Glynn fights Army Corps to drain Brunswick-Altamaha Canal

August 16, 2008
By CAROLE HAWKINS | Florida Times Union

A few extra pieces of red tape were recently wrapped around plans to clean out an old canal that provides stormwater drainage for central Glynn County.

In early 2007, following floods from Tropical Storm Tammy, the county began to clear beaver dams from an 8-mile stretch along the Brunswick-Altamaha Canal. But work was stopped when the Army Corps of Engineers said the county needed a permit to dig in a U.S. waterway.

Two months ago, the county submitted that permit application along with a cultural resource survey, which identified historic assets that were not to be disturbed. Last month, the corps' Savannah District office told Glynn County it wouldn't be that simple.

The corps has identified "naturalized locations" that appear to have characteristics of federally protected wetlands, according to a written response by project manager Jeff King. As a result, Glynn County must hire an environmental consultant to identity wetlands near and on the canal and then compensate for any wetlands that are disturbed, King said.

County Public Works Director John Carter says if the canal has to be treated as protected wetlands, it will shut the project down.

"This is a dug canal. It's not a natural structure," Carter said. "We've estimated that mitigation would take approximately 56 acres and cost $1.3 million. We don't have anything like that in our budget."

King's supervisor, Richard Morgan, wasn't specific about what a naturalized wetland was, but said inspectors had observed water cypress, cattails and wetland soil composition, suggesting a wetlands survey ought to be done.

But Carter says King determined the canal was a naturalized wetland after seeing a beaver dam in one of the photos Carter had submitted.

"From day one, they know I wanted to clear beaver dams. I wish if they didn't want us to do this project they would just say so," Carter said.

The Brunswick-Altamaha Canal is the principal stormwater outfall for Interstate 95 between exits 36 and 42, the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, the western half or more of the Glynco Airport and roads and homes in between, said Carter. The canal provides drainage that qualifies homeowners for the federal flood insurance program.

"It's very important, and the FEMA flood insurance people expect us to keep it flow-able," said Carter. "If we have a heavy storm, there are going to be dozens and even hundreds of properties that are going to flood, including the airport."

But the Army Corps of Engineers wants to see facts backing up county claims that the canal is part of a larger stormwater drainage plan.

"This doesn't appear to have been maintained by the county for the past 10 to 20, or even 50 years," said Morgan. "Just because a historic canal exists, that doesn't mean that it's part of the county's drainage."

The corps has asked the county for data and maps that define the area's storm basin and show places that would be affected by 50- and 100-year floods. Morgan said the county also must be clear about whether the project serves current or future needs.

Altamaha Riverkeeper James Holland expressed the concern more bluntly.

"This is not about the people out there," Holland said. "They're waiting to put all those new subdivisions. It's not ... drainage for us."

Morgan said whatever the purpose is, the county can apply for a permit as long as environmental impacts are considered. But so far, Carter isn't on board with the plan.

"We do not recognize 'naturalized wetlands' in a canal the county has owned for 100 years," he said.