Concrete Canals

IMPORTANT ADVISORY NOTICE TO CONCRETE CANAL PROPERTY OWNERS
REGARDING THE 2008-2009 MAINTENANCE DREDGING PROJECT

On October 28, 2008 the Town issued a Notice of Award to Marcol Dredging Company to perform the 2008-2009 Maintenance Dredging Project. This maintenance dredging project proposes to use a hydraulic pipeline dredge to remove approximately 56,650 cubic yards of material from the concrete canal system. All material excavated will be pumped to a disposal site located approximately ½ mile west of the Odell Williamson Bridge along the AIWW.

We strongly encourage all property owners to pay close attention to the following advisories in order to expedite this dredging maintenance project:

• Boats and other vessels need to be removed by December 1, 2008 from thecanals (including from boat lifts). Please contact Town Hall concerning specific dredging schedules if you are unable to meet this deadline. Boats may only be returned to canals once the Town has informed the Owner directly by giving notice or posting notification on the Town’s website or TV Channel 8. This will assure the Town has proper time to perform all post dredge surveys.

• Boat owners are urged to exercise extreme caution when boating within the project area due to submerged pipelines and other dredge equipment.  Project dredging area includes the concrete canals, entrance canal # 3 and # 8 and along the southern side of the AIWW shoreline to the disposal basin, located west of the bridge. The locations of floating and submerged pipeline will be clearly marked and navigation notices will be sent out to ensure boaters in the area are aware of any potential hazard to navigation.

• When entering or exiting thru the two entrance canals as well as thru the entrances into the natural canals and commercial canals, boat operators shall stay in a straight alignment with the canal all the way to the AIWW channel and should not cut corners.

• When passing thru the project dredging area, boat operators shall always contact the dredge operator on VHF Radio Channel 66 or phone (843) 670-6117 for any precautions or advisories.

• As the canals are being dredged, some material located along the sides may shift before reaching the equilibrium conditions. Floating docks that may have previously been grounded out (sitting on dry ground) during low tide, may now experience full tidal variation and float at low tide conditions.

• Also, dock guides, boat-lift piles, etc., which have been installed within the shoaled material in the canals rather that properly embedded below the permitted dredge depth of -6 ft. MLW may be subject to float-out during the above conditions. The Town is not responsible for docks that undergo damage due to full tidal movement or reinstallation of the floated piles.

• It is recommended that the following measures be taken to ensure that floating docks or other structures are not hindered in any way as they experience this potential increase in vertical fluctuation due to tidal effects or shifting of the subsurface material:

• Examine the guide piles during low tide conditions. Remove any growth (oyster shells, rigging, rope, etc.) that may hinder the movement of the floating docks as they undergo tidal fluctuations.

• Likewise, make sure the cable/rope/bracing stays attaching the floating docks to the pile are loose enough to accommodate movement.

• Check to make sure any ropes or stays attaching the floating structures to fixed structures (such as bulkheads) are loose enough to allow movement of the full tidal cycle. This could be accomplished by examining the stays at low tide conditions and ensuring there is adequate “play” in the rope.

• Examine existing gangways to ensure that they can accompany the full range of tidal movement.

• Confirm with your contractor as to the pile embedment depths below elevation -6.0 ft. MLW.

• Docks placed in locations of tidal activity should be built to accommodate movement along the full tidal cycle. If docks were not installed as such (e.g., gangways are built too short), special attention should be made to ensure increased tidal activity will not jeopardize the structural integrity of such structures.

... to view map click here

 

 

Concrete Canal Dredging-Maintenance Project 2008-2009 - Special Tax District Update

Please click here to view a copy of the letters that were mailed to Concrete Canal Property Owners on August 14, 2008 regarding an update on the Special Tax District and the proposed maintenance-dredging project.  To view a map of the overall dredge plan click here.

 

 

Concrete Canal Bulkheads Construction and Repair Standards

     

The Board of Commissioners for the Town of Ocean Isle Beach feel that it is necessary to provide for the maintenance and preservation of the island's concrete canals and the fragile estuarine environment. The Town's marine engineer and the Planning Board have considered the proposed modifications to the Town's ordinances to address concrete canal maintenance and repair and that the issue has been subject to discussion and consideration by the Board at length. 

Effective November 8, 2005 the Board has established mandatory requirements for the repair of concrete canals bulkheads and the establishment of standards for the construction and maintenance of such concrete bulkheads along the concrete canals as follows:

(1) Any person performing construction, repair and/or maintenance  activities for bulkheads along the concrete canals shall obtain necessary    permits from the Building Inspections Department.

(2)  Construction, repair and/or maintenance activities shall be in accordance with the uniform design standards approved by the Board of Commissioners and available in the office of the Building Inspector, which is included within this section.  Said description entitled Concrete Overlay Repair Rev. 2 9/28/05.

(3)   Prior to the start of new construction on canal lots with concrete bulkheads, an inspection must be scheduled to ensure the bulkheads are not in disrepair.  If the bulkheads are in need of repair, repairs must be completed prior to setting the pilings for new construction. 

(4) The Building Inspections Department will conduct periodical checks to  ensure existing bulkheads are not in need of repair.  If the Building  Inspection Department determines a bulkhead is in need of repair, repairs must be handled by the property owner within ninety (90) days from the date of notice.  Failure to repair these bulkheads within the allotted time frame or in conjunction with design standards will result in civil penalties as outlined in Section 42-19 of this ordinance.