CONCORD, Mass. – The town of Scituate 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 constructing the North Scituate Beach Nourishment Project in Scituate, Mass.
The applicant’s project purpose is storm damage protection. The work is proposed in the Atlantic Ocean at North Scituate Beach on Glades Road in Scituate.
The proposed work involves the placement of fill material below the high tide line of waters of the U.S. in order to construct the North Scituate Beach Nourishment Project. The project requires approximately 240,000 cubic yards of material. The majority of the project area is protected by a concrete seawall fronted by an armor stone revetment.
The beach nourishment would extend along the North Scituate Beach seawall and revetment for a distance of approximately 2,900 feet, including tapered sections at both ends with a footprint of approximately 21.1 acres. The seaward extent of the nourishment crest would be located roughly above the toe of the existing stone revetment. The design life of the project is projected to be nine years.
The nourishment would be composed of a mix of cobble, gravel, and sand to enhance the stability of the beach. Due to the orientation of the shoreline and incoming wave energy, the nourishment material would be transported both cross-shore and along shore. Periodic re-nourishment also will be required to account for sediment transported offshore and to adjacent shorelines.
The source of the beach nourishment material would be from upland sources and would be transported by truck to the site. Approximately 12,000 truck trips would be necessary to deliver the full 240,000 cubic yards of material. The estimated number of daily truck trips is 80 or approximately 14 trucks per hour to meet production requirements for the beach nourishment. The work will take place 6 hours per day, 5 days per week, weather permitting.
During storms, the seawall and revetment structure is overtopped and water ponds on Bailey’s Causeway and Gannett Road. These two roads are used as evacuation routes for residents of Glades Road, Scituate Neck, and Surfside Road. The town states that Glades Road can be closed during severe winter storms due to the overtopping waves, preventing emergency access for emergency vehicles and residents. They also state that beach nourishment provides the benefits of reduced flood damage to existing infrastructure and supply of sediment to downdrift beaches; beach nourishment addresses the sediment starvation concerns along the shoreline, provides added longevity to the existing shore protection infrastructure, protects the existing development from coastal flooding and storm damage, and restores a functional beach system that may enhance wildlife habitat.
The project will impact 21.1 acres of Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) for various species and life stages. Loss of this habitat may adversely affect these species. 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 public notice, with more specifics on the work proposed by the town of Scituate, can be viewed on the Corps website at www.nae.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/PublicNotices.aspx.
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 Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, which regulates the discharge or fill of material in U.S. waters, including wetlands.
Public comments on this work proposed by the town of Scituate (file # NAE-2016-779) should be forwarded no later than Nov. 10, 2016 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, Regulatory Division (ATTN: Kevin Kotelly), 696 Virginia Road, Concord, MA 01742-2751. Additional information is available from Permit Project Manager Kevin Kotelly at 978-318-8703 or toll free 800-343-4789 or 800-362-4367 (if calling from within Massachusetts) or by email to: kevin.r.kotelly@usace.army.mil.