20221792 Ver 1_DMF Comments_20230213

ROY COOPER
Governor
ELIZABETH S. BISER
Secretary
KATHY B. RAWLS
Director
February 13, 2023
Cameron Luck, DCM Assistant Major Permits Coordinator
NCDEQ Division of Coastal Management
400 Commerce Ave.
Morehead City, NC 28557
Re: Shugart docking facility, Oak Island, Brunswick County
After discussions with staff, I concur with their recommendation to deny this application to expand an
existing dock with a fixed platform to include two boat lifts, four fixed finger piers, and a large piling -less
floating dock (total of three slips). The property is located on the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) in Oak
Island. The waters are designated as Primary Nursery Area (PNA), the bottom substrate is muddy, and
fringing marsh occurs along the shoreline. Water depth at the proposed boat lifts is 0.2-0.3' NLW. The
floating dock, which is located as far waterward as possible due to the US Army Corps of Engineer
setbacks along the waterway, has 1.2' water depth NLW on the waterward side and 0.5-0.75' NLW on the
landward side. Boat slips in these very shallow waters will result in repeated prop washing and bottom
disturbance of the PNA, causing significant adverse impacts.
Primary Nursery Areas PNAs are estuarine waters where initial post -larval fish development occurs.
Species within this area are early post -larval to juvenile and include finfish, crabs, and shrimp. Species
inhabit PNAs because they afford food, protection, and proper environmental conditions during
vulnerable periods of their life history, thus protection of these areas are a high priority.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this application. Please keep Kim Harding informed on the
final status of the proposed project.
Sincerely,
Kathy Rawls, Director
NC Division of Marine Fisheries
Cc: B. Davis, DCM Director
M. Loeffler, DMF Deputy Director
A. Deaton, DMF Habitat Program Supervisor
State of North Carolina I Division of Marine Fisheries
3441 Arendell Street I P.O. Box 769 I Morehead City, North Carolina 28557
252-726-7021