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This serves as notification from the Coastal Marshlands Protection Committee and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources of a request from City of Brunswick for a Coastal Marshlands Protection Act (CMPA) permit under Official Code of Georgia (O.C.G.A.) 12-5-280 et seq., to maintain stormwater drainage ditches and install three tide gates within City of Brunswick, Glynn County, Georgia.
The existing drainage ditches, situated along the western boundary of Howard Coffin Park (HCP) and extending through the center of the park in an east-west alignment, have been identified as priority areas to ensure adequate stormwater conveyance and capacity, and to prevent upstream flooding within the Winsor Park neighborhood.
One section of the drainage ditch network is located parallel to and east of Lanier Boulevard, and the Lanier Boulevard outfall ditch is divided by the entrance to the soccer fields into a northern section that flows north to the Howard Coffin outfall ditch and a southern section that flows south into a vegetated marsh area.
The Howard Coffin outfall ditch runs perpendicular to Lanier Boulevard and bisects the park just south of the baseball fields. There is also a short section of ditch that is located north of the Howard Coffin outfall ditch that drains the Holly Avenue area.
The Holly Avenue outfall ditch flows to the south and drains into the Howard Coffin outfall ditch as well. The ditches convey stormwater from Winsor Park in an area from Gloucester Street to the north to Palmetto Avenue on the southern end and as far west as Lee Street. The stormwater enters the system through inlets in the streets and discharges into the ditches from connection pipes under Lanier Boulevard. The ditches drain to the east under Glynn Avenue into Clubbs Creek.
Silt and debris have accumulated in the ditches, raising the bottom elevation and obstructing stormwater drainage and tidal flushing. The condition of the banks varies, with some areas exhibiting instability due to differing slopes. There is an existing aluminum pedestrian bridge that crosses the Howard Coffin outfall ditch that impacts approximately 152sq.ft. of coastal marshlands.
The proposed project is to improve stormwater conveyance from residential areas to Clubbs Creek to the east. The proposed tide gates will prevent tidal flows from limiting capacity in the piped system upstream during higher tide cycles. The marshlands component of the proposed project includes excavation of silt, debris, and vegetation from the ditches, bank reshaping, bank excavation for headwall installation, and installation of 3 tide gates on existing pipes. The excavation of accumulated silts within the ditches will be performed from the upland by backhoe and hauled by truck to an approved upland disposal site.
Approximately 793cu.yds. of material will be excavated from the Howard Coffin outfall ditch resulting in approximately 18,316sq.ft. of impacts to coastal marshlands.
Approximately 436cu.yds. of material will be excavated from the Holly Avenue outfall ditch resulting in approximately 12,249sq.ft. of impacts to coastal marshlands.
Approximately 372cu.yds. of material will be excavated from the Lanier Boulevard North outfall ditch resulting in approximately 20,270sq.ft. of impacts to coastal marshlands.
Approximately 436cu.yds. of material will be excavated from the Lanier Boulevard South outfall ditch resulting in approximately 35,805sq.ft. of impacts to coastal marshlands. Total proposed impacts to coastal marshlands will be approximately 86,640sq.ft. (1.99 acres) with 2,037cu.yds. of material being removed.
Tide gates will be installed on the outlet side of three existing stormwater pipes. The 36in. pipe that flows into the ditch directly across from Holly Avenue will have a 21.4sq.ft. tide gate installed on the existing serviceable headwall. The Elm Avenue 24in. stormwater drainage pipe will have a 10.9sq.ft. tide gate installed on the existing serviceable headwall. The third pipe is associated with Ash Avenue and has been covered by silt. This 12in. clay pipe will be excavated and have a 7ft. section removed from the outlet side. The bank will then have approximately 29sq.ft. (9cu.yds) of soil excavated so that a GDOT 1001b headwall can be constructed. The new headwall will have a 3.4sq.ft. tide gate installed on the ditch side within coastal marshlands. The installation of the three tide gates will impact approximately 64.7sq.ft. of coastal marshlands. Total proposed impacts to coastal marshlands are approximately 86,705sq.ft. (1.99 acres).
The upland component for the proposed project will encompass the 50ft. marshlands buffer for the entire project area. The 50ft. marshlands buffer totals 316,941sq.ft. (7.28 acres), which also includes 232,075sq.ft. (5.33 acres) which is mowed and maintained on a regular basis and 63,588sq.ft. (1.46 acres) of existing impervious surfaces such as roads, buildings, and walkways. Temporary impacts occurring within the 50ft. marshlands buffer include access adjacent to the ditch for equipment necessary to conduct the ditch maintenance and incidental impacts resulting from the construction of the marshlands component. A 21,276sq.ft. (0.49 acres) area immediately adjacent to the CMPA line that is not currently mowed and maintained will be cut and maintained as grassed area post construction. The work area will be stabilized with approved erosion control methods immediately after the work is conducted.
Existing impervious cover within the upland buffer is limited to the existing paved ROW of Lanier Boulevard and access drives into the soccer field area, roof tops of existing structures and existing walking paths associated with the exercise park. The impervious area total is approximately 63,588sq.ft. (1.46 acres), or 20% of the total upland buffer area. The ditch maintenance will not have any impact on the area of impervious cover.
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 August 29, 2025 to Paul Tobler, Department of Natural Resources, One Conservation Way, Brunswick, Georgia 31520 or via email at paul.tobler@dnr.ga.gov.
Click here to view application.
