Identifying and Identifying and Constructing a Constructing a - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Prepared for: Prepared by:

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

October 2012 Kaitlin McCormick

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

2

Project Overview Project Overview

• Dredging Component: Modification of Dominion’s
• ffshore 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

3

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

4

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

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 8

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

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

13 13

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.

14 14

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 www.eaest.com

15 15

Scan this code to connect with EA