20190906 Ver 1_DMF comments_20190716

ROY COOPER
Governor
MICHAEL S. REGAN
Secretary
BRAXTON C. DAVIS
Director
July 5, 2019
MEMORANDUM:
NORTH CAROLINA
Environmenraf Quattty
juL 0 g 2019
HABITAT &
FROM: Gregg Bodnar, Assistant Major Permits Coordinator
NCDEQ - Division of Coastal Management
400 Commerce Ave., Morehead City, NC 28557
Fax: [phone] (Courier 04-16-33)
gregg.bodnar(MrIg enr.aov
SUBJECT: CAMA Major Application Review
Applicant: Janice H. Olson
Project Location: 206 Waterside Drive, Harbinger in Currituck County
Proposed Project: to fill ±5,616 ft' of delineated USACE 404 -wetlands within a depression
located landward of an existing bulkhead
Please indicate below your agency's position or viewpoint on the proposed project and return this
form to Grego Bodnar at the address above by July 26, 2019. If you have any questions regarding the
proposed project, contact Cynthia Rountree (252-264-3901, ext. 233) when appropriate, in-depth
comments with supporting data is requested.
REPLY: This agency has no objection to the project as proposed.
"Additional comments may be attached"
This agency has no comment on the proposed project.
This agency approves of the project only if the recommended changes
are incorporated. See attached.
This agency objects to the project for reasons described in the attached
//comments.
PRINT NAME_ n�Gv et
AGENCY AJ �/✓j�S ion ai�6r:rt /r_f'(/A1r6/
SIGNATURE
DATE
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of CoastalManagement
Elizabeth City Office 1 441 South Griffin Street, Suite 3001 Elizaheth City, North Carolina 27909
262264.3901

MEMORANDUM:
ROY COOPER
Go,errwr
MICHAEL S. REGAN
STEPHEN W.MURPHEY
'Wru ror
TO: Gregg Bodnar, DCM Assistant Major Permit Coordinator
FROM: Shane Staples, DMF Fisheries Resource Specialist
THROUGH: Anne Deaton, DMF Habitat Assessment Manager
SUBJECT: Janice H. Olsen - Wetland Fill, Currituck County
DATE: 7/16/19
The CAMA application has been reviewed by a fisheries resources specialist for the NCDMF
for impacts that may affect fisheries resources of the state. The applicant proposes to fill
approximately 5,616 square feet of delineated USACE 404 -wetlands in a residential
subdivision in Harbinger, Currituck County, adjacent to eastern Albemarle Sound. The area
of wetlands is located 27' to 55' landward of a bulkhead running roughly parallel to the
Sound. The stated purpose of the fill is that water in the wetlands after rain or high tides
and that the wetlands are making it difficult to sell the property.
NCDMF has serious concerns with the project as currently proposed due to the potential
for wetland fill activities such as this to negatively impact fisheries habitat by degradation
of water quality. The project shows no avoidance or minimization of impacts and the filling
of wetlands to create grassed lawn is not a sufficient purpose or need. While wetlands such
as this are not used as a direct fish habitat, the ecological functions they provide are no less
important. Wetlands, especially in the riparian corridor, enhance water quality by fixing
nutrients in the soil and removing sediment and pollutants. Additionally, wetlands improve
shoreline resiliency during storm events by retaining water and slowing runoff. These
ecosystem services enhance water quality conditions for juvenile and adult fish. NCDMF
recommends that the applicant minimize the impacts to wetlands by reducing the area to
be filled. Impacts could be reduced by incorporating a portion of the wetlands into a
landscaped wetland feature.
Contact Shane Staples at [phone] or [e-mail] further
questions or concerns.
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344; Arendel( Sheet _ P.O. Rox 769 Merehearl Ci y,Nw,1h C i o rw 26557
252-i26 7021