North Topsail Beach and Surf City nourishment update

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and North Topsail Beach and Surf City Towns met Wednesday, December 9th via WebEx to gain a status update on the federal storm mitigation project.

USACE has developed a draft policy waiver for real estate acquisition and parking/access analysis waiver. This draft has been sent for comments, it is expected to be sent to district headquarters in Savannah, GA before Christmas.

According to the latest update, they expect to have the executed document by January 2021.

USACE has one financial item left to update in the PPA package, they are awaiting finical cost associated with bid prices and mobilization.

Also, they have been working with US Fish & Wildlife to widen the environmental windows. Widening the environmental windows would allow contractors to dredge/place sand for a longer period of time.

Currently, regulations do not allow for dredging/sand placement from the middle of April to the middle of November of each calendar year.

USACE has been holding internal meetings regarding the bidding aspect of the project; rather to bid in one major contract or two contracts one for N. Topsail and one for Surf City.

They are currently awaiting support and review from the district.

The total volume is 12 million cubic yards and may require Outer Continental Sands (OCS). Final Construction cost, contract timeframes and sand placement windows are still under review.

The federal project is estimated to add an additional 12 million cubic yards of sand to the beach, build a new dune that is projected to be 25’ wide and 14’ high and widen the beach with a 6’ high and 300’ wide berm.