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Savannah NWR Pool 4 and 5 Enhancement Project
Jasper County, South Carolina
Savannah NWR Pool 4 and 5 Enhancement Project
Jasper County, South Carolina
JOINT
PUBLIC NOTICE
CHARLESTON DISTRICT, CORPS OF ENGINEERS
69A Hagood Avenue
Charleston, South Carolina 29403-5107
and the
S.C. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL
OFFICE OF OCEAN AND COASTAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
1362 McMillan Avenue, Suite 400
Charleston, South Carolina 29405
REGULATORY DIVISION
Refer to: P/N # 2013-00244-1T
29 March 2013
Pursuant to Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (33 U.S.C. 403), Sections
401 and 404 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1344), and the South Carolina Coastal Zone
Management Act (48-39-10 et.seq.) an application has been submitted to the Department of the
Army and the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control by
U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE (USFWS)
SAVANNAH NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE (NWR)
C/O LINDSAY COLDIRON
694 BEECH HILL LANE
HARDEEVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA 29927
for a permit to excavate and fill wetlands within the managed tidal wetlands located on the
LITTLE BACK RIVER
at Pool 4/5 in the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge located off of U.S. Highway 170 near
Hardeeville in Jasper County, South Carolina (Latitude 32.181714/ Longitude -81.108426)
NOTICE
is hereby given that written statements regarding the proposed work will be received by the Corps
until
15 Days from the Date of this Notice,
and SCDHEC will receive written statements regarding the proposed work until
30 Days from the Date of this Notice
from those interested in the activity and whose interests may be affected by the proposed work.
The proposed work consists of the construction of a new cross-embankment through an
existing 310 acre managed tidal impoundment cell known as Pool 4/5 at the Savannah National
Wildlife Refuge (NWR). The work will occur by first excavating 1.31 acres (19,760 cy) of wetlands
and waters thereby creating two new canals. The 19,760 cy of excavated material will be used
as the fill material to construct the new cross-embankment. Approximately 3.02 acres of wetlands
and waters within the managed tidal impoundment will be impacted for the new proposed crossembankment.
REGULATORY DIVISION
Refer to: P/N # 2013-00244-1T
29 March 2013
The new embankment will divide the current 310 acre tidal impoundment cell, known as Pool 4/5,
into a 190 acre unit (Pool 4) and a 120 acre (Pool 5) unit. The proposed new cross- embankment
will be 2,470 linear feet and will connect to the perimeter embankments on either side of the
impoundment. The proposed new embankment will have a top width of 18', a bottom width of 48',
and a height of approximately 6'. The two new canals, which were excavated for fill material, will
be located on both sides of the new cross-embankment and will each be 2,330 feet in length. The
canals will have a top width of 30', bottom width of 6', and a depth of 4'. A concrete double
spillway box will be added to the proposed cross-embankment to allow for flow between the new
Pool 4 and Pool 5 impoundments.
The purpose of the proposed project is to enhance water management capabilities of the
managed tidal impoundment by dividing the existing Pool 4/5 into two smaller units to improve
habitat for wetland dependent species. The proposed project will allow for more effective water
management across the area.
According to the applicant, the congressionally mandated mission of the Savannah NWR is to
provide foraging and wintering habitats for migrating and wintering waterbirds and other wetland
dependant species. The biological and ecological needs of these varied species can be better
provided once the impoundment is divided into smaller, more manageable units and adequate
water control is restored. The project includes rehabilitation of 310 acres located within a 6,000
acre moist soil management area at Savannah NWR. Historically, Pools 4/5 were part of a rice
plantation and had varied water management. Currently, Pool 4/5 is managed as a single unit,
but it is difficult to manage due to its large size.
The proposed project objective addresses the significant elevation differences between the
western end (Pool 4) and the eastern end (Pool 5) of the impoundment with the latter being
higher. The difference in elevation restricts dynamic wetland management due to the variances in
water elevations across the impoundment when water is delivered into and across the system.
Water in Pool 4 is adequately managed through an existing rice trunk located on the main
embankment off of Back River. Pool 4 is currently being managed for target freshwater aquatic
plant species. The higher elevation in Pool 5 has resulted in non-target and woody vegetation
growth throughout this area due to the inability to adequately flood water across this area. The
higher elevation in Pool 5 also creates a problem with drainage through the existing concrete
structure located along the freshwater canal resulting in the necessity to install a riser-board
structure on the proposed embankment. The new riser-board structure will increase the
management capabilities by allowing separate manipulation of the two impoundments.
The new Pool 4 and Pool 5 impoundments will be managed as moist soil management units as
described in the revised 2013 Savannah NWR Annual Habitat Work Plan, Pool 5 will be
intensively manipulated annually over several years to convert current vegetation cover to more
desirable moist soil plant species such as smart weeds, panic grass, and millets. The suite of
conditions resulting from this enhancement will provide excellent habitat for wintering and
migrating waterfowl and a variety of other wetland dependent species. Utilization by wintering
waterfowl in this impoundment is expected to increase 90% compared to its current condition.
Pool 4 will continue to be manipulated on an annual basis to provide desirable habitat for wintering
and migrating water fowl.
