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Home My WebLink About20080806 Ver 5_Windows EA Scoping Presentation_23APR_202005056 PROPOSED LMAINTENANCE DREDGING: r AGENCY SLOPING MEETING 93K"69' WILMINGTON AND MOREHEAD CITY HARBORS ~I - Presenter Emily Hughes - Title Environmental Resources Biol'ogis Wilmington Distric - Date: 23 April 2020 rl r � &%� j-a JDs. Working Today. to Build a Better Tomo " &4L6 IV -Al 11211 US Army Corps of Engineers o � i�.A Photo courtesy of NMFS website: https:/Photo courtesy of NMFS website: https://www.fisheries.noaagov/species/atlantic-sturgeon-sturgeon TOPICS 1. Dredging Windows 2. Contractual Effects of Windows 3. Limited Availability of Dredges 4. Factors Beyond Our Control 5. SAW Efforts to Comply with Windows 6. 1997 SARBO 4 2020 SARBO 7. Take Limits Under 2020 SARBO 8. Risk -Based Management 9. Adaptive Management 10. Contract Challenges 11. Benefits to Year -Round Dredging 12. Sea Turtle Protections and Minimization Measures 13. Wilmington Harbor 14. Morehead City Harbor 15. NEPA Process Work►ng Today to Bu►ld a Better Tomorrow 31 SAW DREDGING WINDOWS • Go back to the 80s • Long and complex list • NEPA/science is outdated • More research needed 4 Continuous requests for one- time window extensions NIM Wt 1 Corohr, Department I en of Ndtu J I """Y r"' )41F Reswrces&(,ommur�ityDevelopriiait e� 7}MY. rVlk;. aambi B. Huni, Jr, GN,9.00r r4ov,aejN Srrerary Ta6oft"*is . PUb"Iprp A$, 1475 q Major A. A. Kopcsak Corpm of Engineers P, 4. lbox 1SH W11dingto VC 2.84132 Dear major Kapeask. Thn offier.of Guaotal XanageTwnt has reviewed GorpP Natioe...,., 003. date 11 January. 7979 far federal eonsiatency. this notice demcribed the iaCrpa of Sngineers proposal for she muintenenca dredg! Gi the Wilmin;,tan 11YTk4T knebarnpa Resin, The !1Ffice of Coast Al M-magcoent finds thr prnjOCt tp bC coaaiatent with Rorz:h Caroline's Coeacai Harxarp ment Program eantingent on the fallowing condition; that na dredging be con— dvctad prior to May 15th of thig YeaT in order to protect ansdrmous fish run or the Cape Fear River_ % u1rl any ad'djt;pn#7 !Mfargetion be Ik�.giiirad, do nGx hr Ui[iltc to contact that office. Sincerely, 6. YPB�Can J Dtputy Secretur}r "J. 41V cc: Jahn Phrker N2tvra7 RespnrC!i qY ?es Working Today to Build a Better Tomorrow 4 7 CONTRACTUAL EFFECTS OF WINDOWS • No bids • Eliminates competition • No awardable bids (bids too high) • Prices increase when there are limitations (i.e. dredge type, order of work, windows) • Draft restrictions 4 decrease in marine traffic Working Today to Bu►ld a 1 5 7 LIMITED AVAILABILITY OF HOPPER DREDGES • Small U.S. fleet (15 total commercial hopper dredges) • Can't work within tight schedules • Dredge demand continues to increase 4 situation will worsen Photo courtesy of: https://www.mansonconstruction.com/what-we-do/fleet/newport Working Today to Bu►ld a Better Tomorrow 0 7 FACTORS BEYOND OUR CONTROL • Southwest Pass, MS takes priority • More Harbor deepening projects (i.e. Charleston Post 45, SHEP, Miami Harbor, Norfolk Harbor) • More private beach nourishment jobs using hopper pump -out methods • Timing of funding/budget process • Storms/excessive shoaling Working Today to Bu►ld a Better Tomorrow 7 7 SAW EFFORTS TO COMPLY WITH WINDOWS • Limit dredge box to only what is "necessary" (i.e. do not dredge entire width of channel or to