Volunteers clear path to clean up local duck farm after agencies say no permit required

A council member presented a volunteer-backed project plan to dredge roughly 25,000 square feet of silt from a local duck farm and to remove and replace sluice timbers at the dam. The presenter said he submitted the proposal to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and the Virginia Marine Resources Commission and received correspondence indicating no permits were required for the proposed work.

"I submitted that project plan to the United States Army Corps of Engineers, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, and the Virginia Marine Resources Commission. Today, I received a letter from the Corps of Engineers stating that no permit was required and a letter from DEQ saying that no permit was required," the speaker said. Council members discussed contractor support, donated equipment and volunteer coordination while stressing safety and planned meetings with stakeholders to scope costs and schedule.