CONCORD, Mass. – Water Sports Center, Inc. is seeking a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District to impact waters of the U.S. in conjunction with relocating an existing rowing facility and retaining existing revetments and seawalls in Norwalk, Conn.

The proposed project includes work in navigable waters for the relocation of a rowing facility in the Norwalk River at 1 Jennings Place in Norwalk. The permit applicant is seeking to install an 18-foot wide by 240-foot long floating dock with 15 timber piles to act as a rowing platform. The float will be accessed by two 8-foot wide by 30-foot long access gangways and two 10-foot wide by 30-foot long fixed timber piers, each containing 6 timber piles (for a total of 12 timber piles). The timber piers will extend over an existing revetment structure. The applicant also is proposing to retain a pre-existing 1995 stone revetment, timber bulkhead, timber dolphin and 1,100 square feet of existing timber floating docks and gangway situated directly downstream.

The floating docks will be installed by barge and will maintain an 18-inch clearance above the intertidal substrate during times of low water.  

The proposed project will impact approximately 5,000 square feet of Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) for various species and life stages. Increased boat traffic in this area may adversely affect these species. 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 by Water Sports Center, Inc. with the Corps of Engineers 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. The public notice can be viewed on the Corps website at: www.nae.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/PublicNotices.aspx.

Public comments on the work proposed by Water Sports Center, Inc. (file #NAE-2016-01063) should be forwarded no later than Dec. 2, 2016 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, Regulatory Division (ATTN: Lindsay Flieger), 696 Virginia Road, Concord, MA  01742-2751. Additional information is available from Permit Project Manager Lindsay Flieger at 978-318-8656 or toll free 800-343-4789 or 800-362-4367 (if calling from within Massachusetts) or by email to: lindsay.flieger@usace.army.mil.