Wymberly Yacht Club, Inc., Modification of an Existing Community Dock, Skidaway River, Isle of Hope, Chatham County, Georgia.

Chatham

This serves as notification from the Coastal Marshlands Protection Committee and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources of a request from Wymberly Yacht Club, Inc. for a Coastal Marshlands Protection Act (CMPA) permit under Official Code of Georgia (O.C.G.A.) 12-5-280 et seq., to add a walkway extension and relocate the existing floating docks seaward due to silt accretion on the Skidaway River, 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 community dock provides mooring space and boat ramp access to members of the Wymberly Island Yacht Club, Inc. The dock consists of a 6ft. x 147ft. (882 sq. ft.) walkway extending from the upland, of which 848 sq. ft. is within CMPA jurisdiction, to a 12ft. x 17ft. (204 sq. ft.) covered fixed deck. A 3ft. x 20ft. (60 sq. ft.) ramp extends seaward from the fixed deck to access an 8ft. x 70ft. (560 sq. ft.) floating dock oriented perpendicular to the waterway. Extending north of this floating dock are a 10ft. x 53ft. (530 sq. ft.) floating dock and an 8ft. x 53ft. (424 sq. ft.) floating dock. There is also a serviceable 12 ft. x 85ft. (1,020 sq. ft.) boat ramp north of the existing walkway.

The applicant proposes to modify the existing facility by adding a 6ft. x 26ft. (156 sq. ft.) walkway extending seaward from the fixed deck and moving the existing floating docks and ramp, in the same configuration, 26ft. seaward of their existing location. As proposed, the dock will extend 35ft. into the waterway at a point where the waterway is approximately 700ft. from mean low water to mean low water. The current dock facility impacts approximately 3,646 sq. ft. square feet of coastal marshlands. As proposed the project will impact approximately 3,802 square feet of coastal marshlands, for an additional 156 square feet (0.004 acres) of impacts. The proposed project has no upland component.

The proposed structure is considered a Tier Three Community Dock in accordance with O.C.G.A. 291-2-3-.03 “Regulation of Marinas, Community Docks and Commercial Docks.”

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 March 30, 2020 to Sam LaBarba, Department of Natural Resources, 1 Conservation Way, Brunswick, Georgia 31520.

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