CONCORD, Mass. – Gregory Stone, representing LHI, Inc. and Lighthouse Inn, Inc., 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 proposed work in West Dennis, Mass. This work is proposed in Nantucket Sound at 1 Lighthouse Inn Road in West Dennis.
The proposed work involves the reconfiguration of the outermost portions of an existing groin system, temporary construction access, and beach nourishment. Current structures include three rock groins that extend between 130 feet and 240 feet in length. A breakwater parallel to the shore spans the two inner groins with a 25-foot gap present to allow for tidal exchange within the embayment.
The applicant proposes the following actions to modify the current groin and breakwater structures: 1) remove a 27-foot length of breakwater east of the existing gap and a 54-foot length west of the existing gap, within the breakwater running parallel to the shoreline. This will create two gaps for tidal exchange within the embayment that are each 54 feet wide; 2) construct a 77-foot rock groin perpendicular to the shoreline, off of the modified breakwater running parallel to the shoreline; 3) remove a 52-foot length of excess boulders from the end of the easternmost existing groin; 4) construct a 28-foot spur groin at the end of the westernmost existing rock groin and construct a 28-foot spur groin at the end of the easternmost existing rock groin; 5) re-nourish the beach area through the placement of 7,000 cubic yards of compatible sand material over a 69,000-square-foot area. A portion of the sand fill (4,000 cubic yards of material) will serve "double duty" and will be placed for temporary construction access, then allowed to migrate naturally post construction as part of the beach nourishment; and 6) temporary impacts to 3,800 square feet as stones removed from existing groins are temporarily stored prior to being re-utilized in the proposed new groins.
The project, as proposed, will result in 133 linear feet of groin structures being removed and 133 linear feet of groin structures being added resulting in no net gain or loss of tidal resources. Total impacts from beach nourishment will total approximately 69,000 square feet, with 31,600 square feet of the proposed beach nourishment occurring in intertidal areas. Temporary construction access will total approximately 3,800 square feet.
This proposed project will impact 1.65 acres of Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) and will result in the removal of fill from 1.6 acres of EFH. This habitat consists of medium to fine grain sands within the groin system and a sand bottom with submerged aquatic vegetation adjacent to the groin system. Loss of this habitat may adversely affect species that use these waters and substrate. However, the Corps has made a preliminary determination that the site-specific adverse effect will not be substantial. Further consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service regarding EFH conservation recommendations is being conducted and 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 work proposed by LHI, Inc. and Lighthouse Inn, Inc., can be viewed on the Corps website at ww.nae.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/PublicNotices.aspx.
Public comments on this work proposed by LHI, Inc. and Lighthouse Inn, Inc. (file # NAE-2016-1308) should be forwarded no later than Nov. 24, 2017 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, Regulatory Division (ATTN: Christine Jacek), 696 Virginia Road, Concord, MA 01742-2751. Additional information is available from Permit Project Manager Christine Jacek at 978-318-8026 or toll free 800-343-4789 or 800-362-4367 (if calling from within Massachusetts) or by email to: christine.m.jacek@usace.army.mil.