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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-05-14 Minutes Access 2, 17Sept2024 HLB 18Sept2024 PostTS8, DRGFall 2023 DRG Photo from USACE ILM Harbor website Port, Waterway & Beach Commission May 14, 2025 Notes/Discussion: Title slide picture is believed to be from around 1965/1966, following the initial federal project at Carolina Beach. Chairman Barbour led introductions. April meeting minutes approved. •Bid opening was April 23rd •4 bidders •USACE awarded $23.5 million contract to Norfolk Dredging Company on May 8th •Schedule is TBD •Independent Government Estimate was $20.9 million Carolina Beach and Kure Beach FY26 Coastal Storm Risk Management (CSRM) Looking S from Kure Beach pier Notes/Discussion: Thanks to the USACE for their work on the industry day and having the project re-posted so early in the year. Norfolk Dredging Company was also the apparent low bidder in the Wilmington Inner Bar Project. Carolina Beach CSRM Plans/Specs Notes/Discussion: Bid plans call for 800,000 cy to be placed on Carolina Beach. Comments made by several around the hope that the contractor will pull as much from the borrow area within CB Inlet prior to going to the offshore borrow area. Bob Keistler (USACE) made note that USACE will be advertising the USACE AIWW Maintenance contract for AIWW maintenance work taking place this winter which includes the AIWW crossing at CB Inlet with placement on Freeman Park. Kure Beach FY26 CSRM Plans/Specs Notes/Discussion: Bid plan calls for 757,000 cy to be placed on Kure Beach. Bob Keistler (USACE) stated his team will meet with Norfolk Dredging Company in the coming weeks to get a preliminary schedule. He stated the USACE will keep the County and Towns updated and they will also provide links to the tracking website once the project begins. Feb 27 Carolina Beach Inlet Maintenance Dredging •USACE continues to aim for a two-week June event w/ the Merritt •Murden finished in Guantanamo Bay and in Louisiana for maintenance Inlet survey dates 4/11, 4/17, and 4/23 Notes/Discussion: Discussion around dredge plant scheduling and the likelihood of events later in the year. There was further discussion around the County’s inlet dredge material management site/borrow area being full and once empty it would allow hopper dredges to work more effectively within the inlet with less travel time. Mason Inlet Relocation Project (MIRP)/ Mason Creek AIWW Crossing Taken from USACE 2/11/25 AIWW survey •USACE notified New Hanover County (NHC) on 2/20/25 of shoaling within Mason Creek AIWW crossing •Per federal permit conditions associated MIRP, NHC required to maintenance dredge •+/-75,000cy within Section 3 Tangent 12 template per USACE •Plan is to include work as an option in upcoming USACE FY26 AIWW Maintenance contract with placement on Figure 8 Island •DA-241 capacity concerns Notes/Discussion: Update to NC Beach and Inlet Management Plan (BIMP) •Update to BIMP currently in Senate’s Budget Bill •“Each plan shall be as complete as resources and available information allow. The Department of Environmental Quality shall revise the plan every two years and shall submit the revised plan to the General Assembly no later than March 1 of each odd-numbered year.” •Taken from the “Findings” section –“Beach nourishment projects such as those at Wrightsville Beach and Carolina Beach have been very successful and greatly reduced property damage during hurricanes and other coastal storms that have impacted the State’s coast.” •$400,000 budgeted within Senate’s bill to fund BIMP update •Bill now moves to the House Discussion/Notes: Kathleen Riely at NCBIWA thanked everyone for the number of letters of support and passed resolutions to help push for this update. Discussion around the importance of an updated BIMP and updated economic numbers when discussing coastal topics. Next Meeting: June 11th Notes/Discussion: Chairman Barbour made note how the AIWW crossing at CB Inlet has become shallow and narrow. He also explained that due to the inlet condition, like many others, he no longer runs the inlet around low tide. Discussion around USACE’s Snows Cut stabilization project and if there are going to be any potential concerns. USACE does not anticipate any project changes and is working with CB State Park to tie into each other ’s projects. Bob Keistler (USACE) spoke in appreciation of the cooperation and experience with project partners. David Kellam and others thanked the USACE for attending the meeting. Public Comment: Chairman Barbour adjourned meeting. Next meeting is June 11th.