20230806 Ver 1_More Info Received_20230928

REVISED PROJECT NARRATIVE
28 SEPTEMBER 2023
Project Name & Address: Hammocks Beach State Park Living Shoreline Areas B & C
1572 Hammocks Beach Rd (State Rd 1511), Swansboro, North Carolina
Owner: State of North Carolina
Contact: Matt Windsor, Park Ranger
910-326-4881, matt.windsoramcparks.gov
Non -Profit Project Sponsor: North Carolina Coastal Federation
Contact: April Hall & Lexia Weaver
252-393-8185, [e-mail] & lexiaw( ,nccoast.org
Consultant and Contractor: Native Shorelines, a division of Restoration Systems, LLC
Contact: Mary -Margaret McKinney, Director of Coastal Restoration
252-333-9852, [e-mail]
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0 PROJECT SYNOPSIS............................................................................................................................. 2
2.0 PROJECT AREA DESCRIPTIONS........................................................................................................ 3
2. 1 Shoreline Section B.......................................................................................................................... 3
2.2 Shoreline Section C 1......................................................................................................................... 4
2.3 Shoreline Section C2......................................................................................................................... 5
2.4 Shoreline Section C3......................................................................................................................... 6
3.0 PROPOSED LIVING SHORELINES..................................................................................................... 7
4.0 POTENTIAL IMPACTS TO SUBMERGED AQUATIC VEGETATION(SAV).................................. 9
5.0 POTENTIAL IMPACTS TO PROTECTED SPECIES AND ESSENTIAL FISH HABITATS........... 10
5.1 Protected Species.............................................................................................................................10
5.2 Essential Fish Habitats.....................................................................................................................11
6.0 RECREATIONAL/PUBLIC TRUST ACCESS CONSIDERATIONS................................................. 12
7.0 AVOIDANCE AND MINIMIZATION OF IMPACT CONSIDERATIONS ........................................ 12
APPENDIX A - PROJECT DRAWINGS
APPENDIX B - EROSION MAPS AND PHOTOS
APPENDIX C - SAV SURVEY
APPENDIX D - ESA EFH CORPS RESPONSE LETTER

REVISED Project Narrative 28 September 2023
Hammocks Beach State Park Shoreline Areas B & C Page 2 of 14
1.0 PROJECT SYNOPSIS
Hammocks Beach State Park (hereafter, "HBSP" or "the Park") is located in Onslow County, North
Carolina (NC) approximately 19 miles northeast of Jacksonville near the town of Swansboro. The Park
consists of a mainland area with over 2.5 miles of shoreline and three barrier islands, including the
4-mile-long Bear Island.
In July 2022, the NC General Assembly (NCGA) allocated "$6,500,000 to the Department of Natural and
Cultural Resources to provide a directed grant to the North Carolina Coastal Federation, Inc., a nonprofit
corporation, for living shoreline work at Hammocks Beach State Park, Black Duck Island on the Oregon
Inlet, Fort Macon State Park, and Pine Knoll Shores Aquarium" (NC House Bill 103 / SL 2022-74A
§5.4(a)2.2(5)). After extensive review of the Park's over 13,300 linear feet (LF) of mainland shoreline and
consultations between NC State Parks (NCSP) staff, the North Carolina Coastal Federation (Federation),
and Native Shorelines' ecologists that specialize in living shorelines, the Park identified four shoreline
sections totaling 3,241 LF that are in the most direct need of stabilization and restoration due to ongoing,
consistent erosion with no significant accretion of new material to maintain the marsh. These sections are
labeled throughout this application package as Sections B, Cl, C2, and C3. Other living shorelines are
being considered for portions of the Park on separate legal parcels on Bear and Jones Islands in the future.
In total, 3,029 LF of low profile QuickReef(R) marsh -toe revetments are proposed with a base width of
6.67 feet (ft) and a center height of 2.Oft as shown in the attached workplan drawings Sheets I through
S. No fill or discharge of fill material into any wetland or "waters of the US" is proposed for this
project other than the living shoreline itself which will cover 20,203 square feet of shallow bottom.
