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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 Jekyll Island Authority for a Coastal Marshlands Protection Act (CMPA) permit under Official Code of Georgia (O.C.G.A.) 12-5-280 et seq., to construct a living shoreline and replace a culvert at Fortson Pond, Crane Road, Jekyll Island, Glynn County, Georgia.
The project consists of activities in two areas of Crane Road on Jekyll which is currently used as a biking and walking path. The living shoreline project area consists of eroding banks of a tidal creek on the east and west sides of a wooden, pile supported bridge. The culvert being replaced is a 24 in. round concrete culvert under an asphalt section of the road approximately 0.2 miles south of the bridge.
The marshlands component of the proposed project consists of the construction of a living shoreline, removal of old bank stabilization material, and replacement of a culvert.
Activities in coastal marshlands associated with the living shoreline will include removal of old bank stabilization material from the tidal creek, grading of the shoreline, and placement of oyster filled bags and Filtrexx tubes. First, the bridge will be dismantled and placed in an upland location to allow for the removal of approximately 1000 sq.ft. of old bank stabilization material (concrete, bricks, etc.) from the tidal creek. The material will be staged in an upland location to be evaluated by Jekyll Island’s historical preservation team. Excavation of the material will not exceed 2 ft. in depth and shall be no deeper than the current grade of the existing channel. Once the material is removed the banks will be graded as necessary for the construction of the living shoreline to a slope ranging from 1:1 to 3:1.
After the north and south banks are graded, installation of the oyster bags will commence. Impacts associated with the installation of the oyster bags will consist of 427 sq.ft. on the north bank and 387 sq.ft. on the south bank. Each bank will be lined with approximately 100 lf. of oyster bag protection. Filtrexx tubes filled with natural compost material will be installed directly landward of the oyster bags. The tubes will be planted with native vegetation (Spartina alterniflora, Borrichia frutescens, Spartina patens, etc.). Impacts associated with the installation of the Filtrexx tubes will consist of 447 sq.ft. on the north bank and 266 sq.ft. on the south bank. The components of the living shoreline will be anchored to the graded slope with 4 ft. sediment anchors. Total impacts within coastal marshlands associated with the living shoreline will be 1,527 sq.ft. (0.04 acres).
The culvert replacement will consist of removing the existing 55 ft. long, 24 in. concrete round culvert with a 60 ft. long, 39 in. concrete elliptical culvert with flared ends. The existing culvert will be removed by excavating a 6ft. x 14ft. section of the asphalt road and approximately 8 in. of the rock underlayment. The new culvert will be installed at an invert elevation of 1 ft. opposed to the existing elevation of 1.55ft. Approximately 6 cu.yds. of new rock underlayment will be installed as well as replacing the dirt from the excavation on the top of the new culvert with up to 6yds. of stone to provide support for the road. New impacts associated with the culvert replacement will total 31.7 sq.ft (0.0007 acres).
The upland component will consist of all activities within the 50ft. coastal marshlands surrounding both project areas. The upland component will consist of 5964 sq. ft. on the north side of the proposed living shoreline and 879 sq.ft. on the south side of the living shoreline. The upland component for the culvert replacement will consist of 420 sq.ft. All temporary impacts within the upland component will be restored to the preconstruction state.
As proposed the project will impact approximately 2558.7 sq.ft. (0.06 acres) of coastal marshlands with an upland component consisting of approximately 7,263 sq.ft (0.17 acres).
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 “Marsh & Shore Permits”
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 14, 2021 to Paul Tobler, Department of Natural Resources, One Conservation Way, Brunswick, Georgia 31520.
Click here for the Application
