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Corps of Engineers invites public to Falls Lake Festival April 10
Corps of Engineers seeks comments on proposed Coastal Wind Demonstration Project
Lock & Dam No.1 safety issue to be fixed, fish passage built
Proposed Federal Budget Includes $64.3 Million for Wilmington District Projects
ARRA (stimulus) roll up for 8/09
Corps answers NCIT questions
Corps ARRA (stimulus) picture
Day use fee Waiver Aug 1-9
Contracting Opportunities at J.H. Kerr Lake
June 3 2009:
PCS Phosphate Decision
May 18 2009:
FY 2010 Budget
May 15 2009:
Water Safety
May 7 2009:
PCS Phosphate Permit
April 28 2009:
Recovery Act Funds
March 23 2009:
McNeill EEO Award
March 12 2009:
NCIT recon is funded
Jan. 15 2009:
Kerr Water Release |
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News
Release
4 April 2010
POC: Penny Schmitt, Susan Clizbe
Corps of Engineers invites public to
Falls Lake Festival April 10
RALEIGH, N.C. – The third annual Falls Lake Festival, set for 10 a.m.-2 p.m. April 10, celebrates nature and conservation, and the many opportunities Falls Lake and the Upper Neuse River offer North Carolinians. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wilmington District’s Falls Lake
The festival is a joint effort of the federal, local and state agencies that manage Falls Lake, and includes nonprofit groups and local community vendors. The festival’s focus is to promote safe outdoor recreation, conservation of lands and waters, fitness and fun in the Upper Neuse River Basin.
Because parking is extremely limited at Falls Dam, shuttles will run between 11:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Shuttles will pick up and drop off passengers at the tailrace fishing area, the Neuse River canoe launch, and along the road leading to the Falls Dam.
Activities include:
- Seamoor the Corps of Engineers safety serpent, on hand to make water safety interesting for the little ones.
- Conservation carnival with free games and prizes.
- Factory representatives for a number of canoe and kayak makers, with more than 25 models to take for a test paddle.
- The Falls Lake Fire Department truck and rescue boat on display.
- The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary with boating and marine safety programs and a display of safety equipment.
- The N.C. Dept of Parks and Recreation with information about Falls Lake’s many recreational opportunities, with kids’ activities.
- Free activities and fun for all ages! Kids get their own pine tree to take home!
Falls Lake Festival at the Falls Lake Dam
11405 Falls of Neuse Road, Wake Forest, NC 27587 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Saturday, April 10
For information, visit http://www.fallslakefestival.com
11 March 2010
POC: Penny Schmitt, Susan Clizbe
Corps of Engineers seeks comments on proposed Coastal Wind Demonstration Project
Washington, N.C. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wilmington District will hold a public scoping meeting on a proposal by Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC, to construct up to three power-generating wind turbines. Duke Energy proposes to construct the project within a 3-mile square area within the Pamlico Sound in Dare County, N.C., approximately 7.3 miles west of Avon and 9.1 miles north of Frisco.
The purpose of the scoping meeting is to solicit comments from the public, Federal, state and local agencies and officials, and other interested parties regarding the proposed project within jurisdictional waters of the United States, including wetlands, and to identify issues and concerns to be addressed in the EIS. This is not a public hearing.
The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. March 18, 2010, at the Dare County Justice Center, 962 Marshall C. Collins Drive in Manteo, N.C.
A Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) was published in the Federal Register on Feb. 23, 2010. The NOI and additional information can be found on the Wilmington Regulatory website:
http://www.saw.usace.army.mil/WETLANDS/Projects/Duke_Wind/index.html
Written comments pertinent to the scoping meeting must be submitted by 4:15 p.m., April 2, 2010. Send them to David Lekson, Washington Regulatory Field Office, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, P.O. Box 1000, Washington, NC 27889, or by email to david.m.lekson@usace.army.mil. Comments will be considered in the preparation of the DEIS.
