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- ---------- Coastal Zone Information Center GUIDELINES @UK EVALUATING COASTAL WETLAND DEVELOPMENTS,, on h'@ 2"VI--IMMAJ U . .. . . ....... arine Resources Division life QH and Marine Resources Depcxrtmentl,@ 87.3 L38 1974 Charleston, S.C. 29412 z vi C`FS Jcxnua@y 1974 RCES TABLE OF CONTENTS Property of C.-"- Library 1. Introduction 11. Purpose 111. Permit Procedure IV. General Guidelines V. Specific Project Guidelines A. Docks and Piers U . S . DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE NOAA COASTAL SERVICES CENTER B. Marina Location and DQA SOUTH HOBSON AVENUE CHARLESTON , SC 29405-2413 C . Transportation D . Bulkheads and Seawalls E. Dredging and Filling F. Navigation Channels and Acess Canals G. Deposition of Spoil Materials H. Jetties and Groins 1. Cables, Pipelines, and Transmission Lines J. Lagoons or Impoundments K. Drainage Canals or Ditches L. Other Alterations of Tidal Wetlands VI. Evaluation of Permit Applications VII. Appendix A - Permit Applications Information Appendix B - Enforcement t t Appendix C - Public Agencies T FOREWORD Although the guidelines contained in this report were prepared to guide the Marine Resources Divi- sion of the South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Re- sources Department, we hope they can also serve as a general stimulus for the implementation of better and more consistent management efforts in the State's coastal area by other State and local agen- cies. We recognize that guidelines for an overall coastal zone management system would include many more requirements and topics. However, we feel that these guidelines are consistent with the responsibilities of the Marine Resources Division and that they begin to provide a framework in which proper coastal development can take place. All aspects of the wide variety of possible coastal developments cannot be covered in a summary set of guidelines. The discussion that follows may raise specific questions concerning individual pro- jects. In any case, individuals or groups considering alterations of tidal wetlands are encouraged to con- tact the staff of the Marine Resources Division at the earliest feasible point in their planning process. This will allow early identification of potential en- vironmental problems, time for their resolution, and should facilitate the permit granting process. The primary responsibility for the writing of these guidelines rests with Dr. Eugene A. Laurent and Michael D. McKenzie, although important inputs were made by other personnel of the Marine Re- sources Division. In the preparation of these guide- lines, publications of the Florida Coastal Coordinat- ing Council and the Coastal Plains Center for Marine Development Services were drawn upon. Dr. Edwin B. Joseph Director, Marine Resources Division serious deterioration of the wetland system far from the site of the original activity and thereby reduce over a broad area the benefits generated by other wetland uses. For example, Figure 1 illustrates some of the environmental effects that can be ex- pected from recreational developments such as con- dominium or second home communities, an eco- nomic development activity that alters the wetland INTRODUCTION environment in a wide variety of ways, and the possible restrictions on other activities resulting The tidal wetlands in the coastal zone of South from this. As can be seen from this figure, develop- Carolina are among the most valuable and fragile mental construction requires certain specific activi- of the State's natural resources. While these wet- ties that affect the environment and that in turn, can restrict other economic developments. lands, consisting of bays, sounds, tidal streams, marshes, bottoms, flats, mud banks, beaches, and Because of the importance of tidal wetlands to the shorelines, represent only a small percentage of the State in a variety of uses, their sensitivity and total area of the State, they account for a large ma- vulnerability, and the possibility of unexpected side- jority of South Carolina's annual harvest of fish effects, it is important that care be taken in any de- (commercial and sport) and for a large number of velopment affecting these areas. All proposed alter- visitors, tourists, and new residents in coastal areas. ations of tidal wetlands should be examined tho- Many people who do not enjoy the bunting and roughly by those familiar with the dynamics of fishing opportunities afforded by these resources wetland areas before disruptive activities are per- still are drawn by the appeal of sun, surf, and sand, mitted. and an aesthetically pleasing environment. Tidal wetlands and related highlands are also prime sites for commercial and industrial development. All of the people who use these valuable resources, whe- PURPOSE ther for pleasure or profit, pour dollars into the local economy. This publication lists and describes the general One of the most important components of the guidelines to be followed by the Marine Resources tidal wetlands system is the salt marsh. Marshes Division in evaluating applications to the