Identifying and Constructing a Dredged Material Placement Site while ...
Identifying and Constructing a Dredged Material Placement Site while Protecting a Unique Coastal Freshwater Marsh
Prepared for:
Prepared by:
Kaitlin McCormick October 2012
2
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 • 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 • 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
Cove Point Marsh Breach
5
Shoreline Erosion at Cove Point
6
Project Components
7
Cove Point Marsh Protection 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
Conceptual Model
9
Dredged Material Placement
10
Constructed Facility
11
Constructed Facility
12
13
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
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
Questions? – Thank You
Kaitlin McCormick Scientist/Project Manager 225 Schilling Circle, Suite 400 Hunt Valley, Maryland 21031 410-584-7000 [email protected] www.eaest.com
Scan this code to connect with EA
Prepared for:
Prepared by:
Kaitlin McCormick October 2012
2
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 • 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 • 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
Cove Point Marsh Breach
5
Shoreline Erosion at Cove Point
6
Project Components
7
Cove Point Marsh Protection 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
Conceptual Model
9
Dredged Material Placement
10
Constructed Facility
11
Constructed Facility
12
13
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
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
Questions? – Thank You
Kaitlin McCormick Scientist/Project Manager 225 Schilling Circle, Suite 400 Hunt Valley, Maryland 21031 410-584-7000 [email protected] www.eaest.com
Scan this code to connect with EA