Sections B, C2, and C3 all have 10 foot open gaps placed every 100 feet. Section CI has seven 5-foot
open gaps and four 10 foot open gaps (Maps 1, 2, 4 and S). The 10 foot open gaps in Section CI have
been placed where SAV was found during our SAV survey to avoid and minimize any SAV impacts
(Maps 1 and 3). A monitoring plan is proposed to evaluate the impacts of these gaps on erosion along
the shoreline sections. Should the monitoring reveal that the open gaps exacerbate erosion issues along
these shorelines, HBSP will request permission to close -in these gaps with additional QuickReef
revetment,

REVISED Project Narrative 28 September 2023
Hammocks Beach State Park Shoreline Areas B & C Page 3 of 14
2.0 PROJECT AREA DESCRIPTIONS
2. 1 Shoreline Section B
Shoreline Section B (Maps 1 and 2, Appendix A; Map 6, Appendix B; Photos 1 and 2, below) is located
on a portion of HBSP that was previously used as Mitchell 4-H Camp, originally NC's only 4-H camp for
African -American youth before desegregation. Section B extends southward from the northern park
boundary with the Swans Bluffs neighborhood to just south of the former 4 H recreational fishing pier.
The Park plans to repair and reopen this pier in the near future as part of a separate permitting action. It
should be noted that Queens Creek is closed to shellfishing upstream of the Park/Swans Bluff property
line. Section B is shown in the 10 March 2023 drone footage viewable at
https://bit.ly/HB SP_B_Drone_Footag_e.
Y A.
Photo 1. Shoreline Section B, 3/10/23
The marsh shoreline in Section B is in direct need of stabilization and restoration due to past use as a
recreational swimming beach and the presence of moderate boat wake traffic. When the property was in
use as a 4-H camp, the bluff shoreline behind the marsh was modified and graded so that it could be
mowed, exacerbating the loss of marsh by increasing upland runoff. The shoreline is actively eroding and
is expected to continue to do so as boat traffic increases with increasing residential development in the
surrounding area (Photo 2, above). Map 6 (Appendix B) shows the location of the shoreline in 2001
versus 2022. The shoreline has retreated multiple feet along Section B over the past 20 years, in many
places as much as 6.5 ft and in some places as much as 9.3 to 9.8 ft. Appendix B to this narrative provides
additional photos of active erosion in Section B.
The estuarine bottom including and surrounding the footprint of the proposed living shoreline in Section
B is characterized by intertidal muddy sand flats. Scattered degraded oyster shell beds exist throughout
the area, but few to no live oysters remain. A submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) survey was conducted
on 2 May 2023 by Park, Federation, and Native Shorelines' staff. Patchy macroalgae (Gracilaria
verrucosa) was observed throughout Section B but no seagrass was present within 20 ft of the marsh edge
(Appendix C).

REVISED Project Narrative 28 September 2023
Hammocks Beach State Park Shoreline Areas B & C Page 4 of 14
Measured high tide water depths on 26 October 2022 along Section B ranged from 2.2 ft at the marsh
edge to 3.4 ft at 20 ft waterward of the marsh edge (Map 2, Appendix A). At low tide, the marsh edge is
exposed and data from the publicly accessible HBSP tidal gauge shows a typical daily tidal range of
approximately two feet (hUs:Hdashboard.hohonu.io/map-nape/hohonu-143/HammocksBeachStatePark).
2.2 Shoreline Section C1
Shoreline Section C1 (Maps 1 and 3, Appendix A; Map 7, Appendix B; Photos 3 and 4, below) is located
in the vicinity of the Hammocks Beach State Park Visitors Center and extends from the park maintenance
dock in the east (where a granite sill was installed in 2001) to the 500-foot QuickReet® and marl
shoreline installed in 2022 (NC Division of Coastal Management General Permit 84404C). Proposed
living shoreline Section C2 (described later) begins where the current QuickReet® and marl shoreline
ends. Section C1 is shown from 0:00 to 1:15 in the 10 March 2023 drone footage viewable at
https://bit.ly/HBSP_C1-C2_Drone _Footage and the 500-foot existing QuickReet* and marl shoreline is
shown from 1:15 to 1:46.
