There will be a public hearing on April 14, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. at Town Hall to hear comments on a proposed Army Corps of Engineers Project on Edisto Beach.  

MEETING MINUTES    

Attendees:

• Brian Williams, Chief, USACE Programs & Civil Works Project Management
• Chrissa Waite, USACE Project Manager
• Iris Hill, Edisto Beach Town administrator
• Jerome Kizer, Edisto Beach Town Council Member
• Mark Aakhus, Assistant Town Administrator
• Mikala Randich, USACE GIS Analyst

 What is our common goal?

Protection of property on Edisto Beach

 What are additional goals that Edisto Beach has?

• Storm protection
• Re-establish berm/beachfront.

 What are additional goals that USACE has?

• Responsible use of federal dollars

 What is the difference between a PEL and CL?

• Easement line indicates the property that USACE can access, but is not always equal to the construction line. It allows USACE to be able to build the dune and berm in response to the conditions present at time of construction (or renourishment). 
• Construction line is where landward toe of dune is placed. Must be equal to or seaward of easement line.  The location of the construction line could be different from year to year, and dependent on the erosive or accretive conditions of the beach at that time.

 Discussion of Easement line

• USACE must build the project as it was authorized by Congress
• See easement line from the feasibility study in the online geoportal: https://cesac.maps.arcgis.com/apps/View/index.html?appid=7097e3ef8c8a4347b0d556a7657fe283
• The further landward the PEL is, the more flexibility we'll have to make smart decisions during design.
• The dune does not HAVE to be built right at the PEL. The "construction line" can be seaward of the PEL. 
  1. Would be based on physical condition of the beach at the time of construction (either original or renourishment)
  2. For example, if an existing dune is already 12ft high, we would only add 3 additional feet of dune. Width needs to be 10 ft, with the 2:1 slope.  If the slope already exists, we don’t need to add any additional sand there.  We can diagram out different example scenarios to help residents understand how the construction might work.
  3. Construction oversight is not 24/7, but someone is present almost every day. Close communication.  Typically a weekly meeting between USACE and construction manager.  Town can participate.
• Town agrees that it is in Edisto Beach’s best interest to move forward with the easement line as proposed by USACE.

 Next steps:

• USACE will send a geospatial file, and parameters (min distance from homes) that can be used as a guide to survey the easement line
• USACE will sketch scenarios to show what the construction might look like under different conditions.
• USACE will send a draft of the partnership agreement with highlights of portions of project description that will likely change
• USACE will develop amortization tablet to show what Edisto would pay every year over 30 years.
• USACE will finish validation study that describes new project. Get this signed off
• Edisto and USACE will sign new partnership agreement
• Edisto acquire real estate easements
• USACE review and certify easements

The Town continues to wait on a decision from the USACE regarding elimination of the inlet reach.

According to the USACE, Russ Rote is no longer our project manager.