Back Creek channel, located in York County, is an estuary of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. The creek is located approximately 26 miles (42 kilometers) from the city of Norfolk, Virginia and 64 miles (102 kilometers) from Richmond, Virginia. Once a fishing boat leaves Back Creek, it has unrestricted access to the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.
The channel is adjacent to the town of Seaford and is used by recreational, scallop, and fishing boats. It is south of the mouth of the York River and a Thorofare allows passage southward from the York River to 0.8 miles from the opening of the Back Creek channel. The depths of the Back Creek channel are relatively consistent between -7 and -15 MLLW on average extending for two miles. To the northwest of the channel are the Goodwin Islands, a 315-ha salt-marsh archipelago surrounded by inter-tidal flats and SAV.
In 1982, a Detailed Project Report (DPR) and Environmental Assessment (EA) Navigation Study of Back Creek, York County, VA was published by USACE Norfolk District. The study identified channel shoaling as a cause for navigation and safety concerns to owners/operators of vessels in the channel and proposed dredging the channel. Due to lack of funding, the project’s construction was never carried out.
On April 7, 2017, York County requested that USACE Norfolk conduct a feasibility study under the Continuing Authorities Program (CAP) to address the same shoaling problem identified in the 1982 DPR EA at the entrance channel to Back Creek in York County, VA. The shoaling in the channel has created a navigation hazard for commercial fishing vessels. Currently, seventeen different corporate entities involved in commercial fishing offload their catch at a Scallop company at the Back Creek entrance channel and the shoaling at the entrance channel has resulted in safety issues including costly vessel groundings. Delays to offloading due to shoaling have resulted in economic loss.
In 1982, a Detailed Project Report (DPR) and Environmental Assessment (EA) Navigation Study of Back Creek, York County, VA was published by Norfolk District. The study identified channel shoaling as a cause for navigation and safety concerns to owners/operators of vessels in the channel and proposed dredging the channel. Due to lack of funding, the project’s construction was never carried out.
On April 7, 2017, York County requested the Norfolk District conduct a feasibility study under the Continuing Authorities Program (CAP) to address the same shoaling problem identified in the 1982 DPR EA at the entrance channel to Back Creek in York County, VA. The shoaling in the channel has created a navigation hazard for commercial fishing vessels. Currently, seventeen different corporate entities involved in commercial fishing offload their catch at a Scallop company at the Back Creek entrance channel and the shoaling at the entrance channel has resulted in safety issues including costly vessel groundings. Delays to offloading due to shoaling have resulted in economic loss.
SCOPE
The study scope included an investigation into the groundings of the boats in the study area, vessel traffic, vessel needs and economic needs. Based on these efforts, planning objectives and constraints were developed and plans formulated. These plans were developed and evaluated in coordination with state and federal authorities and the final alternative plans were selected for detailed study. Features of the project include widening, deepening, and creating a turning basin.
AUTHORIZATION
Section 107 of the Continuing Authorities Program as authorized by the Rivers and Harbors act of 1960, as amended.
Section 107 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1960 provides authority for the Corps of Engineers to improve navigation, including dredging of channels, anchorage areas, and turning basins
and construction of breakwaters, jetties and groins, through a partnership with non-federal government sponsor such as cities, counties, special chartered authorities (such as port authorities), or units of state government.