l 1'
Photo 4. Shoreline Section C1, 8AU23
The shoreline along Section Cl is actively eroding due to boat wakes and bluff erosion during storm
events and king tides (Photo 4, above). As with Section B, boat wake erosion is anticipated to increase as
the surrounding area experiences increasing residential development. Map 7 (Appendix B) shows the
location of the shoreline in 2001 versus 2022. The shoreline has significantly retreated along Section C1
over the past 20 years, in many places as much as 12 ft and in some places as much as 31.4 ft. Some
portions of this section have fringing saltmarsh cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) marsh but in other areas
the bluff shoreline behind the marsh has eroded and only fringing black needle rush (Juncus roemarianus)
marsh remains. Previous saltmarsh cordgrass plantings along this section have failed due to continuing
erosion and wrack deposition following king tides and storm events. This section of shoreline directly
protects Park infrastructure from flooding during major storm events and its resiliency is paramount to the
Park's ability to meet its public mandate. Appendix B to this narrative provides additional photos of active
erosion in Section Cl.
The estuarine bottom including and surrounding the footprint of the proposed living shoreline in Section
C1 is characterized by intertidal muddy sand flats. A SAV survey was conducted on 2 May 2023 by Park,

REVISED Project Narrative 28 September 2023
Hammocks Beach State Park Shoreline Areas B & C Page S of 14
Federation, and Native Shorelines' staff and patchy macroalgae (G. verrucosa) and eelgrass (Z. marina)
was observed throughout Section C1 (Appendix Q. When present within 5 ft of the marsh edge in
Section C1, eelgrass percent cover was sparse and less than 2 percent. When present 10 or 20 ft from the
marsh edge in Section Cl, eelgrass percent cover varied from 1 to 30 percent. Neither widgeongrass (R.
maritima) nor shoal grass (H. wrightii) were observed within 20 feet of the shoreline in Section C1.
Measured high tide water depths on 26 October 2022 along Section B ranged from 2.2 ft at the marsh
edge to 3.2 ft at 20 ft waterward of the marsh edge (Map 3, Appendix A). At low tide, the marsh edge is
exposed and data from the publicly accessible HBSP tidal gauge shows a typical daily tidal range of
approximately two feet (https://dashboard.hohonu.io/map-nape/hohonu-143/HammocksBeachStatePark).
2.3 Shoreline Section C2
Shoreline Section C2 (Maps 1 and 4, Appendix A; Map 8, Appendix B; Photos 5, 6, and 7 below) begins
at the northwestern terminus of the existing 500-foot QuickReef® and marl shoreline described under
Section Cl and ends at a steep bluff below the Hickory Bluffs trail. Section C2 is shown from 1:46 to
2:48 in the 10 March 2023 drone footage viewable at https://bit.ly/HBSP Cl-C2 Drone Footage.
The fringing marsh along the shoreline in Section C2 is in direct need of stabilization and restoration due
to boat wake that is rapidly eroding both the saltmarsh cordgrass (S. alterniflora) low marsh and the black
i - �1
Photo 7. Rapidly eroding marsh pnint at the northwestern end
of Shoreline Seetion C2, 3/10/23

REVISED Project Narrative 28 September 2023
Hammocks Beach State Park Shoreline Areas B & C Page 6 of 14
needle rush (J. roemarianus) high marsh (Photo 6, page 5). As with the other proposed sections, boat
wake is expected to increase as the surrounding area experiences increasing residential development. Map
8 (Appendix B) shows the location of the shoreline in 2001 versus 2022. The shoreline has significantly
retreated along Section C2 over the past 20 years, averaging around 11.5 to 12 ft of loss generally and
58.5 ft at the northern point (Photo 7, page 5). Appendix B to this narrative provides additional photos of
active erosion in Section C2.
The estuarine bottom including and surrounding the footprint of the proposed living shoreline in Section
C2 is characterized by intertidal muddy sand flats. A SAV survey was conducted on 2 May 2023 by Park,
Federation, and Native Shorelines' staff and patchy eelgrass (Z. marina) was observed sporadically
throughout Section C2 (Appendix Q. No eelgrass was observed within 5 ft of the marsh edge. When
present 10 ft from the marsh in Section C2, eelgrass percent cover was sparse and less than 5 percent.
When present 20 ft from the marsh edge in Section C2, eelgrass percent cover varied from 0 to 50
percent. Neither widgeongrass (R. maritima) nor shoal grass (H. wrightii) were observed within 20 feet of
the shoreline in Section C2. Patchy macroalgae (G. verrucosa) was observed 20 ft from the marsh edge.
