FINAL Hatteras Inlet Project Report August 2021

Kenneth Willson
Program/Project Manager
Coastal Protection Engineering of North Carolina, Inc.
COASTAL
PROTECTION
ENGINEERING
September 1, 2021
David Bernhart
NMFS —Protected Resources Division
263 13th Avenue South
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Subject: Hatteras Inlet Project Report (USACE Action ID. SAW-2016-02140)
Dear Mr. Bemhart:
4038 Masonboro Loop Road
Wilmington, North Carolina
Tel: [phone]
[e-mail]
This letter serves as the project report required by special condition #24 of the above referenced permit,
which allowed Dare County to conduct maintenance dredging within the Connector Channel Corridor located
between Ocracoke Island and Hatteras Island, North Carolina. Special condition #24 requires that a project
report summarizing the results of the dredging and the sea turtle take (if any) be submitted to NMFS within
30 working days of completion and that the reports shall contain information on project location, start-up
and completion dates, cubic yards of material dredged, incidental takings (include photographs, if available)
and sightings of protected species, mitigating actions taken, screening type (inflow, overflow) utilized, daily
water temperatures, name of dredge, names of endangered species observers, percent observer coverage, and
any other information the contractor deems relevant.
Project Description:
As detailed in our correspondence dated May 21, 2021, in March and April 2021, maintenance dredging was
performed by the USACE Dredges Merrit and Murden, which removed approximately 26,000 cubic yards of
sand from the permitted channel. The work resulted in controlling depths of approximately -9 ft. MLLW
through the South Ferry Channel with a minimum width of approximately 60 feet in the narrowest point of
the dredged channel at approximately elevation -7 ft. MLLW.
Approximately 20 days after the completion of this project, heavy shoaling was observed in the channel in the
May 17ffi, 2021 conditional survey (Attachment 1). Residents and business owners of Dare County were
concerned that the conditions of the channel, much less any deterioration of the channel, could have severe
economic impacts on the local economy, which depends heavily on the summer time fishing and boating
season. The USACE, the County, and the County's consultant (CPE) agreed that the best way to proceed
with attempting to maintain this vital navigation corridor, while balancing environmental concerns, was to
conduct 2 to 5 days of dredging within the channel and evaluate the effectiveness of the maintenance.
On June 4"', 2021, DCM and USACE granted relief to conduct sidecast dredging for 2-5 days between June
11 2021 and June 15, 2021. On June 13"', 2021, the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) operated Sidecast
Dredge Merritt began dredging in the Connector Channel/South Ferry Channel in the vicinity of Hatteras

