20200443 Ver 1_SLoopChannel MajorMod field report_20200330

DIVISION OF COASTAL MANAGEMENT
FIELD INVESTIGATION REPORT
I. APPLICANT'S NAME: North Carolina Department of Transportation Ferry Division
2. LOCATION OF PROJECT SITE: Sloop Channel which is a part of the Hatteras -Ocracoke Ferry Route,
and which is located within the Hatteras Inlet complex within the Pamlico Sound, Hyde County, North
Carolina.
Latitude: 35°14'02.00" N Longitude: 75°47'38.00" W (waypoint Sloop 10)
Latitude: 35'11'29.00" N Longitude: 75°46'47.00" W (waypoint Sloop 1)
INVESTIGATION TYPE: CAMA and D&F
4. INVESTIGATIVE PROCEDURE: Dates of Site Visit — February 3, 2020
Was Applicant Present - No
5. PROCESSING PROCEDURE: Application Received - February 10, 2020
Office - Elizabeth City
6. SITE DESCRIPTION:
(A) Local Land Use Plan — Hyde County
Land Classification From LUP - Federal Government Property
Conservation (Water)
(B) AEC(s) Involved: EW, PTA, CS
(C) Water Dependent: Yes
(D) Intended Use: Public
(E) Wastewater Treatment: Existing — N/A
Planned - N/A
(F) Type of Structures: Existing — Ferry Channel
Planned — Dredging of Existing Channel
(G) Estimated Annual Rate of Erosion: N/A
Source — N/A
7. HABITAT DESCRIPTION: [AREA]
DREDGED R .T.F.l) 0TT4F.R
(A) Vegetated Wetlands
(B) Non -Vegetated Wetlands
15.5 acres (initial
Pamlico Sound Bottom
dredging of the "dog -
(ferry channel area)
leg" section)
73 acres (potential total
permitted dredging of
the full Sloop Channel
(C) Other
(D) Total Area Disturbed: 73 acres (sound bottom)
(E) Primary Nursery Area: No
(F) Water Classification: SA HQW Open: Yes

FIELD INVESTIGATION REPORT:
NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
MAJOR MODIFICATION - MAJOR PERMIT 922447
SLOOP CHANNEL, PAMLICO SOUND, HYDE COUNTY
8. PROJECT SUMMARY: The applicant proposes dredging approximately 14,150 feet in length of
existing ferry channel from the Southdock Ferry Terminal to the naturally deeper part of the Pamlico
Sound called The Reef. The proposed channel dimensions would be 225' wide and 12' deep MLLW
utilizing either a pipeline dredge or side cast dredge. In addition, there is an immediate need for dredging
an approximately 3,000' section between waypoints Sloop 5 to Sloop 8 referred to as the "dog -leg"
section
9. NARRATIVE DESCRIPTION:
Project Setting
The North Carolina Department of Transportation Ferry Division (NCDOT-Ferry) provides public ferry
service across Hatteras Inlet between Hatteras Island and Ocracoke Island. The Hatteras -Ocracoke Ferry
is one of only three means of public access to Ocracoke Island (NCDOT operates two other ferry routes
from Cedar Island and from Swan Quarter to Silver Lake Harbor).
NCDOT-Ferry historically maintained the access channels and basin at Southdock and Hatteras Island
through CAMA Major Dredge and Fill Permit #162-77 until 1987 when CAMA Major Dredge and Fill
Permit #224-87 was issued. CAMA Major Dredge and Fill Permit #224-87 also authorizes activities
related to the Hatteras -Ocracoke Route including, but not limited to, dredging within Hatteras Inlet, the
Southdock spoil disposal site, shoreline stabilization at the north end of Ocracoke Island adjacent to the
ferry staking lanes, pilings, piers, bulkheads, parking areas, buildings, utilities, etc.
The Southdock Ferry Facility is located on the Northwest tip of Ocracoke Island. The Southdock Ferry
Facility basin connects to the Pamlico Sound and is adjacent to Hatteras Inlet. The facility consists of a
400' long by 300' wide basin, three ferry ramps used to load/unload the ferries, a public restroom facility
and associated parking lot, three small NCDOT Ferry buildings used by ferry personnel, and a five -lane
vehicle stacking area.
In previous years, the Hatteras -Ocracoke Ferry Route used what is commonly known as the "short route"
for traveling between Hatteras Island and Ocracoke Island. However, due to the development of
extensive shoaling, the "short route" has not been used since 2013. The Hatteras -Ocracoke Ferry Route
has since been using a longer route that follows natural channel areas in what is referred to as the
"horseshoe route" (to and from the Hatteras Island Ferry Terminal - Barney's Slough - the Reef -Sloops
Channel - Southdock Ferry Terminal).
Sloop Channel runs from the Southdock Ferry Terminal to the naturally deeper part of the Pamlico
Sound. Sloop Channel is designated as SA HQW by the Environmental Management Commission and
Coastal Waters by the Marine Fisheries Commission. The applicant states that following Hurricane
Florence a 3,000-foot section of Sloop Channel referred to as the "dog -leg" section from approximately
waypoints Sloop 5 to Sloop 8 became shoaled in restricting ferry service and forcing the US Coast Guard
to suspend search & rescue operations in the vicinity of Hatteras Inlet. Additional