Measured high tide water depths on 26 October 2022 along Section C2 ranged from 2.2 ft at the marsh
edge to 3.2 ft at 20 ft waterward of the marsh edge (Map 4, Appendix A). At low tide, the marsh edge is
exposed and data from the publicly accessible HBSP tidal gauge shows a typical daily tidal range of
approximately two feet (https:Hdashboard.hohonu.io/map-bate/hohonu-143/HammocksBeachStatePark).
2.4 Shoreline Section C3
Shoreline Section C3 (Maps 1 and 5, Appendix A; Map 9, Appendix B; Photos 8 and 9, below) extends
the length of the bluff shoreline of the former Future Farmers of America (FFA) camp, soon to be a state
park family campground. It begins just south of a small marsh channel to allow kayaks and canoes to
reach the open water from the campground. Section C3 is shown in the drone footage taken on 10 March
2023 viewable at https://bit.ly/HBSP_C3_Drone _Footage.
The shoreline in Section C3 is in direct need of stabilization and restoration due to boat wake that is
rapidly eroding both the saltmarsh cordgrass (S. alterniflora) marsh and landward bluffs (Photo 9 below).
Photo & Shoreline Section C3, 3119123
.:u��•a.-:����^. S�. qr�=<qA pry-'�.r!�- -' .�_,{;�e-!.i-,.
Photo 9. Shoreline Section C3, 8111123 ,;

REVISED Project Narrative 28 September 2023
Hammocks Beach State Park Shoreline Areas B & C Page 7 of 14
As with the other proposed sections, boat wake is expected to increase as the surrounding area
experiences increasing residential development. Map 9 (Appendix B) shows the location of the shoreline
in 2001 versus 2022. The shoreline has not retreated as significantly in this section as in others over the
last 20 years, and indeed grown around the southern point. However, erosion is currently undercutting and
undermining the high marsh and the bluff behind it (Photo 9, page 6) and is up to 5.6 ft in some areas of
section C3. Increased visitor use of this area once the campground is completed is expected to exacerbate
this undercutting. Appendix B to this narrative provides additional photos of active erosion in Section C3.
The estuarine bottom including and surrounding the footprint of the proposed living shoreline in Section
C3 is characterized by intertidal muddy sand flats. A SAV survey was conducted on 2 May 2023 by Park,
Federation, and Native Shorelines' staff and minimal eelgrass (Z. marina) was observed along the
shoreline (Appendix Q. When present within 20 ft from the marsh edge in Section C3, eelgrass percent
cover was less than 5 percent. Neither widgeongrass (R. maritima) nor shoal grass (H. wrightii) were
observed within 20 feet of the shoreline in Section C3. Patchy macroalgae (G. verrucosa) was observed
20 ft from the marsh edge.
Measured high tide water depths on 26 October 2022 along Section C3 ranged from 2.3 ft at the marsh
edge to 2.9 ft at 20 ft waterward of the marsh edge (Map 5, Appendix A). At low tide, the marsh edge is
exposed and data from the publicly accessible HBSP tidal gauge shows a typical daily tidal range of
approximately two feet (https:Hdashboard.hohonu.io/map-bate/hohonu-143/HammocksBeachStatePark).
