Wetland_PreApp_-260817.pdf
PDF 814 KB Posted
- 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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Text version
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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