Nationwide Permit 13 authorizes bank stabilization activities necessary for erosion control or prevention in various waterbodies. This permit covers a wide range of stabilization methods, including the placement of materials like riprap, bioengineering, and the construction of bulkheads or seawalls. It applies to both Section 10 navigable waters and Section 404 discharges of dredged or fill material . The permit is specifically designed for activities that result in no more than minimal individual and cumulative adverse environmental effects. It emphasizes that the activity must be the minimum necessary to provide adequate stabilization and must be designed for long-term sustainability. The permit also authorizes temporary structures and fills necessary to complete the stabilization work.
The 2026 reissuance of NWP 13 includes no substantive changes to its national terms or conditions compared to the 2021 version. The Corps reevaluated the permit's quantitative and qualitative limits—including the 500-linear-foot threshold and cubic yard limits—and determined they remain sufficient to ensure only minimal adverse effects . While the regulatory text remains unchanged, the supporting decision document has been updated with the most recent environmental baseline data. This includes results from newer national-level studies like the 2022 National Lakes Assessment and the 2021 National Wetland Condition Assessment to support the permit's re-evaluation.
Compliance managers, private property owners, and civil engineers use this permit to protect land and infrastructure from erosion. It is essential for shoreline stabilization projects in residential, commercial, and public utility sectors where banks are threatened by wave action or high stream flows.
The Corps determined that reissuing NWP 13 results in 'no effect' on federally-listed endangered or threatened species or critical habitat because general condition 18 requires project-specific Section 7 consultation for any activity that 'might affect' these resources. No activity is authorized until that consultation process is successfully completed . Compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act is ensured through general condition 20, which triggers a mandatory Pre-Construction Notification (PCN) for activities with the potential to affect historic properties. Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) impacts are managed through regional or activity-specific conditions to ensure authorized stabilization does not cause more than minimal adverse effects.
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