3.0 PROPOSED LIVING SHORELINES
The proposed conceptual plan for living shorelines along HBSP Sections B, Cl, C2 and C3 includes
construction of low -profile QuickRee& marsh -toe revetments (Maps 2 through 5 and Profile Drawings,
Appendix A) as follows:
Section
Shoreline Length
Marsh -Toe
Revetment Length
Structure
Basewidth
Total Structure
Footprint
B
1,070 LF
990 LF
6.67 FT
6,603.30 SQ FT
Cl
1,060 LF
982 LF
6.67 FT
6,549.94 SQ FT
C2
657 LF
597 LF
6.67 FT
3,981.99 SQ FT
C3
493 LF
460 LF
6.67 FT
3,068.20 SQ FT
Total
3,280 LF
3,029 LF
20,203.43 SQ FT
Sections B, C2, and C3 all have 10-foot open gaps placed every 100 feet. Section C1 has seven 5-foot
open gaps and four 10-foot open gaps (Maps 1, 2, 4 and 5). The 10-foot open gaps in Section C1 have
been placed where SAV was found during our SAV survey to avoid and minimize any SAV impacts
(Maps 1 and 3). A monitoring plan is proposed to evaluate the impacts of these gaps on erosion along the
shoreline sections (see Section 8.0 Monitoring Plan). Should the monitoring reveal that the open gaps

REVISED Project Narrative 28 September 2023
Hammocks Beach State Park Shoreline Areas B & C Page 8 of 14
exacerbate erosion issues along these shorelines, HBSP will request permission to close -in these gaps
with additional QuickReef revetment. Please note that public access to the marsh in these areas is not a
concern (see Section 6.0 Recreational/Public Trust Access Considerations). The landward edge of each
QuickReef* revetment section will be at the marsh edge, and the waterward edge will be 6.67 ft from the
marsh edge. The waterward edge of the structure will be marked at 50-foot intervals with yellow
reflectors on PVC poles extending at least 3 ft above normal high water and will be maintained by the
Park for the life of the structure. The center height of all revetments will be 2.0 ft. Both waterward and
landward slopes on the revetments will not exceed 1.5:1 in order to reduce the chance of scour as wakes
and waves crash onto and over the structure (see Profile Drawings, Appendix A). The revetments will
typically be exposed at low tide and submerged at high tide.
� � T
Photo It. QuickkiTM living shoreline I months
following instaiiasion, Wilmington, NC �5 ZDJ
QuickReef' units are composed primarily of natural calcium carbonate materials sourced from the Clarks
Quarry less than 40 miles from HBSP. The units are arranged in the intertidal zone in a patent -pending
arrangement to both attenuate wave energy and enhance both motile and sessile fauna habitats. Example
QuickReef® living shorelines are shown in Photos 10 and 11, below.
Section B will be installed from land via existing access at the former 4-H camp. Material will be trucked
to the site, staged upland, and then lowered onto smaller barges or small floating platforms or transported
near the sill location with equipment (Photos 12 and 13, below). Material may be transported along the
existing marsh as needed using a low -impact, low ground -pressure loader (Photo 14, page 8). If material
needs to be staged along the shore or any material needs to be transported by land over coastal wetlands,
plywood and/or logging mats will be placed over existing coastal marsh for the time required to travel
across it or temporarily stockpile materials to prevent deposition of fill and dissipate any impacts (Photo
14, page 8).
Photo 12. Unloading QuiekReeW
units frimi shore For hand placemu-111.
P hots, 13. U aload ing QuiekReeM
units fruin a f74r2611� I4stinrm.

REVISED Project Narrative
Hammocks Beach State Park Shoreline Areas B & C
Photo 14. Moving QaiekReef& units
with low-around-oreswre eauinmcnt.
28 September 2023
Page 9 of 14
The remaining sections of the shoreline (Sections Cl, C2, and C3) will be barged to the site on a small
barge and units will be offloaded with a small excavator as shown in Photo 15, page 8. All pallets and any
other construction materials will be removed from the site immediately following construction. It is
anticipated that 100 to 400 feet of shoreline can be completed per day so all equipment and personnel will
be in and out of the area quickly, causing minimum disturbance to aquatic and terrestrial flora and fauna.
Barring unsuitable weather conditions or other impediments outside of our control, this will allow each
section to be constructed in less than three weeks. Barged deployments will not occur from April I to
July 31 in order to expedite permit processing by alleviating resource and regulatory concerns
regarding potential essential fish habitat impacts.
4.0 POTENTIAL IMPACTS TO SUBMERGED AQUATIC VEGETATION (SAVE
Recent conversations with resource and regulatory agencies have focused on the potential impacts of
living shorelines on SAV and SAV habitats. Coastal scientists are interested in this topic and are working
to shine light on the relationship between marshes and SAV, erosion and SAV, and living shorelines and
SAV. Notably, Sanford and Goa (2018) found that when marshes erode or are drowned by rising sea
levels, they become a source of sediment that can negatively impact SAV.' As such, stopping marsh
erosion and loss could be of benefit to SAV populations.
