20191246 Ver 2_NMFS April 2020 Response_20200506

From: Twyla Cheatwood - NOAA Federal
To: Doliber, Brian C
Cc: Pace Wilber - NOAA Federal; fritz.rohde; Deaton. Anne
Subject: [External] Re: Old Ferry Channel/Southdock Basin Dredging- Moratorium Relief Request
Date: Thursday, April 30, 2020 3:37:31 PM
Attachments: image001.pnng
• External email. Do not click links or open attachments unless you verify. Send all suspicious email as an
attachment to report.spamPnc.eov
Brian,
The NMFS has reviewed your request received by email on Tuesday April 28, 2020. The
NCDOT Ferry Division is requesting authorization to dredge within the Southdock ferry basin
and the old ferry channel through July 31, 2020. The original authorization allowed dredging
until May 1, 2020; delays with the moratorium relief request are cited as both mechanical and
pandemic related. The NMFS is amenable to moratorium relief for the Southdock ferry basin
through June 31, 2020. Additional moratorium relief requests should be made at a later date if
it is determined the NCDOT cannot meet the requirement.
Please let me know if you have additional questions or concerns. Thank you for your
coordination,
Twyla
On Tue, Apr 28, 2020 at 11:45 AM Doliber, Brian C <bcdolibernncdot.gov> wrote:
Twyla,
The NC DOT Ferry Division is requesting authorization to dredge within the Southdock
ferry basin and the old ferry channel through July 31, 2020. We are currently working on
obtaining sand for the dune restoration project on Ocracoke Island. Obtaining this sand is
critical for the rehabilitation of the dunes and the recovery of the island in general so that it
is protected during future storm events. Our pipeline dredge was out in the old ferry channel
getting sand from October to the middle of December before breaking down and needing
parts with long lead times. These were the first major issues we encountered and our entire
dredging schedule was thrown off track as a result. In early March we were planning to head
down to Southport for some dredging prior to the sturgeon moratorium and then get back up
to Hatteras to finish dredging from late March to early May. We were given authorization to
dredge until May 1, 2020. Unfortunately, nothing went as planned following the Southport
dredging. Additional mechanical issues combined with the pandemic had the dredge and the
remaining crew stuck down at Southport until late last week. Several members of the crew
took leave due to concerns about the virus which didn't leave enough of the crew to bring it
back north. There were also concurrent issue with both the dredge and the tug. No dredging
has taken place since late last year and more sand is needed for the ongoing restoration
projects on Ocracoke. Location maps of the two areas being referenced have been attached
to this e-mail.

Please let me know if you need any additional information.
Brian Doliber
Environmental Specialist
Ferry Division
252 232 8025 mobile
252 621 6251 office
bcdoliberla ncdot.aov
159 Lucinda Lane
Powells Point, NC 27966
Email correspondence to and from this sender is subject to the N.C. Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.
Twyla H Cheatwood
Fishery Biologist
Southeast Region, Habitat Conservation Division
NOAA Fisheries
Beaufort, NC 28516
Office: [phone]
[e-mail]
INK
Web www.nmfs.noaa.gov
Facebook www.facebook.com/usnoaafisheriesgov
Twitter www.twitter.com/noaafisheries
YouTube www.iloutiibe.com/tisnoaafisheriesgov