20080930 Ver 1_Other Agency Comments_20080619

? North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission 9
MEMORANDUM
TO: Monte Matthews, USACOE
Raleigh Regulatory Field Office
Cyndi Karoly, 401 Certification Unit
NC Division of Water Quality
FROM: Ron Linville, Regional Coordinator
Habitat Conservation Program
DATE: June 13, 2008
ZWW
SUBJECT: City of mount Airy, Ararat River Restoration & Greenway Project,
NCDWQ No. 20080930, Surry County
P a t T
n
JUN 1 9 2008 U
WETLANDS AND STORMWATTEER BRANCH
The City of Mount Airy proposes to restore portions of the Ararat River that are incised and severely eroding.
Biologists with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission are familiar with habitat values in the area.
These comments are provided in accordance with the provisions of the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (48 Stat.
401, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 661.667d) and the North Carolina Environmental Policy Act (G.S. 113A-1 through
113A-10; NCAC 25).
The project is to restore and enhance between 16,928 to 17,473 linear feet of river and provide 11,531 linear feet of
greenway. Culvert impacts will total about 100 linear feet. Some of this work may be needed to stabilize the river
and to protect existing infrastructure. Although some trout may be in the area, no moratoriums will be
recommended due to the degraded condition of this river.
Based on our review of the submittal and our knowledge of area habitats, we will not object to the project as
proposed providing state-of-the-art natural channel design and construction methods are used for the river
restoration project. Culverts 48" or larger are buried a foot into the streambed. Culverts less than 48 inches in
diameter should be buried to a depth equal to or greater than 20% their size to allow for aquatic life passage. These
measurements must be based on natural thalweg depths. Fish passage through culverts should be assured during low
flow or drought conditions. Any riprap used must not interfere with aquatic life movement during low flows.
Stringent sediment and erosion control measures should be implemented and maintained. Only autochthonous
plants should be used for the project.
Thank you for the opportunity to review and comment on this project during the early planning stages. If you have
any questions regarding these comments, please contact me at 336-769-9453.
E-copy: Sue Homewood, DWQ-WSRO
Matt Gantt, DLR-WSRO
Mailing Address: Division of Inland Fisheries - 1721 Mail Service Center - Raleigh, NC 21099-1 //-1
Telephone: [phone] - Fax: [phone]