To quantify long-term impacts of living shorelines on SAV and SAV habitat, Palinkas et al. (2023) studied
eight living shorelines in the mesohaline Chesapeake Bay ranging in age from 9 to 13 years old (installed
between 2004 and 2008, studied in 2017 and 2018)z. They chose "four living shorelines with persistent
SAV beds adjacent to the shoreline before installation and four living shorelines without SAV before
installation ... along with observations at nearby reference (unaltered) shorelines." Their results showed
' Sanford, L. P., & Gao, J. (2018). Influences of Wave Climate and Sea Level on Shoreline Erosion Rates in the
Maryland Chesapeake Bay. Estuaries and Coasts, 41(1), 19-37. httns://doi.org/l0.1007/sl2237-017-0257-7
2 Palinkas, C. M., Bolton, M. C., & Staver, L. W. (2023). Long-term performance and impacts of living shorelines in
mesohaline Chesapeake Bay. Ecological Engineering, 190, 106944. https:Hdoi.org/10.1016/J*.ecoleng.2023.106944

REVISED Project Narrative 28 September 2023
Hammocks Beach State Park Shoreline Areas B & C Page 10 of 14
the following:
• "In general, shoreline erosion continued at or above historical rates at reference shorelines, but
living shoreline installation builds shorelines seaward and results in net shoreline accretion."
• "[LJiving shoreline installation does not cause systematic changes to the subtidal habitat in
adjacent waters, with post -installation sediment characteristics being closely linked to
pre -installation conditions. "
• "Living shoreline installation does not cause systematic changes to SAV distributions. Rather,
SAV distributions at individual sites followed regional trends likely driven by water quality. "
• "Sediment and nutrient burial in the coastal zone, which includes both intertidal marsh and
subtidal SAV habitats, was highest for living shorelines due to the addition of marsh
habitat... While this study did not consider direct replacement of SAV with living shorelines,
these results suggest that discouraging living shoreline installation in areas with SAV may miss an
opportunity to enhance nutrient burial in the coastal zone."
• "This study identified many areas ripe for future research such as changes as living shorelines
mature, impacts on downstream intertidal and subtidal environments, and studies in areas with
denser and more persistent SAV, though the latter is limited by current regulations that discourage
living shorelines near SAV."
As discussed in Section 2.0 Pro-ject Area Descriptions and the SAV Survey (Appendix C), SAV, when
present, was patchy and sparse (less than 5 percent cover) within 10 feet of shore at all but one transect
location (transect 18, Shoreline Section Cl, 30% cover). No SAV was found along Shoreline Section B.
Based upon these findings and the scientific research discussed above, the proposed living shoreline is
not anticipated to negatively affect SAV populations or habitats long-term. Nevertheless, to expedite the
permitting process and eliminate any concerns of replacement of SAV habitat with marsh landward of
the living shoreline, HBSP has modified the originally proposed offshore sills to marsh -toe revetments.
Construction of the living shoreline on existing SAV and disturbance to SAV in and near the project
footprint will be avoided to the maximum extent practicable. In addition, 10 foot gaps have been
incorporated into Section CI where SAV was found during our SAV survey to further avoid and
minimize any SAV impacts (Maps 1 and 3).
5.0 POTENTIAL IMPACTS TO PROTECTED SPECIES AND ESSENTIAL FISH HABITATS
In response to the United States Army Corps of Engineers Letter on 21 July 2023, an informal Threatened
and Endangered Species and Essential Fish Habitat biological evaluation was performed and submitted on
10 August 2023. This evaluation is provided as Appendix D with a synopsis below (please note that the
proposed project description has been modified between that evaluation and this revised narrative).

REVISED Project Narrative 28 September 2023
Hammocks Beach State Park Shoreline Areas B & C Page 11 of 14
5.1 Protected Species
The shapefile for the proposed living shoreline alignment was uploaded to both the National NMFS ESA
Critical Habitat Mapper and the USFWS iPaC Mapper applications on 31 July 2023 and for a query of the
North Carolina Natural Heritage Program (NCNHP) database on 3 August 2023.
The NMFS ESA Critical Habitat Mapper produced 0 results. There is shading on the map, but it
is a proposed critical habitat, not currently designated critical habitat. This is proposed
foraging/resting habitat for the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas).