U. S. are not only highly productive, they are also one of Army Corps of Engineers for a permit to alter tidal nature's ways of protecting high land from erosion wetlands. The broad purpose is to encourage com- and storm damage. Marsh plants act as a buffer to munications between the Marine Resources Center waves, tidal currents, and flood waters. In addition, and those proposing to alter tidal wetlands and marshes perform an important waste treatment thereby avoid some of the conflict presently sur- function. Due to their ability to assimilate large rounding many permit applications. By making quantities of certain pollutants, marshes aid in al- these guidelines available in published form, we leviating the adverse effects of many types of de- hope to (1) aid developers and others in taking ad- velopment. Finally, ducks, rails, snipe, and many vantage of state-of-the-art techniques in developing other types of waterfowl could not survive without plans compatible with the marine environment, (2) the substantial habitat provided by these areas. aid the Marine Resources Division in avoiding poli- Unfortunately, all tidal wetlands are very sensi- cy deviations on similar permit applications over tive to disruption by manmade developments. Al- time, and (3) serve as a stimulus for the implemen- terations of the wetland environment can result in tation of better and more consistent management efforts in tidal wetland areas, and thereby, en- courage the wisest uses of marine resources. PRIMARY ACTIVITY SECONDARY ACTIVITY ENVIRONMENTAL :IM7PAC:TS:] POSSIBLE USE RESTRICTION BOO x Dissolved Oxygen x Coastal Construction Dissolved Salts x Aesthetics Commercial Fishing Suspended Solids Mariculture Erosion x Recreation Deposition & Accretion Preservatton of Fish/ Inland Construction draulics x Wildlife X Deve etation Photos thesis Aesthetics Consume Commercial Fishing Mariculture Land Canals X Predation x Recreation Recreational Preservation of Wildlife Development BOD x Dredging Spoil Disposal Dissolved Oxygen x Aesthetics Nutrients x Commercial Fishing Odors & Tastes x Mariculture Color x Excavation Recreation X Toxicity x Preservation of Wildlife issolved Salts x Suspended Solids Draining Tem erature x Transportation H bufferino x Recreation Erosion x Residential Construction Devegetation De osition &Accretion Preservation of Wildife draulics x Deve etation x Aesthetics Infiltration x FIGURE 1. Commercial Fishing -onding x Mariculture hotosynthesis kconsumers/Food Chain Recreation Preservation of Wildlife S E D u r e s 0 d p s 0 r e i s au n 0 i d n t 1 e j i d on So 1ids Accre ti on cs RY Com a r D ev e e t Wan x ti Photos thess Co s mers0 nrs Food Chain u..0 cst, Decom osition x a, P Prt 0 redation Pr, @@,@@N tr uie, u Commer' 0 ors Odors 7 ari cu olor r AlRe ea c Toxicil Pr 1. e'er, issol, ,..,@Re cr Resi' Pre Comm Ma ri OgOR P@e cr res, PERMIT PROCEDURE A permit from the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers persons, including State agencies having responsi- is required for any type of construction or alteration bilities and interests in the proposed project. activity in navigable waters, including the tidal wet- All State agencies are requested to submit com- lands of South Carolina. This responsiblity was as- ments and recommendations within 30 days of the signed to the Corps of Engineers under the Rivers date of Notice to the South Carolina Water Re- and Harbors Act of 1899. sources Commission. The Commission is authorized Prior to submitting a permit application to the by a directive from the Governor of South Carolina District Engineer for proposed activities over which to coordinate comments from the various State the Corps has jurisdiction, an applicant must obtain agencies and to submit a recommendation to the a certification from the South Carolina Department Budget and Control Board. The Budget and Control of Health and Environmental Control' that the work Board expresses the States position to the District will be conducted in a manner which will not violate Engineer regarding the granting of a permit. applicable water quality standards. Upon receipt of The Marine Resources Division is charged with this certification and permit application, the Dis- the broad responsibilities of protecting the public trict Engineer issues a Public Notice to all concerned interest in respect to conservation and management of marine resources and advising on the main- tenance and improvement of environmental quality as it affects these natural resources. In regard to this responsibility, the Office of Marine Conserva- tion and Management evaluates each permit appli- cation individually, including individual and com- pany applications as well as proposed work by Fed- eral and State agencies requiring environmental impact statements. Proposed projects are also evaluated by the De- partment's Game and Freshwater Fisheries Division and the Division of Law Enforcement and Boating. The comments of each Division are forwarded to the Office of Coastal Zone Planning, which drafts the Department's recommendation as to either approval or denial of the permit. 