This serves as notification from the Coastal Marshlands Protection Committee and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources of a request from the 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 stabilize and maintain two stormwater drainage ditches and install a tide control valve at one existing stormwater outfall location within the City of Brunswick, Glynn County, Georgia.

The two existing drainage ditches and the existing outfall have been identified as priority areas on the City’s western border as part of the City of Brunswick’s Masterplan to reduce flooding and increase resilience. The ditches are located to the west of Highway 341. One ditch is located adjacent to Palmetto Cemetery and the other is adjacent to T Street and Greenwood Cemetery. The outfall is located on Georgia Ports Authority property on the East River at the end of the Howe Street Right-of-Way. The Palmetto Cemetery outfall ditch and T-Street outfall ditch will benefit from bank stabilization as long-term erosion has endangered sensitive cemetery property at the Palmetto Cemetery and the Greenwood Cemetery. Roadway safety is also of significant concern at both ditches due to erosion. The Howe Street outfall located on East River has an existing unserviceable metal tide control flap gate which is not functional and serves as a conduit for tidal flooding.

The proposed project is to improve both ditches by excavating material from the channel to improve flow, and installing Flexamat, native plantings, and riprap toe protection to stabilize the banks of the ditches. Approximately 782 linear feet of the tidally influenced Palmetto Cemetery ditch will be impacted. First, approximately 116cu.yds. of material will be excavated from the ditch slopes and replaced with 116cu.yds of rip rap for toe protection. After the channel is redefined, approximately 380cu.yds of fill dirt and topsoil will be placed on the banks to achieve the desired slope. Finally, 104cu.yds of Flexamat and geotextile fabric will be installed over the topsoil to stabilize the modified banks. The Flexamat will be planted with native coastal vegetation. The improvements to the Palmetto Cemetery ditch will impact approximately 7,128sq.ft. (0.16 acres) of CMPA jurisdictional area.

Approximately 415 linear feet of the tidally influenced T street ditch will be impacted. The T Street ditch currently has 3,258sq.ft. of existing rip rap located within jurisdictional areas. First, approximately 103cu.yds. of material will be excavated from the ditch slopes and replaced with 103cu.yds of rip rap for toe protection. After the channel is redefined, approximately 480cu.yds of fill dirt and topsoil will be placed on the banks to achieve the desired slope. Finally, 94cu.yds of Flexamat and geotextile fabric will be installed over the topsoil to stabilize the modified banks. The Flexamat will be planted with native coastal vegetation. The improvements to the T Street ditch will impact approximately 9,252sq.ft. (0.21 acres) of CMPA jurisdictional area.

The proposed improvements to the Howe Street Outfall will consist of installing a 60in. Tideflex check valve on the existing 40in. outfall pipe. Total proposed impacts to coastal marshlands will be approximately 729sq.ft. (0.02 acres).

The applicant has stated that there is no upland component for the proposed ditch projects. The upland component for the Howe Street outfall will be limited to temporary impacts occurring within the 50ft. marshlands buffer adjacent to the project area landward of the Coastal Marshlands Protection Act (CMPA) jurisdiction line. 

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 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.

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