20060030 Ver 2_More Info Received_20070215

MEMORANDUM
February 15, 2007
TO Doug Huggett
THROUGH Mike Street
FROM Fritz Rohde
SUBJECT David Greer (Pecan Grove)
The following comments by the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries
(DMF) on the subject permit application are offered pursuant to G S 113 -131 The DMF
objects to this project as proposed due to the significant adverse impacts such an activity
will have on the submerged aquatic vegetation in the area
The project is located off of Pelican Walk adjacent to the AIWW in Pender
County
The applicant proposes to dredge an access channel to an existing boat ramp The
waters of the AIWW are classified as SA by the NC Division of Water Quality (DWQ)
but they are not designated as a Primary Nursery Area (PNA) The waters are open to
shellfishing
Several years this project was proposed and DMF objected to it based on the
presence of SAVs throughout the area Subsequent to that permit request and denial, a
contractor unloaded spoil material via a barge onto the high ground adjacent to the boat
ramp This was allowed after being assured that they would come in on high tide and not
disturb the bottom substrate and associated SAV However, the barge did rest on the
bottom at times and did alter the substrate Because of this activity, it did appear that
SAV no longer grew in the area But on a site visit on February 13, 2005, numerous
sprigs of SAV were observed scattered throughout the proposed dredge footprint
SAV beds are considered by DMF to be Critical Habitat Areas These Areas are
vital for portions, or the entire life cycle, of the early growth and development of fish and
shellfish species
Dredging of this access channel will have a sigmficant adverse impact upon the
SAV and Division of Marine Fisheries objects to the project