'See Appendix B for Public Agencies that have major responsibilities in coastal areas. GENERAL GUIDELINES SPECIFIC PROJECT Recognizing that tidal wetlands are of vital im- portance to the State, that these areas are, for the GUIDELINES most part, state-owned property held in trust for the people generally, and that there is a strong and If a proposed project meets the conditions of the growing pressure for the development of these previously stated General Guidelines, the following areas, the Marine Resources Center has established specific project guidelines will be used when re- broad guidelines for permit applications in an effort viewing permit applications. to reduce the irreversible loss of productive wet- land areas while meeting long-range state develop- ment needs. DOCKS AND PIERS Because of the importance of such areas, all de- velopment of state-owned wetlands should be avoid- A dock or pier is a structure built over or float- ed. In general, it is felt that any development ad- ing on water, and is generally used for marine versely affecting wetlands should be in response to transportation or recreational purposes. Docks and a recognized public need. Developments that do not piers are probably the most popular method of will not be recommended for approval. Beyond gaining access to deep water. They are also probab- this, those activities that can function only through ly the least objectional from an ecological point of use of waterfront property or access to it (e. g., mari- view. They do, however, sometimes pose navigation- nas) has first priority for limited wetland develop- al problems, restrict public use of the waters, and ment. Of second priority are those activities that possess some potential for creating environmental could function inland, but for which a shoreline or problems. As a result, there are certain guidelines wetland location would significantly enchance the that should be followed in constructing such facili- activity on an economic or aesthetic basis. However, ties. even in these cases, alterations of wetland areas should be strictly limited. Guidelines: Any use altering wetland areas still must make every effort to minimize environmental impact and I. Docks and piers should not hinder navigation follow the specific guidelines discussed in other por- or public use of the waters. tions of this report. Uses not requiring a coastal 2. Docks and piers should be constructed in a location and those that are not economically en- manner that does not restrict water flow. hanced to a significant degree by their proximity to the water are discouraged from wetland or water- 3. The size and extension of a dock or pier should front locations since there are sufficient areas in- be limited to that required for the intended land. use. The Marine Resources Center feels that, if these 4. The use of anchor buoys in preference to docks guidelines were followed as a matter of State will be encouraged whenever practical. policy, (1) the relatively scarce developable water- 5. Subdivisions, motels, and multiple dwellings front and wetland areas would be allocated to those will be encouraged to develop a single, joint- activities that can utilize them most effectively and use moorage facility. (2) the environmental impact of development in the 6. Project proposals should include facilities for coastal areas would be lessened. It is hoped that the proper handling of litter, wastes, refuse, other state agencies having advisory or management and petroleum products, where applicable. powers over waterfront or wetland areas will con- sider these guidelines in reviewing permit applica- 7. Where docks and piers interfere with shell- tions and that local governments will,consider them fish leases, the lessee should be contacted for in their development policies. approval. TRANSPORTATION There is often a strong public need for trans- portation projects. Unfortunately, such projects pose a significant potential for both direct and in- direct degradation of the marine environment. How- ever, properly planning transportation projects, con- MARINA LOCATION AND sidering environmental effects, can be an effective tool for guiding future coastal development toward DESIGN more favorable end products. Marinas are facilities that provide boat launch- ings, storage, supplies, and services for small Guidelines: pleasure craft. There are three basic types of marinas: 1) the open structure type, where open 1. Major highways, freeways, and railways pilework and/or floating breakwaters are used; should be located inland from wetland areas, 2) the solid construction type, where bulkheads and except in port and heavy industrial areas. Ex- landfill are used to provide moorings and shelters; isting shoreline roads should not be expanded, and 3) the dry storage type, where boats are stored but reserved for slow-moving recreational in specially designed warehouses placed entirely traf fic. on highland. All marinas affect the marine habitats 2. In cases where coastal wetlands cannot be to some degree, but adverse effects can be mini- avoided, bridging should be used to the maxi- mized by utilizing proper location and design fea- mum extent possible to create road beds ra- tures. In addition to guidelines for bulkheads and ther than filling and embankment. The pro- seawalls, docks and piers, dredging and filling, and ject should be designed in a manner that does navigation canals, the following guidelines are re- not invite additional filling of the waterfront commended: for other purposes. 