The USFWS iPaC Mapper revealed two federally listed mammals, one proposed mammal, four
listed birds, one delisted bird protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act
(BGEPA) and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), five listed reptiles (one for similarity of
appearance only), and three flowering plants that could be potentially affected at the project
location. The query found no critical habitats in the proposed project location.
The NCNHP database query revealed no documented occurrences of threatened or endangered
species within the project boundary.
Our informal biological evaluation is that the proposed project will have No Effect on threatened and
endangered species or their critical habitat. See Appendix D for more information on each species
identified by the USFWS iPaC Mapper.
5.2 Essential Fish Habitats
Seine pull surveys were conducted by HBSP staff for Sections B, Cl, C2, and C3 on 25 July 2023 on a
falling tide; water temperatures were 85 to 86 degrees; and measured salinity ranged between 30 and 35
parts per thousand (ppt). The following fish and invertebrate species of interest to NMFS were recorded
during the seine pulls: bay anchovy (Anchoa mitchilli), yellowfin menhaden (Brevoortia smithi), pinfish
(Lagodon rhomboides), Atlantic silverside (Menidia menidia), striped mullet (Mugil cephalus), white
mullet (Mugil curema), pipefish (Syngnathus sp), blue crab (Callinectes sapidus), and brown shrimp
(Farfantepenaeus aztecus).
All portions of the proposed project site are a silt/sand/mud bottom per NOAA EFH designations with
degraded patches of eelgrass (Z. marina) near the proposed alignment that die back each June as eelgrass
is at the southern part of its range; no shoal grass (H. wrightii) has been located near any of the project
sites (Appendix Q. The entire project area remains designated by NC Division of Marine Fisheries
(NCDMF) and NC Shellfish Sanitation (NCSS) as open to harvest for shellfishing but experiences
significant turbidity which could be mitigated by living shorelines and enhanced oyster growth. Winter
water clarity is often 6 ft or more measured by Sechhi disk while summer clarity is typically less than 2 ft
measured by Sechhi disk (HBSP personnel measurements). The large natural oyster bars in the area
consist primarily of younger or smaller age classes of oysters with significant amounts of dead shell
material.
The proposed project will reduce siltation due to bank and marsh erosion and facilitate growth of Eastern
oysters (Crassostrea virginica), ribbed mussels (Geukensia demissa), and scorched mussels (Brachidontes

REVISED Project Narrative 28 September 2023
Hammocks Beach State Park Shoreline Areas B & C Page 12 of 14
exustus) which provide natural filtration and stabilization of the salt marsh. The high vertical relief and
rugosity of the living shoreline approximates the vertical structure of an unharvested oyster reef, and the
interstitial space within the structure will promote the growth of a diversity of invertebrates essential for
snapper/grouper through all life stages and summer flounder through its juvenile stages. Improving this
habitat will benefit fish and invertebrates while causing minimal short-term disturbance during
construction. At the anticipated rate of construction of 100 to 400 LF per day, each section of shoreline
should be constructed in less than three weeks, minimizing any short-term disturbance from construction.
Further, all barged deployments will not occur from April I to July 31 in order to expedite permit
processing and alleviate resource and regulatory concerns regarding potential essential fish habitat
impacts.
Megan Geesin, a PhD student from East Carolina University working under Dr. Rachel Gittman,
conducted faunal sampling in and around five QuickReef® and oyster shell bag living shorelines and five
adjacent reference sites with no living shorelines in Carteret County in June and August of 2022 as part of
a currently -funded NC SeaGrant study on living shorelines. An abundance of penaeid shrimp were
sampled across both living shoreline and reference sites indicating no degradation of habitat by the
existence of living shorelines (personal communication with Miss Geesin, 3 August 2023).
NC State Parks staff has thoroughly and mindfully planned for water -based recreational access as part of
this project. It is the practice of the NC State Parks system to designate specific areas for water access and
limit the number of informal water recreation accesses as informal and unmanaged access near facilities
can contribute to natural resource degradation, exacerbating the bluff erosion along most of this shoreline.
