Identifying and Identifying and Constructing a Constructing a Dredged Material Dredged Material Placement Site while Protecting a Placement Site while Protecting a Unique Coastal Unique Coastal Freshwater Marsh Freshwater Marsh Prepared for: Prepared by: Kaitlin McCormick October 2012
2 Project Overview Project Overview • Recognized a need for environmental restoration at Cove Point Marsh • Decided to forgo traditional placement options to address a local environmental need • Worked to design a solution to meet both DCP’s need for placement capacity and the Cove Point Natural Heritage Trust’s goal of preserving and protecting Cove Point Marsh
3 Project Overview Project Overview • Dredging Component: Modification of Dominion’s offshore LNG Terminal pier to accommodate larger vessels � Expansion of Pier � Dredging of 150,000 cy of material over 30 acres of Chesapeake Bay bottom • Environmental Component: Repair of breach threatening Cove Point Marsh � Construction of a salt marsh with armoring material � Re-construction of dune system � Installation of a segmented breakwater � Enhancement of Beach Habitat
4 Introduction to Cove Point Marsh Introduction to Cove Point Marsh • Unique freshwater ecosystem along the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay • Separated from estuarine waters by Cove Point Beach • 41 state rare, threatened, or endangered plant species in or near Cove Point marsh (Steury 1996) � 30 in the marsh � 5 on the barrier dune � 6 around the dune or wetland • Beach provides habitat for federally listed beetle • Beach was breached during a 4-day northeaster in 2006 � Allowed brackish tidal bay water to enter the marsh � Degraded freshwater ecosystem • Shoreline north of the Cove Point peninsula has also been eroding
5 Cove Point Marsh Breach Cove Point Marsh Breach
6 Shoreline Erosion at Cove Point Shoreline Erosion at Cove Point
7 Project Components Project Components
8 Cove Point Marsh Protection Cove Point Marsh Protection Placement Project Placement Project Project has 3 main components: • Repair of the 2006 breach that converted the former freshwater Cove Point marsh into a brackish water system • Construction of a dredged material placement site � Continuous containment structure � Placement of dredged material � Creation of tidal marsh • Construction of a segmented breakwater and beach nourishment � Protect the beach south of the placement site from shoreline erosion � Enhance habitat for the northeastern beach tiger beetle
9 Conceptual Model Conceptual Model
10 10 Dredged Material Placement Dredged Material Placement
11 11 Constructed Facility Constructed Facility
12 12 Constructed Facility Constructed Facility
13 13 Project Highlights Project Highlights • Collaboration with � Local, state and federal resource agencies � Local stakeholders (Cove Point Natural Heritage Trust) • Developed a comprehensive plan that met � Environmental concerns and habitat needs of sensitive species � Dredged material placement capacity needs of Dominion • Ensured that all the ecological resources along the beach, Cove Point Marsh, and the adjacent areas were considered • Addressed shoreline erosion in the project vicinity
14 14 Education and Outreach Education and Outreach • Partnered with the National Aquarium in Baltimore's Conservation Team • Provided volunteer and hands-on learning opportunities for the public with two planting projects � Along the dune system in February 2011 � Within the tidal marsh in May 2011 • Over 500 volunteers participated from: � Scout troops � Church groups � Leadership Southern Maryland � School groups • Worked with the Providence Center to grow marsh plants � Providence Center offers employment services to mentally handicapped adults to grow the marsh plants.
15 15 Questions? – Questions? – Thank You hank You Kaitlin McCormick Scientist/Project Manager 225 Schilling Circle, Suite 400 Hunt Valley, Maryland 21031 410-584-7000 kmccormick@eaest.com Scan this code to www.eaest.com connect with EA
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