3. Where coastal wetlands are destroyed, some Guidelines: value for these lands should be included in the costs calculations for the project.2 1. Marinas should be located in areas where 4. Structures over water should be designed so maximum physical advantages exist and as not to alter the natural water flow and cir- where least dredging and maintenance will culation regimes and not cause excessive be required. shoaling, as well as provide adequate clear- 2. Marinas should minimize the disruption of ance for commercial and pleasure craft. currents and the need for excavation of the 5. Maximum care should be taken to prevent shore area. concentrated runoff from roadways from en- 3. Open dockage extending to deep water should tering adjacent water bodies where possible- be constructed as an alternative to dredging 6. Bridges should be designed, where appro- for navigational access where feasible. priate, to provide for the enhancement of pub- 4. Turning basins and navigation channels lic access by the utilization of fishermen cat- should be designed to prevent long-term de- walks, boat launching ramps, or other struc- gradation of water quality. Dead end or deep tural features to enhance the recreational use canals without adequate flushing should be of the facilities. avoided. 2Estimates for use in cost calculations will be provided upon request by the 5. Project proposals should include facilities South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Departmemit. for the proper handling of litter, wastes, re- fuse, and petroleum products. DREDGING AND FILLING Development in coastal areas often has been consider- ed synonymous with dredging and filling activities. Dredging and filling in shallow water areas always BULKHEADS AND SEAWALLS can be expected to have adverse environmental con- sequences. There are cases, however, where such Bulkheads are retaining structures used to pro- environmental effects are unavoidable if legitimate tect adjacent shoreline from the action of current public needs are to be met. There are also tech- or waves, or to make it more accessible. A common niques that can be utilized to minimize these ad- practice in the past has been to erect vertical sea- verse effects and thus maximize total public bene- walls out into the water and then place fill material fits. on the landward side of the structure. This tech- Guidelines: nique is often ineffective and very disruptive to marine productivity. Often more desirable practices 1. Dredging and/or filling of tidal submerged are available. lands should be kept to a minimum. 2. Dredging and filling for public projects in wet- Guidelines: land areas should be undertaken only if the activity is water dependent and there are no 1. Except in special circumstances such as erod- feasible alternatives. ing shorelines, structures should be located no 3. Dredge and fill activities will be prohibited in further channelward than the mean of the nursery areas and during periods of fish mi- higher high water line, and designed so that gration and activities related to the spawning reflected wave energy does not destroy stable and early development of important sport and marine bottoms or constitute a safety hazard. commercial species. 2. Where possible, sloping rip-rap structures 4. Dredging and excavation should not create (open-piling) should be used rather than verti- stagnant water conditions, deposit sumps, and cal seawalls. lethal fish entrapments. 3. Bulkhead construction should avoid sharp 5. Designs for dredging and excavation projects angle turns that may collect trash or cause should include protective measures such as shoaling or flushing problems. silt curtains, diapers, and weirs to protect 4. In areas that have undergone extensive deve- water quality in adjacent areas during con- lopment, applications for bulkheads will be struction by preventing the discharge of re- encouraged that esthetically and/or ecologi- fuse, petroleum spills, and unnecessary disper- cally enhance the marine environment. sal of silt materials. 