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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 State of Georgia: Department of Natural Resources as Custodian for a Coastal Marshlands Protection Act (CMPA) permit under Official Code of Georgia (O.C.G.A.) 12-5-280 et seq., to modify and maintain the Sapelo Island barge landing located on the Duplin River in 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.
The existing barge landing is the primary location for equipment, materials, vehicles and other goods and services to get to and from the island. The barge landing consists of a sloping bank made up of unconsolidated materials that have been placed over many years, and approximately 44sq.ft. of an existing gravel staging area. North of the existing landing is an unserviceable 1,840sq.ft. wooden structure. The wooden structure will be removed along with associated pilings. The existing barge landing does not extend into the waterway at a location where the waterway is approximately 700ft. wide at mean low water (MLW). The existing landing impacts approximately 1,884sq.ft. (0.04 acres) of coastal marshlands.
The proposed improvements to the barge landing consist of the installation of a concrete landing, sheet piles, rip rap, and timber pile dolphins. The proposed concrete landing will be an 8in. thick, 24ft. x 45ft. concrete slab supported underneath by 12in. of #4 stone and 4in. of #57 stone. The concrete slab will be protected on the east, west, and northern sides by 20ft. long steel sheet piles with a 2.5ft. wide reinforced concrete cap. The concrete slab and sheet piles will impact approximately 1,124 sq.ft. of coastal marshlands.
The proposed rip rap protection will consist of placing approximately 5cu.yds. of Type 3 stone on the east and west side of the concrete landing structure. There will be 4.5sq.ft. (0.17cu.yds) within CMPA jurisdiction on the west side and 71sq.ft. (2.6cu.yds.) of rip rap within CMPA jurisdiction on the east side of the landing. The placement of rip rap will impact a total of 75.5sq.ft of coastal marshlands.
Timber pile dolphins will be located east and west of the seaward end of the concrete landing. Each dolphin will impact approximately 15sq.ft. of coastal marshlands (30sq.ft). The proposed structures will extend just seaward of MLW at a point where the waterway is 700ft. wide at MLW. Total impacts to coastal marshlands for the proposed barge landing improvements will be 1,229.5sq.ft. (0.03 acres).
The applicant has stated the upland component of the property is the 50ft. marshlands buffer within the project area and totals 3,228sq.ft (0.07 acres). The existing conditions of the marshlands buffer consist of a gravel staging area and sparse vegetation. Proposed permanent structures within the 50ft. marshlands buffer include portions of the proposed concrete barge landing and rip rap, as well as the existing gravel staging area. Approximately 353 sq.ft. of the concrete landing, a 27sq.ft. portion of the rip rap to the west, and 38sq.ft. of rip rap to the east of the landing is proposed within the marshlands buffer (418sq.ft.). Total permanent impacts to the 50ft. marshlands buffer will be 2,810sq.ft. Temporary impacts within the buffer will include silt fencing, concrete forms, and heavy equipment operation.
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 November 12, 2022 to Paul Tobler, Department of Natural Resources, One Conservation Way, Brunswick, Georgia 31520 or via email at paul.tobler@dnr.ga.gov.
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