2023, the estimated volume of
material within the channel template for the proposed Oregon Inlet to Hells Gate Channel (Alternate
Route) is approximately 30,000 cubic yards. It should be noted shallow depths within portions of the
channel template prohibited the USACE survey vessel from collecting data (between station 6,500 and
7,500). The volume of material within the channel along that portion of the channel template is not
included in the estimated 30,000 cubic yards. Based on bathymetric surveys conducted by the USACE
Wilmington District Navigation Branch on October 24, 2023, the estimated volume of material within
the channel template for Old House Channel Range 1 is approximately 4,000 cubic yards.
Permit Condition #5 of the CAMA Major Permit states, "Prior to the initiation of any dredgng a tivties
autbori.�ed by this permit, the permittee shall, in coordination rvitb the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
(DNCR), develop and implement an arcbaeological survey of the proposed proyict area. Initiation of permitted dredging
a tiv fies shaft not be until written approval is obtained from DNCR, and a copy of such aj prowl bas been submitted
to the Division of Coastal Management "
In a letter dated August 15, 2022, DNCR stated that with the present alignment of the Ocean Bar Channel
the dredging project will avoid the assumed coordinates of the potentially National Register of Historic
Places (NRHP) eligible shipwreck W.G. Townsend. Through further coordination, a 100-foot radius
buffer has been established around the coordinates of the W.G. Townsend to avoid any impacts. In a
letter dated July 29, 2022, DNCR concurred to the USACE Wilmington Districts request for emergency
dredging within the specific footprint of the "Western Alternate Route", which is the channel referred to
in the attached plans as Hells Gate to Oregon Inlet (Alternate Route). Based on this previous
coordination with the DNCR for Q3-2022, and the fact that Old House Channel Range 1 is a fixed
location that has previously been dredged by the USACE, Dare County and its consultants are of the
opinion that CAMA Major Permit Condition #5 has been satisfied.
In accordance with Permit Condition #7, Dare County worked with the USACE regulatory project
manager and EJE Dredging to confirm the dredge has been constructed in accordance with the USACE
hopper dredge plant specifications and that the dredge plant complies with the conditions of the Corps'

2004 FONSI. The inspections were signed off on by the County, EJE Dredging, and Josh Pelletier on
August 26, 2022.
A pre -construction conference has been scheduled for January 9, 2024 at 1:30 pm in accordance with
Condition #10.
Walter Slough and The Crack Non -Federal Channels (Major CAMA Permit #126-23):
Per CAMA Major Permit #126-23, Dare County intends to utilize the dredge Miss Katie to maintain
Walter Slough and The Crack as shown on the attached work plans (Q1 — 2024 Central Dare County
Dredge Material Maintenance Project Walter Slough and The Crack) dated January 5, 2023. Dredged
material from these channels will be placed in proximity to the remaining portion of the Bonner Bridge
referred to as the Proposed Inshore Disposal Area, in the Nearshore Disposal Area offshore Pea Island,
and in the Proposed Oregon Inlet West Disposal Areas, in accordance with the permits and the attached
work plans.
While the Major CAMA Permit and Division of Water Resources Water Quality Certification have been
issued for this project, the Dept. of Army Permit has not yet been issued. The Dept. of Army Permit is
anticipated to be issued prior to March 31, 2024. Given the frequent need for maintenance dredging
within the subject channels, upon issuance of the Dept. of Army Permit, Dare County anticipates the
Miss Katie will perform regular maintenance work under the subject permit for the foreseeable future.
However, this correspondence is specifically noticing for dredge operations anticipated to occur in Q1
of 2024 (January through March), in accordance with Condition 9 of the permit.
The forthcoming dredge maintenance event is anticipated to be limited to dredging within the portions
of Walter Slough and The Crack as shown on the attached plans dated January 5, 2023. Dredging of
both Walter Slough and The Crack will follow best water. Dredging will be limited to a 100-foot wide
channel with bottom elevation of-14 f . MLLW. The attached work plans show the proposed best water
channel configuration based on surveys conducted in October 2023. Based on the latest bathymetric
surveys conducted for Walter Slough and The Crack in October 2023, the estimated volume of material
within the channel template included under CAMA Major Permits #126-23, based on the latest available
bathymetric data is approximately 269,000 cubic yards.
Permit Condition #5 of the CAMA Major Permit states, "To minimize impacts to submerged aquatic
vegetation (SAV) and shellfish habitat, all dredging and disposal activities shall be a minimum of
300' from all known SAV and shellfish beds. Updated SAV and shellfish resource surveys shall be used
to determine the location ofany SAV and/or shellfish resources in the vicinity oftheproposed channel
and disposal location. The surveys shall be provided to the Division of Coastal Management at least 2
weeks prior to the initiation ofany dredge operations. Ifthe 300 foot buffer is not practicable or new
SAV is identified, the permittee shall receive authorization from the Division in consultation with
other agencies. " In September 2023 CPE collected drone imagery to identify SAV coverage in
proximity to the proposed channel and disposal areas. In October 2023, CPE collected sidescan sonar
data and ground truthing data to evaluate shellfish beds. The results of the SAV and Shellfish bed
investigations have been incorporated into a report scheduled to be provided to the DCM by January
12, 2024. SAV coverage determined through the September 2023 investigation are shown on the
attached work plans. No shellfish beds were identified through the October 2023 investigation. As
shown on the attached work plans, some SAV was identified within 300 feet of the proposed channel.
Dare County is requesting DCM provide authorization through consultation with other agencies, on
the proposed channel alignment.

