This serves as notification from the Coastal Marshlands Protection Committee and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources of a request from State of Georgia: Department of Natural Resources as Custodian for a Coastal Marshlands Protection Act (CMPA) permit under Official Code of Georgia (O.C.G.A.) 12-5-280 et seq., to modify and maintain the Meridian Landing Facility on Hudson River and Marsh Landing Dock Facility on  the Duplin River in McIntosh County, Georgia.

Currently, the Meridian Dock Facility consists of a 225 linear foot steel sheet pile bulkhead with a 2.5ft. concrete cap bordering the upland. The dock facility consists of a 16ft. x 55ft. fixed deck that extends from the bulkhead channelward with a 3ft. x 6ft. walkway extending north to provide access to a USGS stream gauge. A 7ft. x 30ft. gangway extends channelward from the fixed deck to access a 25ft. x 25ft. floating dock and an 8ft. x 80ft. floating dock that extends to the south. There are four (4) wooden mooring dolphins to the north of the dock facility and two (2) to the east that total approximately 8 sq.ft. of impacts. The total impacts to coastal marshlands of the existing dock facility is 2,943.5 sq.ft. (0.07-acres).

The applicant proposes to construct a new 215 linear foot concrete sheet pile bulkhead with a 2.5ft. concrete cap directly seaward of the existing bulkhead. The existing dock facility and mooring dolphins will be completely removed from the waterway. The new dock facility will consist of an 8ft. x 80ft. gangway extending from the new bulkhead channelward to access an 18ft. x 40ft. concrete floating dock with two wood piling mooring dolphins consisting of five (5) pilings each totaling approximately 8 sq.ft.. A 4ft. x 40ft. gangway will extend from the concrete float to the south to access an 8ft. x 70ft. floating dock and an 8ft. x 40ft. floating dock that will be located on the landward side. The USGS stream gauge will be mounted on the inboard piling of the proposed 18ft. x 40ft. concrete floating dock. The proposed dock facility will extend approximately 96ft. into Hudson Creek at a point where the waterway is 477ft. wide at Mean Low Water (MLW). The total impacts to coastal marshlands of the proposed dock facility will be 2,953.5 sq.ft. (0.07-acres).

Currently, the Marsh Landing Dock facility consists of 257 linear foot concrete bulkhead with a 2ft. wide concrete cap that borders the upland parking area. A 12ft. x 90ft. fixed walkway extends from the bulkhead channelward and leads to a 19ft. x 38ft. covered and partially enclosed fixed deck. A 3.5ft. x 26ft. gangway extends to the south side of the fixed walkway to access a 7.5ft. x 40ft. floating dock. A 3.5ft. x 26ft. gangway extends to the south of the partially enclosed, covered fixed deck to access floating docks that total 10ft. x 38ft. A 6ft. x 142ft. fixed walkway runs perpendicular to the covered fixed deck from which a 6ft. x 30ft. gangway extends channelward to access a 25ft. x 25ft. floating dock. There are six (6) mooring dolphins totaling approximately 8 sq. ft. The total impacts to coastal marshlands of the existing dock facility is 4,839.5 sq.ft. (0.11-acres).

The existing dock facility and all mooring dolphins will be completely removed from the waterway. The proposed dock facility will consist of a 20ft. x 40ft. (with a 25ft. x 45ft. metal roof) covered, open air, fixed deck immediately channelward of the existing bulkhead. From the proposed covered, open air, fixed deck a 16ft. x 38ft. fixed walkway will lead to a secondary 12ft. x 32ft. (with a 15ft. x 35ft. metal roof) covered, partially enclosed fixed deck.  A 4ft. x 40ft. gangway will extend to the south of the fixed walkway to access an 8ft. x 40ft floating dock and a 4ft. x 40ft. gangway will extend to the north of the fixed walkway to access a 10ft. x 40ft. floating dock. An 8ft. x 30ft. fixed walkway will extend channelward from the 12ft. x 32ft. partially enclosed, covered fixed deck to lead to a 4ft. x 40ft. gangway that will access a 10ft. x 60ft. floating dock. Two (2) five-piling mooring dolphins, approximately 8 sq.ft. each, will be located on the channelward side of the 10ft. x 60ft. floating dock. An 8ft. x 80ft. gangway will extend channelward from the 12ft. x 32ft. covered, partially enclosed fixed deck to access a 18ft. x 60ft. floating dock. Two (2) five-piling mooring dolphins, approximately 8 sq.ft. each, will be located on the channelward side of the 18ft. x 60ft. floating dock. The proposed dock facility will extend approximately 166ft. into Duplin River at a point where the waterway is 688ft. wide at Mean Low Water (MLW). The total impacts to coastal marshlands of the proposed dock facility will be 6,058 sq.ft. (0.14-acres).

As proposed, both projects will impact approximately 9,011.5 sq.ft. (0.21-acres) of coastal marshlands and 7,783 sq.ft. (0.18-acres) will be removed. Net impacts of the new dock facilities will be 1,228.5 sq.ft. (0.03-acres). The applicant has stated there is no upland component of the proposed activities.

It is the responsibility of the applicant to demonstrate that the project is not contrary to the public interest and that no feasible alternative sites exist. Impacts to coastal marshlands must be minimal in size. In passing upon the application for permit, the Coastal Marshlands Protection Committee shall consider the public interest: (1) Whether or not unreasonably harmful obstruction to or alteration of the natural flow of navigational water within the affected area will arise as a result of the proposal; (2) Whether or not unreasonably harmful or increased erosion, shoaling of channels, or stagnant areas of water will be created; and (3) Whether or not the granting of a permit and the completion of the applicants proposal will unreasonably interfere with the conservation of fish, shrimp, oysters, crabs, clams, or other marine life, wildlife, or other resources, including but not limited to water and oxygen supply.

Please provide this office with substantive, site-specific comments as to why the proposed work should or should not proceed.  Comments and questions concerning this proposed project should be submitted in writing and be submitted by the close of business on February 8, 2019 to Paul Tobler, Department of Natural Resources, 1 Conservation Way, Brunswick, Georgia 31520.

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