4 February 2010
POC: Penny Schmitt, Susan Clizbe
Lock & Dam No.1 safety issue to be fixed, fish passage built
Wilmington, North Carolina—Two American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) projects to be built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wilmington District at Lock and Dam No. 1 on the Cape Fear River will improve dam safety and improve conditions for endangered fish species.
“We are delighted to move forward with these projects,” said Col. Jefferson M. Ryscavage, Wilmington District commander. “This is a great example of much-needed work made possible because of ARRA funding. Dam safety and environmental enhancement are both key parts of our mission – as is the economic benefit of the jobs supported by the construction.”
The construction projects will
- Fulfill a long-standing environmental mitigation requirement from the Wilmington Harbor Deepening project.
- Offer employment opportunity in Bladen County, N.C., where unemployment had reached 12 percent by September 2009.
- Offer opportunities to local quarries to supply materials in a state that has more than 10 percent unemployment.
- Improve dam safety on a structure that is the major water source for southeastern North Carolina.
The first project will repair a large scour hole that has been worn away in the river bed in front of the dam. The turbulence of water as it flows over the dam and hits the river bottom has worn a hole in the river channel. At its deepest, the scour hole is about 40 feet below the surface of the water, 28 feet deeper than the river channel bottom at about 12 feet. The hole encroaches on the toe of the dam and could threaten the structural integrity of the dam. The ARRA project will fill the hole with rock.
The Wilmington District has awarded a contract in the amount of $3,143,545 to PRECON Marine Inc., of Chesapeake Va., for the scour hole repair. Environmental windows for fish migration require work in the river to begin no earlier than July.
A rock ramp to allow fish passage over the dam has been added to the District’s Recovery Act project funding. The $12 million ARRA-funded project will allow endangered shortnose sturgeon and other federally listed species to swim upstream for spawning. This is required environmental mitigation, as part of the Wilmington Harbor Deepening project. Planning has begun and a contract will be awarded later this year, with work expected to be complete by 2012.
1 February 2010
POC: Penny Schmitt
Proposed Federal Budget Includes $64.3 Million for Wilmington District Projects
Wilmington, North Carolina – President Obama's budget proposal for fiscal year 2011 includes funding for new and ongoing projects in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wilmington District.
"Between the fiscal 2010 budget and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the past year has been an active one across the District, and we have more work to do," said Col. Jefferson M. Ryscavage, Wilmington District commander. "This budget continues important projects we've been working on for several years, and allows us to move forward with other priorities."
The $64.3 million designated for Wilmington District projects includes an increase of more than $500,000 for investigations – studies accomplished to determine what, if any, proposed project progresses to the design and construction stages. These include several environmental restoration projects, $300,000 for a preconstruction engineering and design study for coastal storm damage repair at Surf City and North Topsail Beach. The proposed N.C. International Terminal in Brunswick County, N.C., is included in the budget proposal for the first time, with $104,000 to continue to study the project.
Funding of $6 million is included to complete a major, multiyear rehabilitation project at John H. Kerr Dam and Reservoir in North Carolina and Virginia. Funding for work along the Roanoke River in Virginia also continues.
The $54.2 million operation and maintenance section includes $2.2 million for the three locks and dams on the Cape Fear River above Wilmington. The work includes repairs required for dam safety and continues the practice of opening the locks for fish passage.
The budget also continues work at the harbors at Wilmington and Morehead City, the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, and Manteo Bay including Oregon Inlet, and at the District's five lakes and dams: B. Everett Jordan, Falls, and W. Kerr Scott in North Carolina, Philpott in Virginia, and at John H. Kerr.
Like each year's presidential budget, this one begins a process that includes action by both the House of Representatives and the Senate, and results in an appropriations bill to be signed before final funding amounts are known.
9 September 2009
POC: Penny Schmitt
Corps awards for wide range of stimulus work in August
Wilmington
,
North Carolina
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A summary of contracts and task orders awarded by the Wilmington District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) in the past month shows awards ranging from less than $50,000 for small projects at Corps lakes to $2.2 million for a major dredging project for the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AIWW) that included both ARRA and other funding. In total, the Wilmington District placed about $2.790 million in ARRA funds this month.
