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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 Sapelo River Marina, 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 a floating dock, a floating dock extension and a covered hoist, and maintenance to an existing bank stabilization, Roscoe Cut, Sapelo River, McIntosh 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.
Currently, the existing commercial marina facility consists of structures in CMPA jurisdiction on both the western and eastern banks of the property and several existing buildings on the upland that have been constructed over many years of commercial fishing activity at the property.
The existing structures in CMPA jurisdiction associated with the western bank of the property consist of a 485 sq.ft. floating dock and an approximately 18ft. x 114ft. hoist, of which 612 sq.ft. is in jurisdiction. Both structures extend perpendicular to the waterway. Immediately to the northeast of the hoist is a 3ft. x 27.5ft. (36.7 sq.ft.) gangway that leads to an approximately 790.5 sq.ft. L-shaped floating dock. There is a 1,478.5 sq.ft. L-shaped fixed deck area northeast of the L-shaped floating dock that surrounds a portion of an existing building used for storage and processing of commercial seafood products. Approximately 1,223.5 sq.ft. of the existing building is in jurisdiction. Total existing impacts associated with the western bank of the property is approximately 4,626.2 sq.ft. (0.11 acres).
The eastern portion of the marina consists of an irregular fixed deck of approximately 588.3sq.ft. which supports two 3ft. x 28ft. (73.5 sq.ft. ) gangways. One gangway extends north to access an 8.5ft. x 52ft. (442 sq.ft.) floating dock, and one gangway extends to the south to an irregular-shaped 952 sq.ft. float. Total existing impacts associated with the eastern bank of the property is approximately 2,055.8 sq.ft. (0.05 acres). There is a total of 6,682 sq.ft. (0.15 acres) of existing water dependent structure in coastal marshlands.
The shoreline is currently stabilized with approximately 500 linear feet of bank stabilization that includes a 150 sq.ft. bulkhead and 2,055 sq.ft. of rip rap. There is a total of 2,205 sq.ft. (0.05 acres) of existing bank stabilization in coastal marshlands.
The marshlands component of the project will consist of proposed modifications to both the western and eastern portions of the marina. All construction activities are proposed to take place from the seaward side of the CMPA jurisdiction line.
On the western side of the property the applicant proposes to construct a 12ft. x 20ft. (240 sq.ft) covered hoist over the eastern portion of the existing L-shaped dock that will impact 93 sq.ft. of coastal marshlands. A proposed 8.5ft. x 52ft. (442 sq.ft.) floating dock will extend northeast from the fixed deck on the western bank and will be accessed by a new 3ft. wide (70 sq.ft.) gangway.
On the eastern side of the property the applicant proposes to install a 10ft. x 12ft. (120 sq.ft.) floating dock extension on the northern end of the existing floating dock. As proposed, the modified structure will extend 71ft. into the waterway where it is approximately 390ft. wide at Mean Low Water and will be 30.9ft. from the extended property line to the west and 41.1ft. over the extended property line to the south.
The proposed maintenance to the existing bank stabilization on the west bank will consist of repairing approximately 250 linear feet of bulkhead and 50 linear feet of rip rap. Approximately 28.8 cubic yards (789.9 sq.ft.) of new material will be placed along 300 linear feet in the footprint of the existing bank stabilization on the western bank. Total new impacts of the proposed modifications to coastal marshlands will be approximately 725 sq.ft. (0.02 acres). As proposed the modified commercial marina will impact a total of 7,337 sq.ft. (0.17 acres) of coastal marshlands
The applicant has stated there is no upland component to the proposed project.
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 September 11, 2021, to Paul Tobler, Department of Natural Resources, One Conservation Way, Brunswick, Georgia 31520.
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