5. Applications for the construction of bulkheads 6. Where fill is necessary and diking is the best on barrier and sand islands, where such will alternative, adequate diking should be con- affect the natural deposition of sand materials, structed to contain fill material and prevent will normally be recommended for denial. To dispersal into adjacent wetland areas. avoid this, extreme care should be taken as to 7. Excavation of materials from productive sub- the location and type of construction planned merged or intertidal wetland areas for fill for bulkheads on such islands. purposes are discouraged and will be recom- - mendedfor approval only in unusual circum- stances. NAVIGATION CHANNELS 7. Alignments of channels and canals should make maximum use of natural or existing AND ACCESS CANALS channels. A specialized form of dredging activities involves 8. Alignments of channels and canals should the creation and maintenance of navigation chan- avoid shellfish beds and high productive wet- nels and access canals. These activities, as general land areas. dredging activities, have a potential for severe en- vironmental impacts. However, techniques are available to alleviate a considerable portion of these impacts. Due to the importance of such projects in DEPOSITION OF SPOIL coastal areas, they have been singled out for special MATERIALS emphasis. Guidelines: The deposition of spoil materials resulting from the numerous dredging activities along the coast 1. To the extent feasible, project plans should has important environmental effects separate from utilize piers or catwalks to reach deeper water the original dredging activity. Thousands of acres areas rather than channels or canals. of productive marine habitat have been destroyed 2. Access canals should be designed to ensure by such depositions. Although some of these areas adequate flushing and should not create dead serve as limited bird and animal habitat, it has been water or stagnant pockets. very difficult to use them for any other purposes. Recognizing that there is a continuing need to dis- 3. Highland waterway construction that is slated pose of spoil, it is important that plans for each ad- to be tied into tidal wetland areas should be ditional disposal area pay careful attention to al- constructed in the dry, if possible, so that slop- leviating the adverse impacts on the marine en- ing and stabilization of the banks can be com- vironment. pleted before the "plug" is removed for con- nection to open waters. Where dry construc- Guidelines: tion is not possible, temporary dams or plugs in the ends of canals or waterways should be 1. To the extent possible, all spoil material maintained until all sediment has settled out. should be placed on suitable highland rather 4. The sides of navigation channels and access than in wetland areas. canals should be gently sloping rather than 2. Where this is not possible, disposal facilities vertical to facilitate biological as well as phy- should be constructed in relatively low produc- sical stabilization of the canal banks. tion areas above the mean of the higher high 5. Dredging for navigational access should be water line. well planned to prevent unnecessary channels. 3. Toxic and highly organic materials should be Where several landowners are to be served by disposed of in highland areas behind imper- a project, peripheral canals in the highland vious dikes unless detoxification is under- leading to a central navigational channel taken. should be considered rather than separate ac- 4. Dikes surrounding disposal areas should be cess channels for each waterfront landowner. vegetated immediately to prevent erosion. 6. The berm of access canals should be raised so 5. Open water and deep water disposal should that there is gradual slope away from the canal be considered as an alternative if highland - edge. This will help prevent introduction of alternatives are not feasible. Open and deep contaminants into adjacent wetland areas. water disposal sites, however, should be ser- iously considered only after careful consulta- tion with the Marine Resources Division and other relevant state and federal agencies. LAGOONS OR IMPOUNDMENTS Applications for the construction of lagoons or im- JETTIES AND GROINS poundments for waste treatment facilities, solid waste disposal, and similar facilities will be recom- Jetties and groins are structures used to stabilize mended for denial when adverse effects of highly beaches and other shorelines by modifying or con- productive tidal wetlands are involved or the area trolling sand movement in longshore drift currents. is below the mean of the higher high water or if Jetties are structures generally used to improve the discharge or runoff from such facilities would navigation in coastal inlets while groins are struc- result in the closing of shellfish areas. tures extending from the backshore across a beach. Such structures are rarely successful for long per- iods of time unless they are part of a comprehensive DRAINAGE CANALS plan that considers shore processes affecting large OR DITCHES stretches of shoreline. Because of interference with the downdrift of sand along the shore, isolated sta- Drainage canals or ditches can be important ele- bilization attempts generally cause more problems ments in highland development plans. If the quanti- than they solve. For this reason, plans for all such ty and quality of discharged waters does not ad- structures should be carefully reviewed. versely affect the tidal wetland enviroranent in a Guidelines: significant manner, these applications will be re- commended for approval. Also recommended for approval will be applications for the construction 1. Plans for jetties and groins should be analyzed of drainage canals or ditches that follow the