Wetland_PreApp_-260817.pdf

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Attached to
Wheatley Dam Dredging Services
Solicitation number
27-007
Issued by
Charles County, Maryland

About this file

This is a Nontidal Wetlands and Waterways Pre-Application Summary document prepared by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) in coordination with Charles County Department of Public Works and Charles County Department of Recreation, Parks & Tourism regarding proposed dredging services at Wheatley Dam. The project involves wet dredging, hauling, and sediment disposal services at Wheatley Lake within Gilbert Run Park, located at 13140 Charles Street, Charlotte Hall, Maryland 20622. The pre-application meeting was conducted on August 14, 2025, with a follow-up site visit on August 27, 2025. Bathymetric and sub-bottom profiling surveys conducted in late 2024 identified significant sediment accumulation in the northern and western cove areas of the reservoir, which are designated as the focus areas for an initial dredging event. The dredging scope and associated cubic yardage will be dependent upon cost per cubic yard and project requirements, with activities required to coincide with park accessibility and ongoing activities.

The pre-application review identified four areas within Wheatley Lake containing nontidal wetlands, with the majority of the lake comprising open water that is not regulated as nontidal wetlands or waterways. The summary recommends that proposed dredging plans be developed to avoid these wetland areas entirely, with further consultation with MDE required once detailed dredging plans are finalized to determine if state authorization would be necessary. The 100-year nontidal FEMA floodplain extends beyond the water's edge, and any staging within the floodplain would require authorization as a temporary impact. MDE staff advised that dredging should be avoided in shallower areas where wetlands are present and that additional discussion with the department is necessary if dredging must occur near these sensitive areas. Sara Albrecht of MDE's Nontidal Wetlands Division serves as the primary reviewer contact for the project (sara.albrecht@maryland.gov, 410-537-3691).

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Nontidal Wetlands and Waterways Pre-Application Summary

1. AI#:

2. Date: / / Time: :

3. Summary prepared by:

4. Attendees:

5. Property owner name:

6. Address or Site Location/Description (directions, if no physical address is available):

7. Project purpose:

8. Plans provided: Yes No

9. State regulated resources found: Yes No

NTW Type: PEM PSS PFO Landscape Mgmt Area Ag

NTW Buffer Critical Area Tidally Influenced

Waters of the State: Stream Floodplain

11. Delineation provided: Yes No

12. Avoidance/Minimization Discussed? Recap:

PDilnesahu Stamp

Document Date: January 19, 2023

13. Project, as described, would require Authorization: Yes No

If Yes, type of State authorization required:

Permit Letter of Authorization Authorization to Proceed

If Yes, project (as described or shown on plans) under the MDSPGP would be:

Category A Category B Individual Permit

* U.S. ACE categorization is a preliminary determination only and may change upon receipt of application or further consultation with the U.S. ACE staff or other resource agencies

14. Recommended Action (check all that apply):

Consult with Corps Submit Application Schedule follow-up meeting

No action required Other

Pre-App Site Visit Comments:

Maryland Department of the Environment Reviewer Contact Information:

Name Email

Telephone ( ) -

*This document is a summary of the items discussed. Please note that this information is based on MDE staff preliminary cursory review at the time of the preapplication meeting. MDE staff will perform a full review of the project and all available information at the time of the application submission. Additional information may be required.

Applicant/Consultant Signature:

Approximate location of emergent nontidal wetlands following 8/14/25 site visit

Watershed Resources Registry:

100-year nontidal FEMA floodplain

Note: site is not within a Tier II watershed (screened 8/27/25)

PreApp Summary Meeting - Wheatley Dam 1.pdf
Wheatley Dam exhibits for sum
Slide 1
Slide 2
Text1: 38983
Text2: 08
Text3: 14
Text4: 2025
Text5: 10
Text6: 00
Combo Box6: [AM]
Text10: Sara Albrecht - MDE Nontidal Wetlands Division

Sebastian Fernandez - MDE Waterway Construction Division Keith Roumfort - Charles Co Dept of Public Works Anthony Hancock - Charles Co Dept of Recreation, Parks & Tourism

Text8: Board of Charles County Commissioners
Text9: Wheatley Lake within Gilbert Run Park

13140 Charles St, Charlotte Hall, MD 20622 (Charles County)

Text11: Proposed dredging of Wheatley Dam while the lake is drained for a separate project (retrofit construction and repair work being reviewed through MDE Dam Safety).
Check Box7: Off
Check Box8: Yes
Check Box13: Yes
Check Box14: Off
Check Box15: Yes
Check Box16: Off
Check Box17: Yes
Check Box18: Off
Check Box19: Off
Check Box20: Yes
Check Box21: Off
Check Box24: Off
Check Box23: Yes
Check Box9: Yes
Check Box27: Off
Check Box28: Yes
Text29: The majority of Wheatley Lake is open water, which is not regulated as nontidal wetlands or waterways. During the site visit, four areas of the lake had nontidal wetlands present (see attachment). The proposed dredging may be able to avoid these areas entirely. Plans for the dredging must be developed and finalized before a determination of potential impacts to regulated resources can be made.
Check Box30: Off
Check Box31: Off
Check Box1: Off
Check Box2: Off
Check Box3: Off
Check Box4: Off
Check Box5: Off
Check Box6: Off
Check Box32: Off
Check Box33: Off
Check Box34: Off
Check Box35: Off
Text36: Once dredging plans are developed, discuss further with MDE to determine whether authorization would be required.
Text37: Coves 1, 2 and 4 (from attachment) had fairly apparent wetland boundaries where wetland vegetation ended as it became open water.

Cove 3 had a more developed braided wetland/stream system where Wheatley Run and other tributaries entered the northern side of the lake. This wetland was still demarcated by the end of wetland vegetation before becoming open water.

Note that the 100-year nontidal FEMA floodplain expands past the edges of the water (see attachment). If staging is proposed within the floodplain, this would require authorization as a temporary impact, as long as the area was returned to prior conditions following the work.

It was discussed that dredging should be avoided within any of the shallower areas where wetlands are present. If dredging must occur near these areas, please discuss further with MDE once plans are designed to determine what kind of authorization may be required.

Combo Box8: [Sara Albrecht]
Text39: sara.albrecht@maryland.gov
Text40: 410
Text41: 537
Text42: 3691

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