Jenny Lynn M. Bradley, Fill of Coastal Marshlands and Installation of Riprap for Erosion Control, Sylvan Island Road, Lot D-1, Herb River, Savannah, Chatham County, Georgia

Chatham County, Georgia

This serves as notification from the Coastal Marshlands Protection Committee and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources of a request from Jenny Lynn M. Bradley for a Coastal Marshlands Protection Act (CMPA) permit under Official Code of Georgia (O.C.G.A.) 12-5-280 et seq., to fill coastal marshlands and install riprap for erosion control at Sylvan Island Road, Lot D-1, Herb River, Savannah, Chatham County, Georgia. The proposed project is under 1/10 of an acre and therefore may be considered a minor alteration of coastal marshlands under O.C.G.A. 12-5-280 et. seq.

The project site currently consists of 320 linear feet (3576.82sq.ft.) of existing riprap and a private recreational dock facility. On January 5, 2023, CRD issued a Letter of Permission to perform maintenance to the existing riprap. A Revocable License was issued March 13, 1998, to construct the private recreational dock facility.

The applicant proposes to add 120 linear feet of riprap to the north end of the existing riprap in response to ongoing erosion. The proposed riprap will be 120ft. long, 2ft. thick, and 5.25ft. wide (630sq.ft.). The riprap will be installed in coastal marshlands seaward of the CMPA jurisdiction line by hand or small equipment operated in the marsh from construction mats. As proposed the project will temporarily impact approximately 1,091sq.ft. (0.03 acre) of coastal marshlands and permanently impact approximately 630sq.ft. (0.01 acre) of coastal marshlands.


The upland component of the project will consist of filling and grading to match the elevation 15ft. landward of the CMPA jurisdiction line up to the crest of the new riprap. The fill will be 1,871sq.ft. of topsoil at a depth of 1 foot. The 50ft. marshlands buffer is a total of 7,012sq.ft. consisting of 100% pervious landscaped lawn. After construction, sod will be placed to permanently stabilize the buffer. 

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 29, 2024 to Cheyenne Osborne, Department of Natural Resources, One Conservation Way, Brunswick, Georgia 31520 or via email at Cheyenne.Osborne1@dnr.ga.gov.

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