This serves as notification from the Coastal Marshlands Protection Committee and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources of a request from Blue Moon Marinas, LLC. for a Coastal Marshlands Protection Act (CMPA) permit under Official Code of Georgia (O.C.G.A.) 12-5-280 et seq., to construct and maintain improvements for a private marina facility located at 3110 River Drive, Thunderbolt, Wilmington River, Chatham County, Georgia. At this location, the Wilmington River is the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (ICW).

Since the 1920’s the commercial facility had been historically known as Thunderbolt Fisherman’s Seafood, where local watermen sold fresh caught seafood to wholesale and retail customers. The existing commercial facility consists of a 7,486sq.ft. concrete pierhead (197ft. x 38ft.). A 28ft. x 8ft. (224sq.ft.) timber pier extends from the northwestern portion of the concrete pierhead, and a 357ft. x 8ft. (2,856sq.ft.) timber pier extends from the northeastern portion of the concrete pierhead. The shoreline along the project site is stabilized with riprap totaling approximately 3,000sq.ft. (0.07 acre). Total impacts to CMPA jurisdiction for the existing commercial structure and bank stabilization project are approximately 13,566sq.ft. (0.29 acre). An existing 62ft. x 34ft. (2,108sq.ft.) metal shed is located on the northeastern section of the concrete pierhead.

In February 2024, a portion of the existing concrete pierhead collapsed. A registered engineer stated that the existing concrete platform, supported by eighty-five (85) concrete piles, is serviceable. As part of the proposed project, the existing metal shed on the concrete platform will be disassembled, stored, and reinstalled. The collapsed wharf and pierheads will be removed and transported off-site to an approved landfill.

The applicant proposes to modify the existing commercial facility to serve as the private yacht facility. The concrete pierhead will be replaced with a 200ft. x 37ft. (7,400sq.ft.) concrete wharf. The metal shed will be re-assembled and installed on the new concrete wharf in the same location. Extending seaward from the southwestern edge of the concrete wharf will be a 5ft. x 45ft. (225sq.ft.) gangway that will provide access to a 12ft. x 550ft. (6,600sq.ft.) concrete floating dock that will replace the existing timber pier and timber pier extension. One mooring dolphin (7.5sq.ft.) will be installed northwest of the concrete floating dock. A second 5ft. x 80ft. (400sq.ft.) gangway will extend from the northeast side of the concrete wharf to a 16ft. x 20ft. (320sq.ft.) concrete landing float with an associated 3ft. x 75ft. (225sq.ft.) floating dock landward of the gangway. Water, electric, and sewage pump-out will service the docks. No fueling systems are proposed. The private marina would extend approximately 98ft. into the Wilmington River where the waterway is approximately 395ft. wide at Mean Low Water (MLW). The ICW channel is approximately 200ft. wide at this location. As proposed, the seaward limit of the floating dock will be no closer than 100ft. from the southern limits of the ICW. The floating dock will be approximately 46ft. from the extended property line to the east and the mooring dolphin will be approximately 45ft. from the extended property line to the west. Total impacts to coastal marshlands for the proposed installation of a new wharf, floating docks and mooring dolphin total approximately 15,177sq.ft. (0.35 acres).

The parcel includes approximately 0.78 acre of upland landward of CMPA jurisdiction. The applicant proposes the installation of a two steel sheet pile bulkheads and placement of additional rip rap in association with the private marina. Approximately 50 linear feet (LF) bulkhead with 74 cubic yards (CY) of rip rap will be installed on the northern side and a 57 LF bulkhead with 85CY of rip rap will be installed on the southern side. An additional 644CY of rip rap (207 LF) will be installed underneath the concrete wharf. Total impacts to coastal marshlands for the proposed bank stabilization include the bulkheads and riprap and total approximately 5,850sq.ft. (0.13 acres).

The applicant estimates the proposed facility will provide mooring space for two (2) mega-yachts or multiple smaller yachts. The reassembled metal shed on the concrete wharf will be used for storage of maritime equipment and materials. No residential amenities are proposed in association with the metal shed. The applicant has stated that the proposed concrete wharf will be used to position a small mobile dock crane to load and unload machinery, provisions, life rafts, and tenders, etc. to and from yachts moored at the facility. The wharf will also facilitate the use of a pump out tanker truck to be used for larger vessels. A mobile pump cart will be used for smaller transient vessels.

The upland component of the project area totals approximately 0.78 acre of upland, 0.35 acre is located within the 50ft. CMPA marshlands buffer. Approximately 0.33 acre currently consists of impervious surface (exposed concrete pavement, gravel pavement, and icehouse foundation) and 0.45 acre consists of pervious surface (grassed area and shoulder slope from river drive). The total area of existing impervious surface within the upland component is approximately 21%. Impacts from proposed activities within the 50ft. marshlands buffer includes installation of the concreate apron (102sq.ft.), removal and replacement of concrete/gravel pavement (9,961sq.ft.), installation of concrete sidewalk (235sq.ft.), installation of four (4) storm bollards (1,600sq.ft.) and construction of the marina services building (324sq.ft.). The marina services building will provide bathroom and laundry services for staff and employees and will be tied into the Town of Thunderbolt water and sewer system.

Following completion of the project, the impervious area within the upland component will total 37%. The pervious area will total approximately 63%. The infrastructure proposed for the upland component will be subject to Land Disturbance Best Management Practices as part of the Town of Thunderbolt’s permitting process. The 50ft. marshlands buffer for the project area is 15,353sq.ft. (0.35acre). Total impacts to the 50ft. marshlands buffer for the proposed project includes 1,860sq.ft. (0.04acre) pervious impacts and 4,796sq.ft. (0.11acre) impervious impacts.

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.

A detailed public notice with drawings has been distributed and is available by visiting the Department of Natural Resources website: CoastalGaDNR.org under “Public Notices.” 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 27, 2025 to Deb Barreiro, via email at deb.barreiro@dnrga.gov or Deb Barreiro c/o GA Department of Natural Resources Coastal Resources Division, One Conservation Way, Brunswick, Georgia 31520.

Click here to view the application.

Click here to view the description.

Click here to view the drawings.

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