least to insure that the structure does not create damaging alignment and which meet one or more of adverse sand transportation patterns that in- the following needs: (a) insect vector control as a duce erosion or undesirable shoaling in ad- public health necessity, (b) other public health pur- jacent areas. poses, and (c) the control of urban runoff as part of 2. Projects will receive favorable emphasis if a comprehensive flood plain management plan. they alleviate 'or control erosion caused by Applications for the construction of drainage canals man's activities, such as destruction of sand or ditches for the purpose of draining productive dune's, ocean front encroachment, and sea- marine habitat will be recommended for denial wall and bulkhead construction. unless there is an overriding public need of the 3. In addition to adverse physical effects, care first priority. must be taken that jetties and groins do not interfere with public access. Guidelines: 1. Drainage canals and ditches should not cre- CABLES, PIPELINES, AND ate dead water or stagnant pockets. TRANSMISSION LINES 2. The alignment of drainage canals, to the ex- tent feasible, should avoid the more highly Applications for the installation of aerial or sub- productive submerged or intertidal wetlands merged cables, pipelines, and transmission lines in the area. that are located and designed to provide compati- 3. Alignments of canals should make maximum bility with the environment will be recommended use of existing deep water channels to avoid for acceptance. Particular emphasis will be placed unnecessary excavation. on design of water quality protective measures, 4. The quantity and quality of any discharged maintenance of tidal flushing action, maintenance waters should not result in large alterations and improvement of public access, and other mea- of the wetland environment. sures to protect marine resources. 5. All spoil material should be placed on suita- ble highland or where this is not possible, on low production areas above the higher of the mean high water line. OTHER ALTERATIONS OF TIDAL WETLANDS Because all possible wetland alterations can not be covered in a summary set of guidelines, it is recommended that individuals or groups consider- ing wetland alteration activities not covered by spe- cific guidelines (e.g., signs and billboards, mari- culture impoundments, etc.) contact the Marine Re- sources Division as soon as feasible in their plan- ning process so possible problems can be avoided. EVALUATION OF PERMIT APPLICATIONS South Carolina residents rely heavily on coastal areas for a great variety of uses - recreation, aes- 3. Does the activity described in the permit ap- thetics, and resources like fish and shellfish, to plication require waterfront or wetland pro- name a few. An insult to this coastal system, how- perty or access to it to function properly? ever minor, will eventually be paid for by decreased value of the system to man. This does not mean 4. Does a shoreline or wetland location enhance that management policies in coastal areas are simp- the activity on an economic or aesthetic basis? ly a matter of deciding on rides to perserve the 5. What types of environmetal alteration would marine ecosystem. Rather, it is necessary to consi- result from the proposed work? der broad trade-offs among environmental and so- 6. Does the proposed project indicate that the cial and economic values in a manner that adequate- guidelines are to be followed for specific al- ly recognizes the long term effects of proposed terations? if not, how does the proposed pro- actions. ject differ and what are the probable effects As mentioned earlier, one purpose of these guide- of this? lines is to aid the Marine Resources Division per- 7. What is the biological importance to marine sonnel in evaluating such trade-offs in a manner resources of the area to be affected by the which avoids policy deviations from area to area proposed project (hatitat, productivity, water and over time. To further this objective, Division quality, etc.)? personnel will ask the following general questions when evaluating specific permit applications: 8. What will be the effect of the proposed pro- ject on production and utilization of important 1. Does the proposed project appear to meet a sport and commercial species? recognized public need? 9. What will be the probable effect on related 2. Is the proposed activity generally compatible marine activities (e.g. photography, research, with surrounding activities? pleasure boating, etc.)? 10. What additional environmental safeguards should be built into the proposed project? APPENDIX A Information Describing Proposed Works To facifiate the processing of a permit applica- 8. Direction and magnitude of water current in tion, the following items of information that are river areas and ebb and flood tides to the ex- applicable to a particular project should be submit- tent possible. ted in conjunction with a permit application. Most 9. Intended use of filled area(s), including nature of these items are already required by the U. S. and type of buildings, facilities, and structures. Army Corps of Engineers on permit applications. 