20240097 Ver 1_More Info Received_20240320

March 18, 2024
N.C. Division of Water Resources
c/o Michael J. Meilinger
127 Cardinal Drive Extension
Wilmington, NC 28405
(via email at Michael.Meilingergdeq.nc.goy)
SUBJECT: Chappel/Cypruss Bend Bulkhead Alignment
Dear Mr. Mellinger:
This letter is in response to your March 15, 2024 request for additional information on the application
submitted by David Chappel and Cypruss Bend LLC for the proposed bulkhead at 5005 and 5007 Holly
Ln. in Morehead City. Your "additional information" letter requested a written response to the purpose
and need for the proposed bulkhead alignment, a statement of avoidance and minimization and a
statement of construction material and methodology. Please accept this letter as our response to these
items.
Purpose and Need
The existing bulkheads at both 5005 and 5007 Holly Ln. are constructed along shorelines with extremely
high elevations for Carteret County. This area locally known as "The Bluffs" is part of the Southern
reaches of the Suffolk Scarp where the relic dune system meets Bogue Sound. Both bulkheads are
showing signs of emanant failure due to the great pressure placed on them from the unique topography
and from latterly moving water through the base of the relic dunes.

The owner of 5007 Holly Ln. recently placed additional pilings waterward of the vinyl wall in an effort to
prevent failure. This has been proved to be only a temporary fix as it continues to show signs of bowing
out. Should this wall fail, Mr. Chapple's home and pool will collapse into Bogue Sound.
An additional factor leading to the failure of these bulkheads is the indented nature of the shoreline.
Wave energy from storm events funnels into this indention leading to greater impact. This is the very
reason NC Coastal Management rules allow for the alignment with adjacent bulkheads when a unique
geographical or geological feature creates an unreasonable hardship for the property owners.
Avoidance and Minimization
Existing 20' waterward of the current bulkhead alignment are the remains of a bulkhead that once
stabilized these properties. In an effort to reduce the impact to Coastal Wetlands and Estuarine Waters
the proposed alignment is 5' less than that of the relic bulkhead. The proposed alignment only impacts
low functioning wetlands that are stacked with debris from the former bulkhead. This alignment also
represents the minimum space needed to install an appropriate dead man and tieback system for a
shoreline with such unique geographical and geological features.
Material and Construction Methodology
The proposed bulkhead will be constructed out of corrugated vinyl sheets with a wooden waler. Standard
tieback anchor rods are 16' in length and will connect the wall to the dead man system. The standard
distance that dead men are set behind a bulkhead are three(3) times the height of the wall. Fifteen feet is
an appropriate distance for a 5' tall wall. This is traditional bulkhead construction used throughout North
Carolina.
The owners strongly believe that an unreasonable hardship will be created if the proposed bulkhead
alignment is not allowed. Failure to construct appropriate shoreline stabilization will result in the loss of
property and the potential for Mr. Chapels permanent residence to collapse into Bogue Sound. Thanks for
taking the time to consider this information and feel free to contact me if you have further questions.
Sincerely,
J. Ryan Davenport