Inlet. The Dredge Merritt conducted maintenance dredging in the channel for approximately 2 days between
June 13' and June 151". A comparison of surveys conducted by the USACE June 1", 2021 and June 17", 2021,
indicated the removal of approximately 3,000 CY of material within the area dredged. Based on a comparison
of surveys conducted on April 271", 2021 and June 1", 2021, approximately 9,000 CY of material shoaled in to
the channel between these two maintenance events, suggesting more shoaling occurred between the
March/April event and the June event than was removed during the June event
Following the dredging in June, local mariners reported that the dredging was beneficial however continued
shoaling was being observed. Following coordination with State and Federal agencies, Dare County was
granted additional relief on July 15, 2021, allowing dredge operations to be conducted between July 20, 2021
and July 30, 2021 for an approximate 3 day period. The Dredge Merritt conducted maintenance dredging in
the channel between July 26' and July 28'". Based on a comparison of surveys conducted on June 17', 2021
and July 22vd, 2021, approximately 6,000 CY of material shoaled into the channel between the June and July
maintenance events. A comparison of surveys conducted by the USACE July 22vd, 2021 and August 2vd, 2021,
indicated the removal of approximately 2,000 CY of material within the area dredged.
A survey was conducted on August 24', 2021 to monitor that status of the South Ferry Channel. A
comparison of surveys conducted on August 2vd, 2021 and August 241", 2021, indicate approximately 1,400
CY ofmaterial shoaled in to the channel between these two maintenance events. The rate of shoaling observed
over this 24-day period is less than what was observed between the March/April and June events and between
the June and July events.
Survey charts for the April 27, May 17, June 1, June 17, July 22, August 2, and August 24, 2021 survey events
are provided in Attachment 1.
Mitigation Actions and Observations:
In accordance with the permit, the applicant provided written notice to the USACE Regulatory Division prior
to June maintenance dredging activities. This written notice dated May 21, anticipated dredging to occur
between June 1" and June 15', 2021. Additionally, in accordance with the permit, the applicant provided
written notice to the USACE Regulatory Division prior to July maintenance dredging activities. This written
notice dated July 9, anticipated dredging to occur between July 201" and July 31", 2021.
As previously described, the NC DCM and USACE granted relief for both the June and July maintenance
events based on information provided by the County and its consultant The need for relief was due to the
high rates of shoaling in the channel and a need to maintain safe navigation through the channel.
The County and its consultant (CPE) coordinated closely with both NC DCM and USACE regulatory staff
on the progress of the project In accordance with the permit, construction activities complied with the
"Guidelines for Avoiding Impacts to the West Indian Manatee". Furthermore, sidecast dredge operations
ceased operations when the shoals on either side of the channel, on which material was being discharged,
appeared to approach an elevation of MLW. This was done to avoid placement of material above the MLW
to avoid impacts to federally listed Seabeach Amaranth, Piping Plover, Red Knot, Green sea turtle, Hawksbill
sea turtle, Kemp's ridley sea turtle, Leatherback sea turtle, Loggerhead sea turtle, and their habitat.
To the knowledge of the contractor, no protected federally listed species was killed, injured, captured,
harassed, or otherwise harmed by the conduct of the maintenance activities (i.e. no incidental takings). No
protected species were observed during the conduct of the work; however, protected species observers were
not required as a condition of the permit. Furthermore, in accordance with the permit material excavated
by the Sidecast Dredge Merritt was placed at least 100 linear feet from known SAV resources. Material

excavated by the Dredge Murden was transported through Hatteras Inlet and bottom dumped in an area
offshore Ocracoke Island.
Please feel free to contact me should you have any additional questions regarding this project.
Very truly yours,
COASTAL TY.OTECTION ENGINEERING OF NORTH CAROLINA, INC.
Ken Willson
Project Manager
CC: Josh Pelletier —
USACE
Fritz Rhode —
NMFS-HCD
Heather Coats
— NC DCM
Gregg Bodnar
— NC DCM
Brent Johnson
— Dare County
Attachments: Attachment
1 — Survey Charts

Attachment 1— Survey Charts

US Army Corps
of Engineers
Wilmington District
U)
U�
r
N
V
O_
N
O
NI
U
Q
F
Q
J
U)
¢
a
��
o�
=
Z
Y
U
0
O
}
y
m
w
00
}
0
Q
00
W
J
w
LL
a
O
IL
U)
2E
a
<
W
U)
z
W
J
N
O
N
W
N
of
N
W
J
CA
z
CO
E
N
W
W
Ll
LL
m
J
m
O
o
N
d
Q
W
J
LLI
00
N
Q
H
W
J
0
}
W
Q
U
Ix
0
0
c)
Wof
>
(D
N
IL
CL
Q
Q
Q
(Ij
U)
2E
0
Y W
LLI
in ow¢ S Q
V_ z = U
= zWp L ��
z o Qi L z
>az. ILL Qi Q
0 Qoz U)�
N

US Army Corps
of Engineers
Wilmington District
CAROLINA
,r-r
co
U�
LO
0
N
0
U
NI
z
a
=
O
v�
S
Z
01
Y
O
�
m
Y
m
0
w
m
U)
Q
w
Z
w
>
CL
U
a
O
LL
a
U)i
a
2
w
U
z
w
N
U
N
N
J
Q
N
W
P-
Of
H
Q
D
W
°6
of
J
z
N
(L
N
LL
m
O
m
O
N
Q
C7
M
W
J
w
ro
Q
H
W
WQ
U
d'
0
w
O
W
N
Q
Q
Q
N
L.n
2
2
2
O
W
Lu
in
i �'o S '0oW< V a
U WZ= U U
= zwp t
z LL Z W /LA++ Z
,^ W �0 ' W N
v QO2 N K
O
_AMA0

