20081615 Ver 5_DCM hold letter_20180823

Strickland, Bev
From: Coats, Heather
Sent: Thursday, August 23, 2018 4:08 PM
To: Hair, Sarah E CIV CESAW CESAD (US); Wojoski, Paul A; Mairs, Robb L; Dail, Jason
Subject: Topsail Beach hold letter
Attachments: D00082318-08232018160102.pdf
Hi all,
Just so you are aware of where we are with this- Curt and DCM is now satisfied with the modified cut -through channel
location and dimensions with respect to PNA, but we still have it on hold pending resolution of possible timing
restrictions for piping plover, per Maria's comments.
As always, please let me know if you have any questions or comments.
Thanks!
Heather
Heather Coats
Beach & Inlet Management Project Coordinator
Division of Coastal Management
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
910 796 7302 office
heather. coatsa-ncdenr.gov
127 Cardinal Drive Extension
Wilmington, NC 28405
Ni's <�Nothing Compares]
Email correspondence to and from this address is subject to the
North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.

Coastal Management
ENVIRONNENTAL UALITV
August 23, 2018
TI Coastal Services, Inc.
c/o Mr. Chris Gibson
387-B N. Green Meadows Drive
Wilmington, NC 28405
Email: [e-mail]
ROY COOPER
Governor
MICHAEL S. REGAN
Secretary
BRAXTON C. DAVIS
Director
SUBJECT: Application for a Major Modification Permit to State Permit No. 22-09, for the
Town of Topsail Beach, Pender County
Dear Mr. Gibson:
This letter is in response to the above referenced CAMA permit application, which was accepted as
complete by the Division's Wilmington office on January 29, 2018, and placed on hold pending an
additional information request on May 2, 2018. We received the revised project and additional
information on July 22, 2018. While Item No. 2 of the request has now been addressed to the satisfaction
of the State, the NC Wildlife Resources Commission has notified us by way of the attached email that
additional information from the Biological Opinion regarding timing restrictions on piping plover is still
needed prior to submitting comments on your application.
Therefore, it is necessary that processing of your permit application remain in abeyance in accordance
with 15A NCAC 07J.0204(d) until the items described above have been addressed and we receive notice
from the Wildlife Resources Commission that they have received the needed information and no further
action is necessary. Once we determine that no further actions are necessary, we will immediately resume
processing of your application.
If you have any questions concerning these matters, please feel free to contact me by telephone at (910)
796-7302, or by email me at [e-mail].
Sincerely,
<Z L C cT j
'flBather Coats
Beach & Inlet Management Project Coordinator
Cc: MHC Files/WiRO Files
Liz Hair, USACE (via email)
Paul Wojowski/Robb Mairs, DWR (via email)
State of North Caroltna I Environmental Quality I Coastal Management
Wtlmington Office 1127 Cardinal Drive Extension I Wilmington, North Carolina 28405
910 796 7215

Coats, Heather
From:
Dunn, Maria T.
Sent:
Friday, August 17, 2018 5:20 PM
To:
Coats, Heather
Cc:
Huggett, Doug
Subject:
FW: New Topsail Inlet Data
Attachments:
Topsail Beach-Model1.jpg
Follow Up Flag: Follow up
Flag Status: Flagged
Heather,
NCWRC has been reviewing the permit modification request for New Topsail Inlet since the initial submission. We have
provided comments and participated in meetings that I feel have been successful in creating a project that has reduced
resource impacts while still providing the Town with a clearer navigation route and greater sand source. The efforts
demonstrated are greatly appreciated.
New Topsail Inlet provides important migration and winter habitats for piping plover, especially the Great Lakes
population. This population is severely stressed. There are concerns with our biologists that the dredging activities
during certain winter months may be detrimental to the populations. I have been trying to and will continue to try to
determine if there would be a preferred dredge time outside the winter months. I understand that the state review
process is ongoing and needs to make a decision, but I believe the Biological Opinion the USFWS will issue is necessary
to make a complete and informed decision. Therefore, I request the project be placed on hold until information
regarding whether a winter or migration moratorium should be implemented is provided. I would not request this
allowance if the populations that use this area were not as they are.
Please know that immediately upon receipt of this information, I will provide comments. Minus the potential time
restrictions for dredging near New Topsail Creek and the Cut Through Channel, the modifications made to the
application have addressed the majority of my concerns.
Thank you for your time and patience. If you need to discuss, please do not hesitate to call.
Maria
Maria T. Dunn
Coastal Coordinator
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
943 Washington Sq. Mall
Washington, NC 27889
office: 252-948-3916
fax: [phone]
www.ncwildlife.org
Email correspondence to and from this sender is subject to the N.C. Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.

