20020045 Ver 1_Fax_20020410

APR. 11' 02(THU) 11:52 DEHNR COSTAL KNIT
State of North Carolina
Department of Environment
and Natural Resources
Division of Marine Fisheries
Michael F. Easley, Governor
William G. Ross, Jr., Secretary
Preston P, Pate, Jr., Director
MEMORANDUM
TO: Doug Huggett
Major Permits Processing Coordinator
FROM: Preston P. Pate, Jr., Director
Division of Marine Fisheries
DATE: April 10, 2002
SUBJ: William Smith / Carteret County
TEL:[phone]
1••
NCDENR
NORTH CAROLINA DEP MTMENT of
EwRONMENT ANo NATURAL RESOURCES
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APR I 0 2002
M. OFXAF.4LIM NAGEEM24T
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I have reviewed the comments provided by the District Manager and/or Bio-Supervisor
and concur with their recommendation(s).
Director, Date
Preston P. Pate, Jr.
Deputy Director, Date
Michael G. Buhl
HabitatProtection Sectiari `Date
Section Chief,
Michael W. Street
P. 002
P.O. Box 769. Morehead City. North Carolina 28557-0768 Telephone [phone] FAX [phone]
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APR, -1<1' 02 (THU) 11:32 DEHNR COSTAL KNIT

TEL:[phone] P. 003
A. A.
NCDENR
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Division of Marine Fisheries
Michael F. Easley, Governor Preston P. Pate, Jr., Director
William G. Ross. Jr., Secretary
10 April 2002
MI MMORANDUM
TO: Doug hluggett
THROUGH: Mike Street
FROM: Mike Marshall
SUBJECT: CAMA major permit, William Smith, Harken Island, Eastmouth Bay, Carteret County
The North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries (DW has reviewed the subject permit under authority of
General Statute 113-131, and we offer the following comments.
The proposed project would construct a boat=basin iu 404 wetlands, destroying 1800 fF of those wetlands;
widen and deepen an existing mosquito ditch through coastal wetlands, eliminating 1488 ft' of coastal marsh; and
construct a connecting channel to deeper water in Eastmouth Bay, disturbing 1476 ftz of shallow bottom habitat. The
waters are rated SA, and they are open to shellfnshing.
The bottom type in the coastal wetlands area is predominantly fine sediment that, during removal, would
Featly increase water column turbidity and seriously interfere with respiration of larval and juvenile finfish and
invertebrates (such as economically important crabs and shrimp) inhabiting the project area. These species are
typically present even though this specific area is not designated as a Primary Nursery Area. The 404 wetlands and
coastal wetlands are contiguous, and they constitute a unified, functional wetlands system contributing to the
biological productivity of the area. As a biologically productive system providing (1) energy to the system through
detrital input, (2) habitat for cover and protection from predators, and (3) food for larval and juvenile finfishes,
crustaceans, and molluscan shellfish, the two wetland types cannot be separated. In addition, the proposed connecting
channel from the mosquito ditch will dig up an area of existing shellfish habitat along this section of the shore of
Eastmouth Bay.
If this project is approved, it is reasonable to assume that the coastal marsh through which the enlarged
cliuuuel is oonstiuctnd will suffer sloughing at W edges due to boat traffic, resulting in additional loss of productive
coastal marsh habitat; which will indirectly negatively-affect marine and estuarine resources under the jurisdiction of
the North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission and DMF.
We also have very real concerns about cumulative: impacts associated with this project. There are numerous
additional mosquito ditches along this section of the-shoreline of Eastmouth Bay_ Issuance of this permit may set a
precedent that will likely encourage other persons with•access to those ditches to apply for projects similar to this one,
resulting in additional impacts to the productive coastal marshes, shellfish habitats, and fisheries productivity of the
Eastmouth Bay ecosystem.
Based on the above discussion, the North Carolina Division of Marine. Fisheries recommends that this permit
application be denied because it will directly cause:loss of productive coastal and non-coastal wetlands and shellfish
habitats, result in secondary impacts to coastal wetlands and dependent;•fisheriesaresources, and probably lead to long-
term q-=ulative effects to the Fastmouth Bay ecosystem.
3441 Arendell St., Morehead City, NC 28557
Phone: [phone] FAX: [phone](ntemet: www.ncdmf.net
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AFR..- Ll' 02 (THU) I1:53 DEHNR COSTAL KNIT TEL:[phone] P. 004
NCDENR
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Division of Coastal Management
Michael F. Way, CQMGr Donna D. Moffett, Director William G. Floss Jr., Secretary
January 7, 2002
MEMORANDUM:
C. ?c r
TO: Mr. Preston P, Pate, Jr., DuvctrnepR I 20Q
Division of Marine Fisher GG oar - ?d, NACF
A•Ai,E:oH
FROM: Doug Huggett
Major Permits Processing Coordinator
SUWECT:
Applicant:
Project Location:
CAMA/DREDGE & FILL Permit Application Review
William Smith
arr s3, F. E.
' ?_?..
Carteret County, -adjacent to Fastmouth Bay at 493 Bayview Drive, Harkers
Island,
Proposed project: Proposes to widen and maintenance excavate a mosquito ditch extending to
Eastmouth Bay. Proposes to excavate a private boat basin, construct a boat ramp
and bulkhead, and install 4 mooring pilings.
Please indicate below I
Your agency 's position or viewpoint on the Proposed project and return this form
by January 28, 2002. If you have any questions regarding the proposed project, please contact Tere
Barrett at [phone], When appropriate, in-depth comments with supporting data is requested.
REPLY: This agency has no objection to the project as proposed.
This agency has no comment on the proposed project.
This agency approves of- the project only if the recommended changes are
incorporated. Sec -
attached,
N
4\1??V-/ This agency objects to the project for reasons described in the attached comments.
SIGNED DATE
151-B Hwy. 24, Heston Plaza It, Morehead City, North Carolina 28557
Phone: [phone] FAX: [phone] tntemet ht1p1/d=Zenr.sWe.nc.us
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