US Army Corps
of Engineers
Wilmington District
U)
Ui
0
0
o_
N
O
N�
Q
Q
J
U)
a
¢
o�
=
Z
Y
U
0
O
}
y
m
w
00
}
w
Q
00
W
J
w
LL
a
O
a¢
U)
2E
a
w
z
w
U
J
w
H
N
N
w
Z
O
Q
W
N
m
Za
0)O
O
O
z
c'?
W
J
W
NO
H
Q
H
W
J
0
W
Q
U
0
U)
w
>
N
Q
Q
Q
(Ij
U)
2E
0
W
LLI
LL U Z ^� Q
J
i
V! ❑W� Q
U �Z° U L)
= Z
z o Qi L z
>azo ILL Qi G
0 Qoz U)�
N

US Army Corps
of Engineers
Wilmington District
MM
U)
U
�I
o_
N
O
NI
LL
Q
=I
U)
LL
Z
a
o�
=
Z
U
0
O
}
y
00
w
wW
}
m
W
z
W
J
LL
a
O
IL
U)
:
a
<
w
U)
z
w
U
J
w_
H
N
N
w
Z
O
Q
W
W
O
0)O
Z
a
uj
J
ui
Q
N
F
W
0
O
W
J
U
}
Q
U
O
`w
U)
w
i
0
N
Q
Q
Q
N
2
2E
0
W
�A,
Y
�>
J
\V
❑WK
=
Q
U
=
zWp
L
��
d
OLLz
Qi
L
z
;aO
LL
m
�
a
0
Moz
w
p
7 �
A
2
�

US Army Corps
of Engineers
Wilmington District
M
m
U�
N
n
O
N
O
Cq
u-
�I
Q
Q
U)
w
a
v�
o�
I--Z
0
U
O
}
y
m
w
m
}
w
a
m
w
J
K
LL
a
O
a
a
<
w
U)
z
w
U
J
w_
X
N
W
N
Z
J
O
J
w
N
m
O
N
Z)
o
C7
M
W
J
Q
N
Q
H
Lu
0
W
J
}
w
¢
V
I
o
W
i
N
Q
Q
Q
N
cn
MI
O
W
W
r Q
i 't o
`� oW<o VOf
�, U
z o Z W /LA++ Z
W N D ILL L W N
/N!1 QOZ 'A d'
N j
_ 4.0
0

US Army Corps
of Engineers
Wilmington District
U)
Ui
N
O
O
O_
N
O
NI
Q
Q
J
a
U)
¢
o�
=
Z
Y
U
0
O
}
y
m
w
00
}
0
Q
00
W
J
w
LL
a
O
a¢
U)
2E
a
w
U)
z
w
U
J
w
N
O
>
N
�
_
F
N
O
X
U)
O
N
w
U
m
0
N
O
o
rn
O
Q
r?
W
J
W
Q
O
Q
H
w
W
J
0
W
Q
U
d'
0
U)
W
>
N
Q
Q
Q
N
U)
2
0
LLI
Y
U Z
Q
IL
U'
z
s
V
ca
so
U_
oW0
wZ°
V
a
=
zWp
L
��
a.z
o
Qi
L
z
>aO
11,,
LL
Qi
Q
0
af0Bf z
7
w
0
Q U-
H
A
2

US Army Corps
of Engineers
Wilmington District
CAROLINA
m
U�
N
00
O
N
O
NI
U
g
�
a
a
CO
¢
v�
o�
=
Z
Y
U
of
O
}
Y
m
w
m
}
Q
m
w
J
K
LL
a
O
a
(nn
a
w
U)
z
w
U
J
w
N
_
N
H
O
N
U)
W
D
N
J
Z
W
m1,-
O
N
(D
Q
W
J
Q
N
Q
H_
Lu
0
W
J
U
}
w
¢
V
I
o
W
i
N
Q
Q
Q
N