full channel depth) • Cut out/reduce portions of contract so Contractor can complete within window • If receive additional $$, never add more quantity than would take beyond window to dredge • Rarely ever ask for more than a 2 week extension (after contract has been awarded) • Windows only requested if unforeseen events (i.e. weather, mechanical, Contractor delays) • Make Contractor stop work and return when next window opens Working Today to Build a Better Tomorrow 0 7 1997 SARBO 4 2020 SARBO • Issued to South Atlantic Division (regional) • Covers Regulatory and Civil Works projects • Covers only maintenance, not new work • NMFS ONLY (one opinion) • New species and critical habitat; all types of dredges; additional activities (trawling, bed leveling, G&G surveys) • Sea turtle centric to multi -species centric (SAW supports the recovery of these species and their habitat) • Project Design Criteria (PDCs); increased reporting requirements • Puts other Districts in same/similar position (windows to no windows) Working Today to Build a Better Tomorrow SPECIES TAKE LIMITS UNDER 2020 SARBO Anticipated Future Nonlethal Take- Lethal Take- Lethal Take- Total Lethal Observed Sea Turtle Lost Egg Take Per Over 3 Observed I Observed Unobserved + Unobserved Take Clutch Consecutive Years Green NA DPS 742 59 59 118 3 Kemp's Ridley 58 58 116 1,340 1 Leatherback 369 0 4 4 6 Loggerhead NWA 5,270 107 107 214 65 _DPS Atlantic Sturgeon 499 73 0 73 N/A _South Atlantic DPS Atlantic Sturgeon 319 47 0 47 N/A Carolina DPS • Protective measures and monitoring • Reporting requirements are more intense • Conformance with the 2020 SARBO PDCs must be confirmed! Working Today to Build a Better Tomorrow • RISK -BASED MANAGEMENT From a Regional perspective (SAD) NO WINDOWS IN 2020 SARBO • Protect the NARW; dredging NOT recommended Nov 1-April 30 to the "maximum extent practical" =� N • SARBO team to meet annually to - discuss upcoming projects and associated minimization measures w'"m'npon.". tp►Gearan t• ■ • Post -project review and reporting; rannl, f" documentation of lessons learned to reduce future risk Wry* Bra[on .� _Flv-P Wont P New t ondan • tYl Yore. Pry ladc 114 Migratory Route & w Calving Grounds November I t hti roug hi Apri M 30 Mld-Atia tic Seasonal Managern-ew Arras � Rods FAd•A dartic 9a asaq al Mana$rm enl Am as — pn andsrony 10 kFmT sp eed rfslrk6anp 0 34 to k" Working Today to Build a Better Tomorrow 11 49 ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT Under 2020 SARBO: Adaptive Changes to PDCs Corrective actions Resolving inconsistencies Wilmington District Adaptations: Elimination v. expansion of windows Additional project monitoring Corps involvement with turbidity monitoring at Beaufort Inlet this summer and plans to participate in future studies. Will look at impacts to resources 4 adjust project specs to increase protections Working Today to Build a Better Tomorrow CONTRACT CHALLENGES Date Project Extension Time Reason Granted? 