Expiration date: 5/20/2026
The applicant requests authorization for the construction of the NLBC and SLBC tide gates, the SLBC weir gates, and the wing wall area proposed along the tide gates and weir gates to protect soils, facilities, and to direct water flow, as well as grading and filling for the construction of the pump station, construction of internal maintenance and access roads, stormwater (SWM) and utilities. The proposed activities will result in permanent impacts to wetlands and waters of the U.S. across NLBC and SLBC including 8,015 square feet (0.18 acre) of palustrine forested (PFO) wetland impacts; 68,112 square feet (1.56 acres) of palustrine open water (POW) impacts; 18,807 square feet (0.43 acre) of tidal non-vegetated wetlands (TNVW) impacts; 16,408 square feet (0.38 acre) of estuarine scrub-shrub (ESS) impacts; 5,211 square feet (0.12 acre) of estuarine emergent (EEM) impacts; and 49,545 square feet (1.14 acres) to estuarine open water (EOW) impacts. Additionally, the project will include the dredging of London Bridge Creek and the eastern drainage channel at NLBC as well as dredging of The Lakes Channel and Green Run Canal at SLBC, resulting in permanent, unavoidable impacts to 38,099 square feet (0.87 acre) of open water (EOW). The construction of and activities related to the construction of the NLBC and SLBC tide gates and weir gates as well as the proposed dredging activities will also result in the permanent conversion of wetlands into other habitat types. Cumulatively, there is proposed permanent conversion of 3,260 square feet (0.07 acre) of PFO wetland to PEM, PUB, and Estuarine Unconsolidated Bottom (EUS); 13,337 square feet (0.31 ac) of TNVW to EUS and EOW; 6,344 square feet (0.15 ac) of ESS to EUS and EOW; 4,617 square feet (0.11 ac) of EEM to PUB, EUS, and EOW. The project will also include the construction access to the retaining wall and associated grading and installation of a temporary trestle at NLBC, resulting in temporary impacts to 968 square feet (0.02 acre) of PFO, 5,355 square feet (0.12 acre) of TNVW, 2,119 square feet (0.05 acre) of ESS, 1,478 square feet (0.03 acre) EEM, and 2,398 square feet (0.06 acre) EOW. All temporary impacts will be returned to preconstruction contours and seeded/planted with appropriate wetland vegetation as applicable. The proposed project’s purpose is to address flooding in The Lakes and Princess Anne Plaza neighborhoods, which have experienced repeated flooding from both major and minor storm events due to low-lying topography, outdated stormwater infrastructure, tidal influence, and limited runoff storage. In order to maximize flood mitigation in these neighborhoods, one tide gate would not be sufficient as London Bridge Creek receives hydrologic input from both the Lynnhaven River to the north and West Neck Creek/ Canal 2 from the south depending upon tides and wind events. The tide gates at both sites (NLBC and SLBC) work together to form an integrated system to manage stormwater and protect neighborhoods from both tidal and rainfall-induced flooding, regardless of whether the tidal flooding comes from the south or north. The tide gates will remain open to allow the passage of water through the system and the forebay gates will be closed other than for routine maintenance.