GOMESA Application Details

1. Title of Project: Mitigation of Hurricane Impacts on Mississippi Gulf Coast Municipal Harbors
2. Location of Project: Three coastal counties: > Hancock County > Harrison County > Jackson County
3. Requesting Organization: National Oceans Applications Research Center (NOARC)
4a. Name: David P. Brannon
4b. Position
4c. Phone Number: 228.860.6769
4d. Fax Number
4e. Address Line 1: 7250 Stennis Airport Drive
4e. Address Line 2: Suite 206
4e. City, State Zip: Kiln, MS
4f. Email: dbrannon@noarc.org
5. FundingRequested: $2,370,376
Awarded Amount:: $0
6. Other State or Federal Funding Sources: No
7a. Amount of Additional Funds: $0
7b. Source of Additional Funds
8. Total Project Funds Amount: $2,370,376
9. Project Description/Overview: Prepare precision hydrographic surveys of non-federal maintained navigable waterways associated with municipal harbors to determine baseline harbor depths and condition. Baseline depths will be adjusted to MLLW. > Prepare precision airborne surveys of harbor surface infrastructure including: * Piers and docks * Facilities, buildings, and harbor equipment * Breakwaters and jetties * Adjacent natural habitats (living shorelines, wetlands, and shorelines) > Maintain long-term geographically-referenced data base for each harbor depicting pre-storm conditions. These data will inform harbor officials during quantification of post-storm damage claims. > Conduct rapid response airborne and hydrographic surveys following a tropical storm event to quantify damages to: * Surface infrastructure (piers, buildings, and harbor equipment) * Adjacent breakwaters and jetties * Associated natural habitats (living shorelines, wetlands, and shorelines) * Storm-related debris accumulations locations and volumes in harbor waterways and berths. *Debris and sediment accumulations in non-federal maintained harbor approach waterways > Perform comparative assessment of post-storm event conditions compared to baseline assessments to quantify extent of storm damage to surface infrastructure and obstructions to waterways (quantify before and after storm conditions).
10. Project Goals/Objectives: The overarching goal of this five-year project is to provide information to municipal harbor officials to support their damage claim procedures following a tropical storm event. To ensure economic recovery of the affected harbor communities, this project will provide baseline records and precision surveys that document pre-disaster conditions of both surface infrastructure facilities and harbor waterway capacities. In the event of tropical storm impacts, we will prepare a post-storm precision survey of affected harbors. Surface infrastructure damages will be determined and mapped with aerial surveys conducted with unmanned airborne systems (UAS). Impacts to harbor waterways and harbor approaches will be conducted with multi-beam and side-scan sonar surveys to determine depth changes due to storm sediment deposition along with volume and submerged debris locations. Quantifying before and after conditions associated with tropical storm events will provide municipal officials with unique assessments of damage extent and documentation for storm damage claims. The project objectives center around conducting comprehensive surveys of the municipal harbors of Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson Counties in alternating years (Years 1,3, and 5). These data will be maintained in an active archive of harbor data for later use and comparative analysis of baseline and post-storm conditions. During the intervening years, we will conduct workshops with city officials to prepare them to use these data for anticipated storm damage claims. In addition, in years 2 and 4 we will conduct bathymetric surveys in high-energy sediment deposition areas associated with harbor waterway approaches from federally maintained waterways.
11. Which of the following authorized uses set forth in the GOMESA Act does this project fall under?

(A) Projects and activities for the purpose of coastal protection, including conservation, coastal restoration, hurricane protection, and infrastructure directly affected by coastal wetlands losses: Yes: The overarching goal of this five-year project is to provide information to municipal harbor officials to support their damage claim procedures following a tropical storm event. To ensure economic recovery of the affected harbor communities, this project will provide baseline records and precision surveys that document pre-disaster conditions of both surface infrastructure facilities and harbor waterway capacities. Following a tropical storm event, this project will provide a comprehensive analysis of related damages to the harbor infrastructure and harbor waterways in keeping with FEMA requirements to demonstrate before and after harbor conditions following a storm.

(B) Mitigation of damage to fish, wildlife, or natural resources.

(C) Implementation of a federally-approved marine, coastal, or conservation management plan.

(D) Mitigation of the impact of Outer Continental Shelf activities through funding of onshore infrastructure projects.

12. Project Timetable/Milestones: Project Years One, Three, and Five · Conduct comprehensive aerial and hydrographic surveys of municipal harbors. o These surveys will be conducted primarily between the months of March and July during years one, three, and five of the project. · Data compilation and analysis will be conducted concurrently during each survey year to compile annual record of harbor surface and underwater conditions. · Municipal harbors in Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson counties addressed by this project include: o Bay St Louis Municipal o Pass Christian Municipal o Diamondhead Municipal o Long Beach Municipal o Gulfport Municipal to pier o Back Bay Biloxi Small Craft Harbor o Biloxi Small Craft o Point Cadet Marina o Ocean Springs Harbor o Port of Pascagoula o Chevron Basin Project Years Two and Four · Conduct bathymetric surveys of harbor approaches from demarcation of federally maintained navigation channels in areas of high-energy sediment deposition (generally at the mouth of the harbors). · Conduct municipal/city officials workshops illustrating application of aerial and hydrographic surveys for later storm damage claim preparation. · Conduct concurrent data compilation and analysis
13. Project Timing: Deferred/Long-term
14. Current status of architectural/engineering plans & specifications for this project (if applicable):: Other N/A Funds Not Budgeted

15. In what way does this project meet the goals and objectives of the Department of Marine Resources, which includes enhancing, protecting and conserving the marine interest of Mississippi for present and future generations?: Quantifying before and after conditions associated with tropical storm events will provide municipal officials with unique assessments of damage extent and documentation for storm damage claims. Reopening small craft harbors as soon as possible following a tropical storm event is central to maintaining a robust coastal economy focused on commercial and recreational fishing as well as recreational boating. Each of these generates a substantial positive economic impact as people utilize harbor-related businesses and promote sustainable tourism. In summary, the Department of Marine Resources is dedicated to preserving access to coastal environments for public benefit. This project deals with keeping the small craft harbors open as soon as practical after a storm event. Post-storm clearances that allow commercial and recreational boaters to access our local waters as soon as possible after a storm event is central to maintaining our local economy. Quantifiable information showing damage extent (based on before and after hydrographic and aerial surveys) is required by FEMA to process damage claims following a storm. Functional small-craft harbors are essential to the economic vitality of our coastal community and our quality of life. Our harbors enhance property values, attract tourists and new residents, and foster community and environmental stewardship.

16. Estimated Years To Completion: 5
17. Estimated Completion Date: 7/1/2030

Budget:

Salaries,Wages, Fringe: $952,166
Travel: $0
Architecture & Engineering: $0
Legal: $0
Consulting: $0
Construction: $0
Site Work: $0
Equipment: $6,000
Indirects: $201,568
Other: $1,210,642
Total: $2,370,376


Internal Project Number: 1296
Application Submission Date: 06/27/2024
Fiscal Year: 2026
Project Status
Application Status: Submitted
Meets Criteria
Internal Notes:

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