20011797 Ver 2_Other Agency Comments_20101018

NCD NR
North Carolina Department of Environment
Division of Marine Fisheries ?'?
Beverly Eaves Perdue Dr. Louis B. Daniel III (>,,xdr c q an
Governor Director secretary
MEMORANDUM: ((? '?II
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TO: Doug Huggett, DCM Major Permits Coordinator
OAT 1 9 2010
THROUGH: Anne Deaton, DMF Habitat Section Chief
DEW • WATER aWAM
FROM: Jessi O'Neal, DMF Habitat Alteration Permit Reviewer
SUBJECT: Carolina Marina and Yacht Club - REDESIGN
DATE: October 14, 2010
The North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) submits the following comments pursuant to
General Statute 113-131. DMF has reviewed the redesign for the CAMA Major permit application from
Carolina Marina, Inc. regarding the construction of Carolina Marina and Yacht Club on the AIWW near
the Carolina Beach Inlet, New Hanover County, NC. This proposed facility includes 200-slip dry storage
and a 159-foot concrete pier with three boat drop locations. The site is located in a designated primary
nursery area (PNA). PNA is protected by Division of Coastal Management rules that prohibit new
dredging in Primary Nursery Areas and DMF prohibits the use of bottom disturbing fishing gear.
As discussed in our previous comments, DMF concluded that depths in portions of the drop zone and
floating dock area are too shallow to conduct these activities without disturbance to the bottom
substrate in PNA. To avoid bottom impacts in PNA, DMF recommended redesigning the pier in order to
confine the drop zone to depths greater than 2.5 feet, locate all floating docks in depths greater than 2.0
feet MLW, and remove all wave attenuators. DMF subsequently met with the applicant in September
2010 and discussed these recommendations as well as additional information needed for the next
submittal.
Although the redesign does represent a reduction of impacts to PNA, DMF is not certain that the drop
zone is entirely located in depths greater than 2.5 feet or that the floating docks are all entirely located
in greater than 2.0 feet MLW. Although, the total width of the platform at the end of the pier was
reduced from 71 feet to 60 feet, a further reduction in width is required to ensure sufficient depths for
both the drop zone and the adjacent floating docks. DMF recommends eliminating one of the 14-foot
drop zone lanes to result in a width reduction of 18 feet on the platform, drop zones entirely in the
deepest waters, and adjacent portions of the floating docks in depths of more than 2 feet. The
northernmost "employee only" dock should be reduced in width from 6 to 4 feet and not utilized as a
permanent or temporary slip. Handrails should be installed on the landward portion of all floating docks
and no docking should occur on the landward side of these docks.
A detailed description of the proposed boat lift system should be provided including dimensions of the
lift cradle itself, the depth required to float the boats off, and the justification for including the particular
lift system proposed. Depth requirements in the drop zone described above do not take into account a
larger than normal sized forklift cradle. If the type of boat lift cradle proposed is greater in height than a
One
5285 Hwy 70 West, Morehead City, North Carolina 28557 NorthCarofina
Phone: [phone]W FAX: [phone] Internet: www.ncdmf.net Natltrally
An Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer
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NCDENR
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Division of Marine Fisheries
Beverly Eaves Perdue Dr. Louis B. Daniel III Dee Freeman
Governor Director Secretary
standard, forklift,cradlel then additional depth will be required in the drop zone dependent upon that
di.gerence:
DMF continues to be concerned that large in-water structures such as this one will accelerate localized
shoaling. This possibility should be considered through the design process, especially for projects in
PNAs, where dredging.is prohibited and any future requests for dredging will be opposed by DMF.
In summary, DMF recommends requiring the platform/drop zone width to be reduced to 42 feet, the
drop zone depths to be greater than 2.5 feet, the floating docks in depths greater than 2.0 feet, the
reduction in width of the northern floating dock, and a full description of the boat lift system to be
utilized (which may increase the depth requirements in the drop zone). DMF recommends denial if
these design parameters cannot be met by the applicant.
Thank you for the opportunity to review and comment on this proposed project. Please feel free to
contact Jessi O'Neal at [phone] if you have any further questions or concerns.
5285 Hwy 70 West, Morehead City, North Carolina 28557
Phone: [phone] FAX: [phone] Internet: www.ncdmf.net
An Equal Opportunity 1 Affirmative Action Employer
NorthCarolina
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