10.The applicant's total plan of development in- The more detail about a project included with the cluding long-range plans, type and location of permit application, the faster a review can be sewage treatment facilities and effluent out- made, problem areas identified, and solutions lets, volume and characteristics of all effluent found. discharges (solid and liquid). 1. Scale drawing of reasonable size of the pro- II.Previous Department of the Army permits posed project indicating Federal harbor lines. issued for the project area and immediate ad- 2. Overall map (U. S. Coast and Geodetic Sur- jacent areas, if any. vey, coast charts, or State road maps) showing 12.Statement as to the necessity of a particular project location. dredging depth and width. 3. Location and dimensions of all areas to be 13.Provisions for public access within proposed excavated and filled. project area. 4. Method(s) of excavation, type of equipment 14. Rate of shoreline erosion or accretion, if to be used, and means of equipment access to known. the construction site. 15.Erosion control plans to stabilize areas in- 5. Type and quantity of materials (cubic yards) fluenced by project construction. to be excavated. 16.Detailed drawing showing typical cross sec- 6. Extreme high lunar tide, mean of the higher tions of retaining dike and spillway structures high water, mean high water, and mean low to be used to contain spoil materials. water fines in the project area, where pos- 17. Location of freshwater outflows, such as aqui- sible. fers and springs, where known or identified. 7. Water depths in the vicinity of the proposed 18. Maximum recorded hurricane and storm tides project. in project area. APPENDIX B Enforcement One of the difficulties of using a permit system to manage tidal wedand areas is identification of il- legal or unpermitted activities. Recognizing this, Enforcement Procedure the South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department has initiated an aerial surveillance Upon observing any type of landfill, dredging, program that is designed to prevent illegal filling, dredging, diking, and destruction of tidal wetlands diking, or other operations altering tidal wetlands below the high of the mean high water. This sur- that appear to be below mean high water, the ob- veillance program will provide the State with week- server shall radio the Marine Resources Division at ly,information on the status of development acti- Fort Johnson to determine if a permit has been is- vities in tidal wetland areas. sued. The U. S. Army, Corps of Engineers, will be noti- Aerial Survelliance fied to determine if a federal permit has been issued. The Corps will be requested to investigate the mat- The aerial surveillance of tidal wetlands is in con- ter. junction with coastal patrols for commercial fishing If the operation seems questionable an on-site violations. A minimum of three patrols are made check shall be made by a Conservation Officer. each week with one each from the Georgetown Names and addresses of the owner of the property, the contractor, and the machine operator will be in- Charleston, and Beaufort areas. One Conservation cluded in the Officer's report. The Office of Marine Officer is assigned to the flights from each of the above areas. Conservation and Management will be notified im- On each flight, forms are filled out that indicate mediately of any questionable operation and quali- if any type of landfill, dredging, or dragline opera- fied personnel (survey teams, biologist, etc.) will be tions are being carried out that appear to be below dispatched to see if legal action is advisable. the high of the mean high water mark, or if no sus- If legal action is required, it will be brought by pect operations were observed. Completed forms the Office of Marine Conservation and Management are filed with -the Office of Marine Conservation with support from the Law Enforcement Section, in and Management of the Marine Resources Division conjunction with the assistance of the office of the and the Division of Law Enforcement and Boating. Attorney General. APPENDIX C Public Agencies The following public agencies are concerned with the general problems of wetlands and are interested in specific problems as they relate to their particular interest. For information in specific areas, contact: South Carolina Wildlife & Marine Resources Department Marine Resources Division P. 0. Box 12559 Charleston, S. C. 29412 South Carolina Department of Health & Environmental Control Owen Building 1321 Lady Street P. 0. Box 11628 Columbia, S. C. 29211 South Carolina Water Resources Commission 700 Knox Abbott Drive Cayce, South Carolina U. S. Army Corps of Engineers Charleston District P. 0. Box 919 Charleston, S. C. U. S. Bureau of Sports Fisheries & Wildlife Field Supervisor Fish & Wildlife Service Room 468 310 New Bern Drive Raleigh, N. C. 27601 U. S. Envirnomental Protection Agency 1421 Peachtree Street, N. E. Atlanta, Georgia 30309 CUSTAL ZONE INF01-11-Ail4"A CENTER DATE DUE GAYLORDINO. 2333 PRINTED IN U SA 3 21 668 )7