2016 WH OOB (hopper) Sept 1 start (3 mo) To get bids Yes, but not impl 2017 WH OOB (hopper) 10 days Complete BH1 Yes 2017 RHDC (hopper) Dec 1— Apr 15 Standardize Yes 2017 MHC Range A/B 24 days Yes (mon req) 2017 WH AB 28 days Hurricane Matthew Yes 2018 WH 1OB Summer beach placement Yes (mon/ relocation req) 2019 WH AB 15 days Over -run; breakdown Yes, not needed 2019 RHDC Jan 1— July 31 To get bids Yes, with limitations 2020 WH AB 15 days Over -run; breakdown Yes RHDC: SAW ports are smallest and ranked lower than others 4 last to get done on the RHDC. Working Today to Bu►ld a Better Tomorrow 13 7 BENEFITS TO YEAR-ROUND DREDGING • More reliable contracts (don't have to resolicit) • More competition 4 lower prices • Not confined; can dig more (to full project dimensions) • Less need for emergency dredging Work►ng Today to Bu►ld a Better Tomorrow SEA TURTLE PROTECTIONS & MINIMIZATION MEASURES • TEDs • Pumps off when above sea bottom • 24 hour PSOs • DQM/ODESS • Screening (inflow/ouflow) • Trawling • Bed Leveling • Daily reporting K 14 Working Today to Bu►ld a Better Tomorrow WILMINGTON HARBOR PROJECT Wilmington Harbor b ' Wilmington :-t Eagle Island €n State Ports 11 F �F ,t ' Anchorage Basin Contract (Annually) Mid River Contract (Every 2 Years / Even Years) Inner Ocean Bar (Every 2 Years! Odd Years) Outer Ocean Bar (Annually) e -P nary nIt 2015 Typical O&M Maintenance Dredging Contracts & Windows: Anchorage Basin Contract: Dredged annually; non -beach compatible material placed in an upland disposal facility. WINDOW = Aug 1 — Jan 31 (pipeline) Mid -River Contract: Normally dredged every two years, opposite the Inner Ocean Bar contract. WINDOW = Dec 1 - (varies for hopper) WINDOW = Aug 1 — Jan 31 (pipeline) • Inner Ocean Bar Contract: Normally dredged every two years; beach compatible material is placed on adjacent beaches. WINDOW = Nov 16 —Apr 30 (pipeline) Outer Ocean Bar Contract: Dredged annually; non -beach compatible material placed in the ODMDS. WINDOW = Dec 1 —Apr 30 (hopper) 15 Working Today to Build a Better Tomorrow MOREHEAD CITY HARBOR PROJECT Morehead City Harbor �. ..... ........a •, Ea.t Leg- n^.. NOM West Leg -�__ RangeC . Weal Lag Range B o--• . R.. „ego Cutoff N �efaman West �� PI c IRrea •M� Nea fi [e Ea¢t Placa�m `6niJ rea ,j�arm��o�eo MNC CgMBS PlacemenlAma Typical O&M Maintenance Dredging Contracts & Windows: • Inner Harbor Contract: Dredged every 2-3 years; non -beach compatible material placed in an upland disposal facility. NO WINDOW (pipeline/b&b) • Cut-Off/Ocean Bar Contract: Normally dredged every two years; beach compatible material. WINDOW Nov U — Apr 30 (pipelir, • Outer Ocean Bar Contract: Dredged annually; non -beach compatible material placed in the ODMDS; beach compatible placed in the Nearshore. WINDOW Dec 1 —Apr 30 (hopper) Working Today to Build a Better Tomorrow 17 7 NEPA PROCESS Environmental Assessment Draft Schedule: Scoping (April 7 — May 8) Draft EA Release (June 12) Public Review (June 15 — July 10) Resolution of Comments (July 13 — 29)* Final EA/FONSI Release (August 22) *Aggressive schedule; we'll work with you to resolve comments even if it takes longer Work►ng Today to Bu►ld a Better Tomorrow ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE & NEPA (NEPA UMBRELLA) Endangered National Historic Species Act Preservation Act Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act Essential Fish Habitat (MSFMCA) V Coastal Zone Management Act Clean Water Act Clean Air Act Marine Protection Research and Sanctuaries Act Working Today to Build a Better Tomorrow 19 MN QUESTIONS? IL Photo courtesy of NMFS https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/north-atlantic-right-whale Working Today to Bu►ld a Better Tomorrow