Dredging Impact Assessment and Monitoring Services Cape Fear River North Carolina Beach Renourishment Monitoring Versar is conducting a monitoring program to determine the ecological effects of a beach nourishment operation along the Atlantic coast near the mouth of the Cape Fear River in North Carolina. The material being placed on the beach is being dredged from approach channels and the Cape Fear River inlet as part of a large scale channel deepening dredging for the entire river to the commercial docks in Wilmington North Carolina. Versar was first tasked to design a long term monitoring program which was developed in coordination with North Carolina resource agencies and University of North Carolina marine scientists. After receiving study design approval from the local agencies, Versar was tasked by the USACE, Wilmington District, to conduct the study. The program involves both fish and benthic invertebrate sampling over all seasons at four specific beach area and a control site. Versar scientists and field technicians mobilized from our Columbia Maryland office are conducting all aspects of the field program. Sampling activities entail benthic invertebrate sampling in the surf swash zone and intertidal habitats, fish sampling in the surf zone with beach seines, off shore trawling and gill netting, and water quality monitoring. The study areas range from Bald Head Island, Oakland Beach and Holden Beach North Carolina. Approximately 14 miles of beach are currently being replenished using sand dredged from the lower portions of the Cape Fear river. The study design incorporates both short term effects and long term effects sampling. Short term changes in fish and benthic community composition are being addressed by sampling four specific areas at time 0, then 14, 28, and 42 days after replenishment in each of four season/beach areas scheduled for dredge placement. The program is also addressing long term recovery by sampling all effected beaches on a quarterly and annual time basis after sand placement. Each event includes sampling at a control beach where no beach replenishment will occur. Versar's study plan includes installation and maintenance of in situ water quality meters to assess localized increases in turbidity due to hydraulic placement of material on the beach, mapping the plume size during various tidal stages, sampling for ichthyoplankton near the effected areas, and fish gut content analysis to relate the changes in benthic community composition to higher trophic levels. Field crews conduct the ocean fish trawling and other sampling activities from our recently acquired 25 foot Parker outfitted to tow and deploy various gears types including otter trawls, gill nets, plankton nets, and benthic grab samplers. ecological assessment | watershed managment | environmental compliance | power plant assessment | about versar | client showcase | publications | careers | site map | search | contact us | home © 2001 by Versar, Inc.