20170508 Ver 1.4_NC DWR Request for Authorization- Southdock Basin Spring 2023_20230130

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
ROY COOPER J. ERIC BOYETTE
GOVERNOR SECRETARY

Mailing Address:
NC DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
NCDOT FERRY DIVISION
159 LUCINDA LANE
POWELLS POINT, NC 27966
TELEPHONE: [phone]

CUSTOMER SERVICE: 1-877-368-4968

WEBSITE: NCDOT.GOV

January 30, 2023

Garcy Ward
DOT Project Coordinator
Division of Water Resources
Washington

Mr. Ward,

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Ferry Division is requesting
authorization to perform maintenance dredging within the Southdock Ferry Basin. This dredging
project will be completed by the Ferry Marine Maintenance crew. Dredged material will be pumped
through the pipeline of the state dredge Manteo and into the Southdock spoil site. The NCDOT
Ferry Division has a current mining permit for use of the 9.2-acre spoil site and is coordinating with
the NPS on project dates so they may monitor the site as necessary.

The proposed area that is to be dredged has been dredged before under our current permit. A
dredging event last took place in the basin from 07/01-08/08/2022. Approximately 71,482 cubic
yards of material was planned to be removed during the event. However, total excavation ended up
being less than 35,000 cubic yards due to the spoil site exceeding 80% capacity and reworking of
the area becoming too cumbersome with other projects needing attention. Since completion of the
last event a significant amount of material has been removed from the spoil site for use along
Highway 12, and the interior of the site has been reworked, so there is now ample capacity. The
purpose of the dredging planned for early spring 2023 is to complete the work left unfinished by the
last event, and to address any shoaling that has occurred since the 2022 dredging concluded.

A pre-dredge survey will be obtained prior to work commencing, as will a survey of the spoil site to
confirm capacity. The dredging project will first focus on the areas near the bulkhead that were not
addressed at all during the last event. Excavating material in these areas is necessary to allow for
use of the tie up slips/moorings by both the NC DOT and the US ACE. Following completion of
that work the dredge will move to the mouth of the basin to address the shoaling that typically
occurs there. Total excavation is not expected to exceed 40,000 cubic yards. Our permit authorizes
excavation to 12’ MLLW. Completion of this channel maintenance will allow for easier and safer
passage in and out of the ferry basin and for the ability to use the moorings adjacent to the ramps.
The attached bathymetric survey is the post-dredge survey from 2022. The updated surveys will be
forwarded to the permitting agencies as soon as they are produced. All work is to take place outside
of the regulated moratorium dates of April 1-September 30. It is estimated that the project will
begin the last week of February 2023 and be completed by the end of March 2023.

Thank you,

Brian Doliber
Environmental Program Supervisor
Ferry Division

159 Lucinda Lane
Powells Point, NC 27966

cc: Kyle Barnes, US ACE