From: Schweitzer. Sara H
Sent: Monday, August 13, 2018 2:40 PM
To: Greg Finch <[e-mail]>
Cc: [e-mail]; Johnson, Carmen M <[e-mail]>; Jennings, Nick
<[e-mail]>; Allen, David H <[e-mail]>; Lindsay Addison
<[e-mail]>; Dunn, Maria T. <[e-mail]>
Subject: RE: New Topsail Inlet Data
Hello, Greg -
I am not sure where this project is in development, but it's been brought to my attention that a meeting around a
table might be helpful to get everyone's concerns addressed. The area is very important to Piping Plovers year-
round, as well as to other shorebirds and seabirds.
I am transitioning from the Waterbird biologist position to another position in Raleigh, so I won't be the contact
person for this project specifically. I've copied Dave Allen (Wildlife Diversity, Eastern Region Supervisor) and
Maria Dunn (Coastal Coordinator) who can help you from NCWRC.
I hope this project goes well.
Best regards,
Sara
S. H. Schweitzer, Ph.D.
Wildlife Diversity Program Coordinator
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Wildlife Management Division
252-639-8435 H sara.schweitzerna ncwildlife.org
www.ncwiIdlife.org
From: Greg Finch <[e-mail]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 17, 2018 4:30 PM
To: Schweitzer, Sara H
Cc: kathryn [e-mail]; Johnson, Carmen M; Jennings, Nick
Subject: RE: New Topsail Inlet Data

Great, thanks Sara. That's definitely info we were looking for and will update the BA accordingly
The action area for this project is the area surrounding the navigation channels (shown in red in attached JPG).
The main area of concern is the southern end of Topsail and intertidal shoals adjacent to the navigation
channels, particularly in the vicinity of New Topsail Inlet within PIPL CH NC -11.
Let me know if there is any additional data we should include. Thank you very much for the quick reply!
Greg Finch I CAMA Section Manager
Direct: 910-452-0001 x 1928 I Cell: 910-470-4734
Email:fg mclikhrigrouo.net
Land Management Group I Environmental Consultants
3805 Wrightsville Avenue, Suite 15 1 Wilmington, NC 28403 1 www.lmgroup.net
From: Schweitzer, Sara H<sara.schweitzerkncwildlife.org>
Sent: Tuesday, July 17, 2018 4:15 PM
To: Greg Finch <gfinch ,Imgroup.net>
Ce: kathryn matthewsgfws.gov; Johnson, Carmen M <carmen.johnson(a-)ncwildlife.org>; Jennings, Nick
<nick.jenning_s cni ncwildlife.org>
Subject: Re: New Topsail Inlet Data
Hello, Greg -
If you could provide a map of the area of concern, it will help me provide the appropriate data. NCWRC does
not survey this Town- and privately -owned land often; usually only during breeding season surveys for species
of concern (including REKN and PIPL). Our surveys are normally a I -day walk of the area; therefore, if there
are species present other than that survey day, we would not know about it. Others may survey the inlet more
often, so I'll check to see if other data are available.
During the 2018 breeding season PIPL census window, NCWRC surveyed the inlet area from S. Topsail Beach
and one PIPL pair had a nest. The pair is still present and one chick has survived to the fledgling stage. Due to
our concern about the chick's survival, NCWRC has been checking on it daily since last week. The Town Police
are helping by making sure people keep their dogs on leashes.
The PIPL family has used the area near the inlet and the oceanfront since May; both are important PIPL
habitat.
Migration will begin shortly and I expect additional PIPL to be present at both the oceanfront area and the inlet
to sound area.

If I can find data from others who monitor this area more frequently, I'll let you know.
Best,
Sara
S. H. Schweitzer, Ph.D.
Wildlife Diversity Biologist // Waterbirds Investigations & Management Project
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Wildlife Diversity Program
252-639-8435 // sara.schweitzeroncwildlife.org
www.newiIdlife.org
From: Greg Finch < f�cr lmgroup.net>
Sent: Tuesday, July 17, 2018 3:28 PM
To: Schweitzer, Sara H
Subject: New Topsail Inlet Data
Hi Sarah,
We're working with TI Coastal on the BA for the Topsail Beach BIS Re -Nourishment Project. Kathy Mathews
has asked us to update the BA with 2017 data (we only had 2016 at the time). Could you please provide any
info for plovers or red knots you have for this area?
Thanks for your help, I know you receive a lot of these requests. Feel free to call if needed
Greg Finch I C'AMA Section Manager
Direct: 910-452-0001 x 1928 1 Cell: 910-470-4734
Email:finch(c)lmgroup.net
Land Management Group I Environmental Consultants
3805 Wrightsville Avenue. Suite 15 I Wilmington, NC 28403 I www.lmgroul2.net
Email correspondence to and from this sender is subject to the N.C. Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.