20191234 Ver 1_DMF Comments_20191031

Strickland, Bev
From:Bodnar, Gregg
Sent:Thursday, October 31, 2019 8:49 AM
To:Dunn, Maria T.; Hair, Sarah E CIV CESAW CESAD (US); Mairs, Robb L
Subject:FW: Mark Yusko
Attachments:Yusko CommentsV2.docx; Cama permit review - M Yusko 9-16-19.pdf
Hey all,

These are the comments that I have so far (DMF) and I have sent them to the agent. I want to check in with him since I
have not heard a reply and wanted to check in to see if you all had any comments to pass along as well.

Thanks,

Gregg

From: Bodnar, Gregg
Sent: Monday, October 28, 2019 2:59 PM
To: [e-mail]
Cc: Dail, Jason <[e-mail]>
Subject: Mark Yusko

Afternoon Mr. Walton,

DMF has sent in some comments (see above) requesting to limit the dredge footprint. I believe that DWR is in line with
these comments as well. State Commerce has requested consistency with DMF as well. These comments are in relation
to the area designated as SAV habitat by DMF.

Take a look at the comments and give me a call when you can to discuss.

Thanks,

Gregg

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MICHAEL S. REGAN
BRAXTON DAVIS
September 16, 2019
MEMORANDUM:
FROM: Courtney Spears, Assistant Major Permits Coordinator
NCDEQ - Division of Coastal Management
127 Cardinal Drive Ext., Wilmington, NC 28405
Fax: [phone] (Courier 04-16-33)
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SUBJECT: CAMA/Dredge and Fill Application Review
Applicant: Mark Yusko
Project Location: 116 Bridgers Ave., adjacent to Banks Channel & Topsail Sound
in Topsail Beach, Pender County
Proposed Project: Proposal to dredge around existing docking facility
Please indicate below your agency's position or viewpoint on the proposed project and
return this form to Courtney Soears at the address above by October 9, 2019. If you
have any questions regarding the proposed project, contact Jason Dail at [phone]
when appropriate, in-depth comments with supporting data is requested.
REPLY: >t This agency has no objection to the project as proposed m
*'Additional comments may be attached"
This agency has no comment on the proposed project.
_ 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.
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MEMORANDUM:

TO: Courtney Spears, DCM Assistant Major Permit Coordinator

FROM: Curt Weychert, DMF Fisheries Resource Specialist

THROUGH: Anne Deaton, DMF Habitat Assessment Manager

SUBJECT: Mark Yusko Dredging Project

DATE: September 17, 2019

A North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) Fisheries Resource Specialist has reviewed the
CAMA Major Permit application for proposed actions that impact fish and fish habitats. The
applicant is proposing to dredge a basin area around a private docking facility. The project is
located at 116 Bridgers Ave. in Topsail Beach. The project is located within waters classified as SA
by the Division of Water Resources and open to the harvest of shellfish. The applicant is proposing
to dredge an area of 1,800 square feet. The dredge area ranges from -2 feet to -6 feet and is being
proposed to be dredged to a final depth of -6 feet. The proposed dredging will remove 126 cubic
yards of shallow bottom sand material. The dredge area also has submerged aquatic vegetation
(SAV) present.

North Carolina ranks second behind Florida in SAV presence (Funderburk et al. 1991; Sargent et al
1995). Observations since 2000 have indicated that SAV coverage in North Carolina is expanding
into previously unobserved areas. SAV is a vital component to the estuarine system and is prime
nursery area for many fisheries species, such as gag grouper, flounder, red drum, black sea bass,
weakfish and Atlantic croaker (Deaton et al. 2010). SAV supports high diversity of foraging fish and
invertebrates and provides valuable ecosystem services as a primary producer and enhancer of
water quality (Deaton et al. 2010).

SAV filters water, stabilizes sediment (Fonseca 1996; Stephan and Bigford 1997), and provides
refuge for juvenile finfish, crabs and shrimp (Savino and Stein 1989; Rooker et al. 1998). SAV
supports a vast array of epiphytes and other sessile invertebrates that serve as a food source for
many fisheries species. Waters containing SAV have higher species richness and abundance than
those without SAV (Thayer et al. 1975, Ross and Stevens 1992), and can improve water quality and
clarity through the filtration of water by the associated epiphytic community. SAV is recognized as
essential fish habitat due to its primary production, structural complexity, modification of energy
regimes, sediment and shoreline stabilization, and nutrient cycling (Deaton et al. 2010).

For the above stated reasons, the DMF would propose that the project limit their dredge
footprint to the area immediately under the boatlift and formalized slip next to the platform
area. The drawings provided by the applicant show that there are SAV beds near the proposed
dredge footprint and DMF historical aerial photography and SAV sampling data shows that the
entire shoreline of the property to the docking facility has functioned as SAV habitat within the last

10 years. Dredging of the area may also cause sloughing along the dredge footprint edges,
permanently altering the benthic elevation and negatively affecting the potential SAV habitat
outside the project area.

Contact Curt Weychert at [phone] or [e-mail] with further questions or
concerns.

Deaton, A.S., W.S. Chappell, K. Hart, J. O‘Neal, B. Boutin. 2010. North Carolina Coastal Habitat
Protection Plan. North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
Division of Marine Fisheries, NC. 639 pp.
Fonseca, M. S. 1996. The role of seagrasses in nearshore sedimentary processes: a review. p. 261-
286 in C. Roman and K. Nordstrom (eds). Estuarine Shores: Hydrological, Geomorphological
and Ecological Interactions. Blackwell, Boston, MA.
Funderburk, S. L., J. A. Mihursky, S. J. Jordan, and D. Riley. 1991. Habitat requirements for
Chesapeake Bay living resources. Habitat Objectives Workgroup, Living Resources
Subcommittee and Chesapeake Research Consortium with assistance from Maryland
Department of Natural Resources, Solomons, MD.
Rooker, J. R., G.J. Holt, and S.A. Holt. 1998. Vulnerability of newly settled red drum (Sciaenops
ocellatus) to predatory fish: is early-life survival enhanced by seagrass meadows? Marine
Biology 131(1): 145-151.
Ross, J. L. and T.M. Stevens. 1992. Life history and population dynamics of red drum (Sciaenops
ocellatus) in North Carolina waters. NC Division of Marine Fisheries, Morehead City, NC,
Marine Fisheries Research Completion Report Project F-29, 130p.
Sargent, F. J., T. J. Leary, D. W. Crewz, and C. R. Kruer. 1995. Scarring of Florida's seagrasses:
Assessment and management options. Florida Department of Environmental Protection, St.
Petersburg, Fl.
Savino, J. F. and R.A. Stein. 1989. Behavior of fish predators and their prey: habitat choice between
open water and dense vegetation. Environmental Biology of Fishes 24(4): 287-293.
Stephan, C. D. and T.E. Bigford. 1997. Atlantic coastal submerged aquatic vegetation: a review of its
ecological role, anthropogenic impacts, state regulations, and value to Atlantic coastal fish
stocks. Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, 77p.
Thayer, G. W., S.M. Adams, and M.W. La Croix. 1975. Structural and functional aspects of a recently
established Zostera marina community. p. 518-540 in L.E. Cronin (ed.). Estuarine Research.
Academic Press, New York, NY.

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