“The ARRA funds helped us to almost double the funds available for dredging in the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway,” said Col. Jefferson M. Ryscavage, District Commander. “And like other districts, we are finding that keen competition for stimulus work is keeping prices very competitive and stretching the dollars further.”
“We are also very pleased to see many small businesses competing for, and winning, the stimulus work. We still have to keep pushing hard to make sure that we make the most of this funding, and I am sure my great team here will keep getting those business opportunities on the street, just as I am sure that businesses nationwide will step up to take on the workload.”
Here’s the Wilmington District’s August roll-up:
Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, NC: On 6 August, 2009 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington District, awarded a contract in the amount of $5,476,265 ($2,525,567ARRA funded), to dredge in the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway from Bear Inlet to Shallotte Inlet, North Carolina and including New River Inlet and the Lockwoods Folly River. The contract was awarded to Southwind Construction Corporation of Evansville, Indiana. The work is important to maintain safe navigation for commercial barge traffic, commercial fisheries, and public use of the waterway for mariners. The timing of the work is determined by environmental restrictions on the timing of dredging to protect submerged aquatic vegetation, endangered marine species, and habitat for larval fish. The work may begin no sooner than November 16, 2009 and must be completed by 30 April, 2010.
B. Everett Jordan Dam and Lake, NC: On 14 August, 2009 Wilmington District awarded a Task Order in the amount of $89,022 to Tetra Tech, Inc., of Fairfax, VA to develop of plans & specifications for rehabilitation of water quality control gates. These gates must be available to properly manage flows from this lake, which must be sensitively managed for drought conditions.
W. Kerr Scott Lake, NC: On August 14, 2009, the Wilmington District issued a purchase order in the amount of $37,380 to Harrison Industries, Inc., DBA Structural Wood systems, a Small Business located in Greenville, AL, Amphitheater Kits to be used in renovating critical recreation facilities at W. Kerr Scott Lake. Delivery will be by mid-September 2009.
W. Kerr Scott Lake, NC: On 19 August, Wilmington District awarded a contract in the amount of $38,934 to Smith Phillips building supply of Winston Salem, NC a Small Business, for the purchase and delivery of 3,168 6x6 timbers to be used in renovating recreation areas and campgrounds at W Kerr Scott Dam and Lake. Delivery will take place by mid-September 2009.
John H. Kerr Lake, NC & VA project: On 26 AUG 09, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington District, awarded a task order in the amount of $88,008 all ARRA funding to Development of Plans & Specifications to Install Water and Electric in North Bend Park Areas C and D. The contract was awarded to Tetra Tech Inc., Fairfax, VA.
The performance period for the task order is 26 OCT 09.
Falls Dam and Lake, NC: 27 August, 2009, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington District awarded a contract in the amount of $41,517 to David Brantley & Sons, of Zebulon NC, a small business, to make wastewater disposal system improvements at Falls dam's tailrace area to replace a pump station and septic tank and fit the new fixtures to the existing water system. The work will improve facilities for the public and improve wastewater handling at the lake. The project will begin on 30 September and be completed on or about November 30, 2009.
W. Kerr Scott Lake, NC: 28 August 2009, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington District awarded a contract in the amount of $25,067 to New South Associates, of Stone Mountain, GA, a small, woman-owned business, for a Historic Properties Management Plan for W. Kerr Scott Lake in order to properly maintain historic sites. Performance begins immediately, with final delivery expected by January 31, 2010.
W. Kerr Scott Lake, NC: 31 August, 2009: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington District awarded a contract in the amount of $33,120 to Jamestown Advance Products Corporation, of Jamestown, NY, a small, woman-owned business, to supply products to be used in campsite rehab, road paving, and restroom renovation in order to upgrade critical recreation facilities. Delivery will be complete by 15 September 2009.
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