REGULATORY DIVISION
Refer to: P/N # 2013-00244-1T
29 March 2013
According to the applicant, the project impacts have been minimized by locating the excavation
and fill for the new embankment within the footprint of a remnant embankment. There will also be
no net loss of wetlands or double handling of any material during the proposed work. In addition,
the applicant provided a construction sequence of how the work will occur that will further
minimize impacts associated with the proposed work. The construction sequence is as follows:
1) Mobilize equipment and materials; 2) Dewater Pools 4 and 5; 3) Install erosion and sediment
control measures; 4) excavate and prepare keyway of new embankment; 5) excavate borrow
areas and utilize excavated material for embankment construction; 6) install new water control
structures; 7) Fine grade, seed, and mulch new embankment; and 8) demobilize equipment.
The applicant is not proposing compensatory mitigation for the proposed project because the
project is designed to enhance wetland habitat through better water management capabilities. In
addition, the connectivity between wetland provided by the new water control structures will
improve water quality through overall circulation.
NOTE: Plans depicting the work described in this notice are available and will be
provided, upon receipt of a written request, to anyone that is interested in obtaining a
copy of the plans for the specific project. The request must identify the project of interest
by public notice number and a self-addressed stamped envelope must also be provided for
mailing the drawings to you. Your request for drawings should be addressed to the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
ATTN: REGULATORY DIVISION
69A Hagood Avenue
Charleston, South Carolina 29403-5107
The District Engineer has concluded that the discharges associated with this project, both
direct and indirect, should be reviewed by the South Carolina Department of Health and
Environmental Control in accordance with provisions of Section 401 of the Clean Water Act. As
such, this notice constitutes a request, on behalf of the applicant, for certification that this project
will comply with applicable effluent limitations and water quality standards. The work shown on
this application must also be certified as consistent with applicable provisions the Coastal Zone
Management Program (15 CFR 930). The District Engineer will not process this application to a
conclusion until such certifications are received. The applicant is hereby advised that
supplemental information may be required by the State to facilitate the review.
This notice initiates the Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) consultation requirements of the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Implementation of the
proposed project would impact 4.33 acres of substrates and emergent wetlands utilized by
various life stages of species comprising the red drum, shrimp, and snapper-grouper
management complexes. Our initial determination is that the proposed action would not have a
substantial individual or cumulative adverse impact on EFH or fisheries managed by the South
Atlantic Fishery Management Council and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). Our
final determination relative to project impacts and the need for mitigation measures is subject to
review by and coordination with the NMFS.
The District Engineer has consulted the most recently available information and has
determined that the project will have no effect on any Federally endangered, threatened, or
proposed species and will not result in the destruction or adverse modification of designated or
proposed critical habitat. This public notice serves as a request to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
REGULATORY DIVISION
Refer to: P/N # 2013-00244-1T
29 March 2013
Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service for any additional information they
may have on whether any listed or proposed endangered or threatened species or designated
or proposed critical habitat may be present in the area which would be affected by the activity,
pursuant to Section 7(c) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (as amended).
Pursuant to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), this public
notice also constitutes a request to Indian Tribes to notify the District Engineer of any historic
properties of religious and cultural significance to them that may be affected by the proposed
undertaking.
In accordance with the NHPA, the District Engineer has also consulted the latest
published version of the National Register of Historic Places for the presence or absence of
registered properties, or properties listed as being eligible for inclusion therein, and this worksite
is not included as a registered property or property listed as being eligible for inclusion in the
Register. To insure that other cultural resources that the District Engineer is not aware of are
not overlooked, this public notice also serves as a request to the State Historic Preservation
Office to provide any information it may have with regard to historic and cultural resources.
Any person may request, in writing, within the comment period specified in this notice, that
a public hearing be held to consider this application. Requests for a public hearing shall state,
with particularity, the reasons for holding a public hearing.
The decision whether to issue a permit will be based on an evaluation of the probable
impact including cumulative impacts of the activity on the public interest and will include
application of the guidelines promulgated by the Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA), under authority of Section 404(b) of the Clean Water Act and, as appropriate, the criteria
established under authority of Section 102 of the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries
Act of 1972, as amended. That decision will reflect the national concern for both protection and
utilization of important resources. The benefit which reasonably may be expected to accrue from
the project must be balanced against its reasonably foreseeable detriments. All factors which
may be relevant to the project will be considered including the cumulative effects thereof; among
those are conservation, economics, aesthetics, general environmental concerns, wetlands,
historic properties, fish and wildlife values, flood hazards, flood plain values, land use, navigation,
shoreline erosion and accretion, recreation, water supply and conservation, water quality, energy
needs, safety, food and fiber production and, in general, the needs and welfare of the people. A
permit will be granted unless the District Engineer determines that it would be contrary to the
public interest. In cases of conflicting property rights, the Corps of Engineers cannot undertake to
adjudicate rival claims.
The Corps of Engineers is soliciting comments from the public; Federal, state, and local
agencies and officials; Indian Tribes; and other interested parties in order to consider and
evaluate the impacts of this activity. Any comments received will be considered by the Corps of
Engineers to determine whether to issue, modify, condition or deny a permit for this project. To
make this decision, comments are used to assess impacts on endangered species, historic
properties, water quality, general environmental effects, and the other public interest factors listed
above. Comments are used in the preparation of an Environmental Assessment and/or an
Environmental Impact Statement pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act. Comments
are also used to determine the need for a public hearing and to determine the overall public
interest of the activity.
If there are any questions concerning this public notice, please contact Tracy Dotolo
Sanders at 843-329-8044 or toll free at 1-866-329-8187.