Permit Condition #10 of the CAMA Major Permit states, "Prior to the initiation of hopper or pipeline
operations, other than to the Nearshore Pea Island Dredge Disposal Template, the permittee shall
notify the Division of Coastal Management to determine if additional authorization is required. In
accordance with this permit condition, Dare County is notifying the Division of Coastal Management
that in addition to the Nearshore Pea Island Dredge Disposal Template, it intends to use the Inshore
Disposal Area located on the south side of Oregon Inlet near the remaining portion of the Bonner Bridge,
and may use the Oregon Inlet West Disposal Areas under extenuating circumstances as determined by
the Oregon Inlet Task Force, all of which are shown on the attached work plans. Please let us know if
additional authorization is required to utilize these areas.
Permit Condition #11 of the CAMA Major Permit states "The permittee coordinate with the N.C.
Department of Cultural Resources (NCDCR) to develop an archaeological survey of the proposed
project area. A copy of any approval should be submitted to the Division of Coastal Management".
CPE and Tidewater Atlantic Research (TAR) coordinated with the NCDCR to develop an archeological
survey of the proposed project area. The survey was conducted in October 2023 and the report is
currently being finalized. We anticipate submitting that report to the NCDCR by January 12, 2024. Once
the report has been submitted, and NCDCR has reviewed the results, CPE will provide the DCM with a
copy of written approval prior to initiating any dredge activities that fall under Permit #126-23.
A pre -construction conference has been scheduled for January 9, 2024 at 1:30 pm in accordance with
Condition #14.
Manteo Channel (Major CAMA Permit #127-23) and Old House Channel Range 2 (Major CAMA
Permit #128-23):
Per CAMA Major Permits #127-23 and #128-23, Dare County intends to utilize the dredge Miss Katie to
maintain the Manteo Channel Ranges 14 through 17, Wanchese Channel Ranges 14A, 14B, and 14C as
shown on the attached work plans (Q1-2024 Central Dare County Dredge Material Maintenance Project
Manteo Channel) dated January 5, 2024, and Old House Channel Range 2 as shown on the attached work
plans (Q1— 2024 Central Dare County Dredge Material Maintenance Project Old House Channel Range
2) dated January 5, 2024. Dredged material from these channels will be placed in proximity to the
remaining portion of the Bonner Bridge referred to as the Proposed Inshore Disposal Area, in the
Nearshore Disposal Area offshore Pea Island, and in the Proposed Oregon Inlet West Disposal Areas,
in accordance with the permits and the attached work plans.
While the Major CAMA Permits and Division of Water Resources Water Quality Certifications have been
issued for this project, the Dept. of Army Permit has not yet been issued. The Dept. of Army Permit is
anticipated to be issued prior to March 31, 2024. Given the frequent need for maintenance dredging
within the subject channels, upon issuance of the Dept. of Army Permit, Dare County anticipates the
Miss Katie will perform regular maintenance work under the subject permit for the foreseeable future.
However, this correspondence is specifically noticing for dredge operations anticipated to occur in Q1
of 2024 (January through March), in accordance with Condition 9 of the permit While the Miss Katie has
the ability to sidecast dredge, no sidecast dredging is anticipated to occur within the Manteo Channel or
Old House Channel Range 2 during Q1-2024.
The forthcoming dredge maintenance event is anticipated to be limited to dredging within the portions
of the Manteo Channel Ranges 14 through 17, the Wanchese Channel Ranges 14A, 14B, and 14C, and
Old House Channel Range 2 as shown on the attached plans dated January 5, 2024. Dredging of all of
these channels will be limited to the specific footprint shown on the attached plans, which includes a
100-foot-wide channel with bottom elevation of -14 ft. MLLW. Table 1 includes the various estimated

volumes of material within the channel template included under CAMA Major Permits #127-23 and
#128-23, based on the latest available bathymetric data.
Table 1. Volume of material within the channel template that mate be dredged in 01-2024.
Range 14A, 1413, and 14C
Date of Survey Data
12/7/23 (USACE)
Volume in Channel
TemplateChanneiRange
102,000
Range 14
9/25/23 (USACE)
160,000
Range 15
10/2/23(USACE)
70,000
Range 16
12/19/23 (McKim & Creed) and 12/20/23 (USACE)
25,000
Range 17
8/1/23 (USACE) and 12/19/23 (McKim & Creed)
21,000
Old House Channel Range 2
10/4/23 and 12/5/23 (USACE)
327,000
Permit Condition #11 (CAMA Major Permit #127-23) and Condition #10 (CAMA Major Permit #128-
23) state, "Prior to the initiation of hopper or pipeline operations, other than to the Nearshore Pea
Island Dredge Disposal Template, the permittee shall notify the Division of Coastal Management to
determine if additional authorization is required. In accordance with this permit condition, Dare
County is notifying the Division of Coastal Management that in addition to the Nearshore Pea Island
Dredge Disposal Template, it intends to use the Inshore Disposal Area located on the south side of
Oregon Inlet near the remaining portion of the Bonner Bridge, and may use the Oregon Inlet West
Disposal Areas under extenuating circumstances as determined by the Oregon Inlet Task Force, all of
which are shown on the attached work plans. Please let us know if additional authorization is required
to utilize these areas.
A pre -construction conference has been scheduled for January 9, 2024 at 1:30 pm in accordance with
Condition #15 (CAMA Major Permit #127-23) and Condition #14 (CAMA Major Permit #128-23).
Please feel free to contact me anytime for further clarification or explanation of the project.
Very truly yours,
COASTA PROTECTION ENGINEERING OF NORTH CAROLINA, INC.
G �/
Ken Willson
Project Manager
CC:
Robert Outten, Dare County
Steve House, Dare County
Barton Grover, Dare County
Josh Pelletier, USACE Washington, NC Regulatory Office
Robert Tankard, NC DWR
Sabrina Henry, NPS