PWBC-Minutes 02-18-2011 Addendum SECTION S: CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS,
Conclusions
New Hanover County has been the primary local sponsor of three federal storm damage
reduction projects since 1384. Over time, there have been multiple periodic nourishments of
these projects to maintain the beaches and inlets with a high level of success. Recently,
however, projects have been delayed and/or only partially completed because of limited and
sporadic federal funding, jeopardizing the success of the program with possible loss of
recreational beaches and the storm protection they provide. The availability of federal funding is
expected to continue to be a problem in the future.
To address federal funding issues, New Hanover County should put itself in a position to assure
the continuation of the storm damage reduction projects even though federal funding may be
constrained. This would involve the County nourishing all or portions of the federal beach
projects as necessary to assure that their function are being maintained. The County would need
to secure state and federal permits and provide supplemental funding to accomplish this goal.
The primary conclusions drawn from this report are as follows:
(1) The three County projects have generally performed well; however, all three projects have
sections that experience erosion into the design template by the end of each nourishment cycle.
(2)While some of the project performance issues for Carolina Beach and Kure Beach are
associated with funding shortfalls, the primary issue facing Wrightsville Beach is the quantity of
material available from the Masonboro Inlet sediment trap/borrow area.
(3) The material available within the offshore borrow area utilized to construct and nourish Kure
Beach may be limited necessitating investigations for additional sand sources that would be
needed to maintain the project over the next 30 years.
(4) As demonstrated by other projects located throughout the country, obtaining non- federal
permits for federally authorized storm damage reduction projects would not jeopardize the
County's ability to obtain federal funds for the projects.
(5) Coordination of the beach nourishment events E�ith maintenance cf the federal navigation
projects, particularly the asonboro Tnict sand bypassing operation, can continue witho
Ni ut any
special provisions or Memorand of Agreements.
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(6) The USACE efforts to re- authorize the Carolina Beach project likely will not be completed in
time for the 2015 -16 nourishment cycle. Therefore, the County will need to be in a position to
nourish the project using non - federal funds.
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(8) State cost- sharing for the projects will likely continue at some level as long as federal funds
are appropriated for the projects. The level of state funding for projects that receive federal
funding will likely be limited to 50% of the non - federal share.
(9) Under current conditions of state funding shortfalls, projects that do not have federal funding
are less likely to receive funding support from the state. As the economy improves, state funding
may become available to help share the local costs of these projects.
(10) Permitting the existing projects without modifications may be completed within 6 to 16
months depending on the level of documentation required by the USACE.
(11) Permitting modifications to the projects would entail more detailed environmental
documentation and coordination with state and federal resource agencies and could take 2 to 3
years to complete.
(12) The County's beach nourishment fund will be able to sustain all three projects for at least
the next 30 years providing the state continues to cost - share in the Wrightsville Beach and ;lure
Beach projects.
(13) In the absence of federal and state finding for the Carolina. Beach project, the County and
possibly the Town of Carolina Beach, would have to assume responsibility for funding future
nourishment operations.
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(14) Cost to obtain permits for the existing projects without modifications (Option 1) could range
from $565,000 to $500,000. These costs include all of the geotechnical investigations for the
existing borrow areas that would be needed to satisfy the state's sediment criteria and the
environmental coordination and documentation to support the permit application.
(15) Permitting costs for Option 2 (project modifications), could range from $1,100,000 to
$2,050,000. These costs also include the geotechnical investigations that would be needed to
permit new borrow areas and provide the required environmental coordination and
documentation.
(16) Physical and biological monitoring costs for all three projects could range from $300,000 to
$900,000 over a three -year monitoring period.
Recommendations
The County should immediately begin efforts to obtain permits for the existing projects without
modifications.
The County and the three municipalities should develop an inter -local agreement that clearly
defines how the beach nourishment funds are to be allocated.
The County should send a delegation to Washington to meet with the Congressional
delegations and staff at the USACE Head Quarters to explore Carolina Beach Re-
Authorization options.
The County should conduct an Economic Impact Study to support decisions to continue to
support a beach nourishment program for the beach towns of New Hanover Count}.
Once permits are in hand for the existing projects, the County should initiate the permitting
process to modify the projects. Project modifications should include but not necessary limited
to:
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(1) New borrow areas for Wrightsville Beach and Kure Beach with the new Kure Beach
borrow site also applicable to Carolina Beach;
(2) Revised nourishment schedules to improve project performance and/or cost;
(3) Revised fill distributions to address problem areas.
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