FIELD INVESTIGATION REPORT:
NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
MAJOR MODIFICATION - MAJOR PERMIT #224-87
SLOOP CHANNEL, PAMLICO SOUND, HYDE COUNTY
shoaling was observed following Hurricane Dorian in the "dog leg" section). Shoaling conditions in the
"dog -leg" section of the channel will only allow one vessel through the channel at one time, which
NCDOT- Ferry states is considered a problem from a safety and operational standpoint.
The upland Southdock Spoil Site is located adjacent to the ferry basin on the northern terminus of
Ocracoke Island.
Hatteras Inlet area has historically been used extensively by maritime traffic, therefore there is a potential
presence of unknown archaeological resources.
CAMA Permit 129-16 was issued on December 20, 2016 to Dare County for Hatteras Inlet channel
maintenance to maintain an existing permitted Connector Channel to the Hatteras Inlet gorge from
Barney Slough using the USACE side cast and hopper plants.
Project Proposal
NCDOT Ferry proposes dredging operations within all of the 14,150-foot length of Sloop Channel to
address the shoaling that resulted from recent storms and to have a maintenance permit to dredge the
entirety of this section of ferry channel efficiently as needed. The applicant states by excavating the
channel to 225' wide and 12' deep MLLW with 3:1 slopes on all sides during dredging operations
NCDOT Ferry would re-establish the channel to currently marked dimensions, match the entrance
channel width and depth, and reduce shoaling occurrences. The applicant states only the "dog leg" section
(approximately 3,000') of the channel is currently presenting significant issues.
The type of dredge used for dredging events would be dictated by the location of shoaling within Sloop
Channel. The applicant states two different dredging options are needed due to the length of the channel
and the northward alignment of the channel into the Pamlico Sound. The proposed pipeline dredging
would be performed by the NCDOT Ferry Division — Marine Maintenance Unit with the State-owned
pipeline dredge, Dredge Manteo. The pipeline dredge has the ability to transport excavated material
approximately two miles and if utilized, the dredge would be located within the permitted channel at all
times until the dredging event is complete. The Southdock spoil disposal site would be used for pipeline
dredging. NCDOT Ferry states it would submit a request to The United States Army Corps of Engineers
(USACE) for a USACE side cast dredge to assist NCDOT Ferry in areas where utilization of a pipeline
dredge is not feasible due to the distance from the area of dredging to the_Southdock spoil disposal site.
The applicant states if a side cast dredge is utilized, all material would be discharged directly into the
Pamlico Sound and the dredge would be moored within the Hatteras Island ferry basin or working within
the permitted channel.
Support tugs/barges, excavators, bulldozers, and 12" HDPE pipe and other equipment needed for
maintaining the Southdock spoil site would also be used during the project when a pipeling dredge is
used.
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FIELD INVESTIGATION REPORT:
NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
MAJOR MODIFICATION - MAJOR PERMIT #224-87
SLOOP CHANNEL, PAMLICO SOUND, HYDE COUNTY
The applicant states dredging activities would be limited to outside of the moratorium period (April 1—
September 30) and dredging projects could last between three and twelve weeks depending on the
severity of shoaling within the channel.
Anticipated Impacts
Dredging activities for the entirety of Sloop Channel would excavate approximately 3,183,750 ft2 of
Pamlico Sound bottom and up to approximately 126,423 cubic yards of dredged material would be
removed. All dredged material would be deposited in the upland Southdock Spoil Site when utilizing a
pipeline dredge or discharged directly into the Pamlico Sound when utilizing a side cast dredge. The
applicant states the USACE side cast dredge would be potentially utilized in an area of approximately 25
acres. The project as proposed would result in localized short-term turbidity.
An Albemarle -Pamlico National Estuary Partnership (APNEP) Regional Map provided by the applicant
depicts no submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) in the immediate project area. There are noted areas of
SAV in the waters west of the upland Southdock Spoil Site that become dense further west from the
project area in the shallow estuarine waters behind Ocracoke Island. Historically, the shifting
sands/strong currents in areas of the inlet and the depths of the ferry channels do not provide suitable
habitat for SAV growth.
The active Major Dredge and Fill Permit 4224-87 includes a moratorium for no in -water work between
April 1 to September 30 of any year without prior approval of DCM in consultation with the appropriate
resource agencies. The applicant states that dredging activities would be limited to outside the
moratorium period, but may request authorization to work within the moratorium due to storm event
related shoaling and/or emergency situations.
It is possible that dredging could damage unknown archaeological resources.
The applicant has agreed to implement the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) "Guidelines for
Avoiding Impacts to the West Indian Manatee: Precautionary Measures for Construction Activities in
North Carolina Waters" as requested by the USFWS in an email dated June 11, 2019.
The active CAMA Major Dredge and Fill Permit #224-87 includes a condition that nothing in this permit
authorizes any activity which has not received approval from the National Park Service for work within
the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
Submitted by: Greg Daisey — Elizabeth City District — March 24, 2020
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