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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 The Dover Bluff Club, Inc. for the construction of access road improvements in Honey Creek Marshes, Camden 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 applicant proposes to construct an access road to provide access to an existing dock facility on Honey Creek. Currently, the site is comprised of an unimproved path approximately 8-10ft. wide that crosses approximately 668ft. of coastal marshlands. The elevations in this area range from 4.8ft. and 3.6ft. above Mean Sea Level (MSL); portions of the path are submerged at various tide stages. This unimproved path within coastal marshlands is the current route used to access the existing dock site of The Dover Bluff Club, Inc.
The proposed access road will be constructed as a low-water crossing, closely following the standards of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) practice standard. The existing unimproved path is used currently by a variety of vehicle types. The proposed improvements to the existing path have been designed to improve trafficability while decreasing overall water turbidity in the area.
The proposed access road improvement encompasses 4,300 sq.ft. (0.0987 acres) of coastal marshlands. The proposed project will include improvements to a 10ft. x 430ft. continuous segment with final elevations ranging from 4.0ft. to 4.5ft. MSL. The proposed construction would involve the excavation of any emergent vegetation, placement of non-woven geotextile fabric, and backfilling with 6-8in. of graded aggregate base (GAB), crusher run, lime rock or other inert material. A 12-inch diameter high density polyethylene plastic (HDPE) pipe will be installed at the lowest natural grade elevation and directly in front of an existing 24-inch diameter pipe located on the adjacent property.
It is anticipated that all construction will occur within the designed the 10ft. x 430ft. final limits of the project. Construction will be completed with low-ground pressure equipment, such as a tracked skid steer or mini-excavator. Temporary matting may be used for access by wheeled trucks to remove excavated material to an upland area and to bring in the GAB backfill. Any areas impacted outside of the proposed construction limits will be immediately remediated. The proposed construction of the access road will impact approximately 4,300 sq.ft. (0.0987 acres).
The applicant has stated there is no upland component associated with this 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.
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 January 4, 2020 to Paul D. Tobler, Department of Natural Resources, 1 Conservation Way, Brunswick, Georgia 31520.
Click here for the Project Application
Click here for the Project Description
