CONCORD, Mass. – The Strand/BRC Group, LLC is seeking a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District to conduct work in waters of the U.S. in conjunction with installing a bulkhead in Stamford, Conn. This work is proposed in the West Branch of Stamford Harbor and East Creek at 100 Bateman Way in Stamford.
The Strand/BRC Group, LLC is proposing to install approximately 854 linear feet of bulkhead to replace the existing rip-rap revetment on the east side of the 14-acre site. The 854-foot section of bulkhead incorporates two structural designs due to the presence of shallow bedrock. In the shallow bedrock area, the bulkhead will involve a combination pipe pile and sheet pile configuration; the bulkhead for the other areas will involve steel sheet pile driven to depth. Pipe piles and concrete will be used for the tie back system.
The approximately 17,000-square-foot area between the existing high tide line (HTL) and the proposed bulkhead will be filled with approximately 6,140 cubic yards of clean free-draining fill. The proposed bulkhead will be approximately 22 feet beyond the mean high water (MHW) line. The centerline of the bulkhead will be coincident with the Pierhead/Bulkhead line. The bulkhead is needed to stabilize an eroding and subsiding shoreline.
The Strand/BRC Group also is proposing to install additional bulkhead on the northeastern and northwestern portions of the site. This will include 250 linear feet of bulkhead to enclose and fill the travel lift wells (northwest portion of the site) and extend the bulkhead an additional 50 feet to complete the installation. The proposed travel lift well enclosure work will occupy an area of approximately 2,480 square feet and require approximately 1,750 cubic yards of clean fill below the elevation of the HTL. The bulkhead location is coincident with the face of the travel lift wells, and coincident with the Pierhead/Bulkhead line.
Filling the area of the existing wood pile-supported boardwalk will occupy an area of approximately 6,015 square feet and require approximately 4,250 cubic yards of fill below the elevation of the HTL. The bulkhead will extend approximately 30-35 feet beyond the MHW line, and coincident with the Pierhead/Bulkhead line. Approximately 93 feet of bulkhead will be installed at the northeastern corner of the site to enclose a derelict boat launch ramp and extend to the hurricane barrier to the north of the site. The boat launch enclosure work will occupy an area of approximately 1,120 square feet below the HTL and require approximately 300 cubic yards of clean fill. The bulkhead will be approximately 30 feet beyond the MHW line within the launch ramp area.
The purpose of the bulkhead in the northwest part of the site is to create a stable linear shoreline that will support the marina and an upland public access walkway around the perimeter of the site. The proposed extension of the bulkhead to the existing hurricane barrier at the northeast corner of the site will increase coastal resiliency and support the public access walkway.
This proposed project will impact approximately 0.61 acre of Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) for various species and life stages. This habitat consists of predominantly silt. Loss of this habitat may adversely affect these species. However, the Corps has made a preliminary determination that the sitespecific adverse effect will not be substantial. The Corps will submit an expanded EFH assessment to the National Marine Fisheries Service, who in turn may provide conservation recommendations to the Corps. The Corps will coordinate with the applicant regarding implementation of any recommendations that NMFS may have. The EFH consultation will be concluded prior to the final permit decision.
The application for the federal permit was filed with the Corps in compliance with Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act, which provides for federal regulation of any work in, or affecting navigable waters of the U.S.; and with Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, which regulates the discharge or fill of material in U.S. waters, including wetlands. The public notice, with more specifics on the proposed work by The Strand/BRC Group, LLC, can be viewed on the Corps website at www.nae.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/PublicNotices.aspx.
Public comments on this proposed work by The Strand/BRC Group, LLC (file # NAE-2008-00190) should be forwarded no later than Sept. 14, 2017 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, Regulatory Division (ATTN: Diane Ray), 696 Virginia Road, Concord, MA 01742-2751. Additional information is available from Permit Project Manager Diane Ray) at 978-318-8831 or toll free 800-343-4789 or 800-362-4367 (if calling from within Massachusetts) or by email to: diane.m.ray@usace.army.mil.