The HBSP mainland ferry dock includes one of the few ADA accessible kayak/canoe launches in the
area, next to the Park boat ramp already open to powerboats. The living shoreline proposed for Section C3
adjacent to the planned new family campground includes two potential future access points for kayaks in
the area of the small man-made marsh pond. The living shoreline proposed for Section B at the former
4-H camp will include future use or upgrade of the current pier. All four sections of living shoreline are
connected to the Park's system of designated paddle trails and will become part of HBSP's environmental
education program.
7.0 AVOIDANCE AND MINIMIZATION OF IMPACT CONSIDERATIONS
In order to assure the best use of the unprecedented NCGA allocation for living shorelines at state parks,
Park staff performed an extensive review of all HBSP shorelines. Only those areas on the mainland
showing direct and ongoing erosion are included in this permit application for stabilization and
restoration. As such, only 2,990 linear feet of the Park's over 13,300 linear feet of mainland shoreline
(less than 20 percent) is proposed for living shoreline construction.
As the Park's goal is to stabilize the shoreline from daily erosion, protect and restore fringing marsh, and
increase oyster habitat, the proposed living shoreline is designed to be no more than 12 in above normal
water level. This height is ideal to both recruit sessile fauna such as Eastern oysters (C. virginica), ribbed
mussels (G. demissa), and scorched mussels (B. exustus) which provide natural filtration and stabilization

REVISED Project Narrative 28 September 2023
Hammocks Beach State Park Shoreline Areas B & C Page 13 of 14
of the salt marsh and to accrete sediment landward of the structure for marsh maintenance, while still
attenuating daily wave energy. The QuickReef® material proposed for construction is made primarily of
native North Carolina calcium carbonate limestone and recycled oyster shells that has been shown to
recruit oysters quickly (Photo 11, page 8; Photos 16 and 17, page 13). Oyster reefs in eastern North
Carolina have been shown to grow at a rate that matches expected sea level rise.' Accordingly, the
proposed living shoreline is expected to maintain its height relative to future sea levels.
The proposed living shoreline is not anticipated to negatively affect SAV populations or habitats.
Nevertheless, to expedite the permitting process and eliminate any concerns of replacement of SAV
habitat with marsh landward of the living shoreline, HBSP has modified the originally proposed offshore
sills to marsh -toe revetments. Construction of the living shoreline on existing SAV and disturbance to
SAV in and near the project footprint will be avoided to the maximum extent practicable.
QuickReef units are light enough for hand placement and therefore reduce the amount of equipment
necessary for construction. Construction is occurring from land wherever possible and all efforts will be
made to minimize disturbance to existing habitats by using low -ground pressure equipment and marsh
mats or plywood to distribute weight. If needed, mats will be removed immediately following
construction. Construction is expected to proceed at a rate of 100 to 400 LF per day, minimizing the time
spent in any one area.
Photo 17. ()x-ster growth i)n
QnickReeft living shoreline F. months
after installation, Barkers Island, NC
(1118J23)
a
' Rodriguez, A. B., Fodrie, R J., Ridge, J. T., Lindquist, N. L., Theuerkauf, E. J., Coleman, S. E., Grabowski, J. H.,
Brodeur, M. C., Gittman, R. K., Keller, D. A., & Kenworthy, M. D. (2014). Oyster reefs can outpace sea -level rise.
Nature Climate Change, 4(6), Article 6. h=s:Hdoi.orQ/10.1038/nclimate2216

REVISED Project Narrative 28 September 2023
Hammocks Beach State Park Shoreline Areas B & C Page 14 of 14
8.0 MONITORING PLAN
In order to ensure that open gaps in the revetment do not exacerbate shoreline erosion, erosion will be
quantified and photo -documented two times per year and/or following major storm events. Poles/pins of
appropriate non -corrosive materials will be driven flush with the ground at the marsh edge and, where
possible, 5 feet landward of the marsh edge perpendicular to the shoreline. Photos will be taken and
recorded at each gap location. If the poles/pins are visible on monitoring visits, this will indicate that
erosion is occurring and will be quantified. Scour and any signs of erosion will be noted and
photographed on each visit. Erosion will also be monitored yearly by comparing orthographic aerial
photography as it is available. If erosion in these gaps creates scour situations that undermine the adjacent
revetment or compromise the adjacent marsh, or erosion rates in the gaps exceed that currently being
experienced in the unprotected shoreline, HBSP will request permission to close -in those gaps to create a
continuous structure in those areas.