20071813 Ver 1_More Info Received_20080128

Q.~t ~ ~. 0 7 - 18 ~ 3
Wetland and Natural Resource
Consultants, Inc.
January 24, 2008
Mr. Steve Chapin
US Army Corps of Engineers
Avenue, Room 208
Asheville, North Carolina 28801
Re: West End Park at Lake James
Paddy's Creek Park
Burke County, North Carolina
Mr. Chapin and Mr. Barnett:
Mr. Kevin Barnett
NC Division of Water Quality 151 Patton
2090 U.S. 70 Highway
Swannanoa, NC 28778
This letter addresses the comments made by Ron Linville in his November 15, 2007
letter. Fill activities will be accomplished to minimize avoidable impacts from sediment
and turbidity. Sand used for the swim beach will be clean and free of pollutants and
will be mined from uplands as opposed to stream or river beds. It is in the best interest
of State Parks and Recreation to use clean sand since the general public will be coming
in direct contact with the sand both in and out of the lake. Sand will not be placed in
any area the Duke Power has identified as'~environmental" or ~~natural". No wet
concrete will contact lake water.
The swim beach will fall within an 840' section of shoreline that is currently designated
as "Future Public Recreation" according to Duke Power maps. There is a 470' long
section of shoreline designated as Impact Minimization Zone (IMZ) immediately
adjacent on the east end of the swim beach, and a 480' IMZ immediately adjacent on
the west end of the swim beach. Based on Duke Power's online maps and our plans,
the beach does not overlap either of these IMZ's. A survey will need to be completed
to confirm. If the swim beach area does overlap into either of these IMZ areas, State
Parks and Recreation representative Marshall Ellis does not have any objections to the
shoreline plantings suggested by Ron Linville, as long as native species are used.
Heavy equipment will be operated from the bank to the greatest extent possible. If
heavy equipment is to be operated in the lake, petroleum spill containment equipment
Canton Once
PO Box 882 U ~ ~ ~ L~ ~ D
Canton, NC 28716 L.!
828-648-8801
828-648-8802 Fax JAN 2 8 2008
DENR -'dVA7Ek QUALilY
YYETIANDS AND STORt~RWWA~ER BRAPtCM

will be readily available. Equipment will be clean and well maintained. Water quality of
the streams, wetlands, and lake are a high priority for State Parks and Recreation.
As mentioned in the IP application with the exceptions of hiking trails, primitive
camping sites, bridges, and the facilities associated with water-based recreation (i.e.,
the swim beach), the State Parks and Recreation acquisition and ownership of this park
remain contingent on the permanent establishment of undisturbed 300' wide riparian
buffers along the lake shoreline and all streams as required under the funding
conditions established by the Clean Water Management Trust Fund. This amounts to
approximately 1,300 acres or 45% of the West End Park.
Please contact WNR should you have any questions regarding this response.
Best regards,
.~~ ~~~
Jennifer Robertson
Cc: Ron Linville - NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Cyndi Karoly - NC Division of Water Quality
Lance White -North Carolina Parks and Recreation
Marshall Ellis -North Carolina Parks and Recreation
Canton Once
PO Box 882
Canton, NC 28716
828-648-8801
828-648-8802 Fax