An official website of the State of Georgia.
This serves as notification from the Coastal Marshlands Protection Committee and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources of a request from Skidaway Institute of Oceanography for a Coastal Marshlands Protection Act (CMPA) permit under Official Code of Georgia (O.C.G.A.) 12-5-280 et seq., for dock maintenance and the installation and maintenance of mooring dolphins at a dock facility located on Skidaway River, Skidaway Island, 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 existing dock facility consists of a 12ft. x 145ft. (1,740sq.ft.) walkway leading to a 36ft. x 36ft. (1,296sq.ft.) partially covered pierhead. A 10ft. x 20ft. (200sq.ft.) platform on the southeastern corner of the pier head supports three ramps. A ramp extending north services a 10ft. x 20ft. (200sq.ft.) floating dock. A ramp extending east services a 10ft. x 160ft. (160sq.ft.) concrete floating dock. A ramp extending south services a 10ft. x 32ft. (320sq.ft.) concrete floating dock. A pendant controlled overhead monorail boat hoist extends from the upland 135ft. into the waterway. Seaward of the dock facility are 12 timber pile mooring dolphins (40sq.ft.). The dock facility extends 135ft. into the waterway at a point where it is 1,327ft. at Mean Low Water (MLW). Current impacts to coastal marshlands are approximately 5,356sq.ft. (0.123 acres).
The applicant proposes to perform general maintenance and repair on the concrete floating docks and pierhead, and to replace the existing pilings. The 12 existing timber pile mooring dolphins will be removed and replaced with 6 new pipe pile mooring dolphins. The total impact for the new mooring dolphins will be 20sq.ft. Total impacts to coastal marshlands upon completion will be 5,336sq.ft. (0.122 acres).
The applicant has stated that the modification to the existing facility does not contain an upland component.
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 10, 2024 to Cheyenne Osborne, Department of Natural Resources, One Conservation Way, Suite 300, Brunswick, GA 31520 or via email at cheyenne.osborne1@dnr.ga.gov.
Click here to view application
Click here to view description
