20031485 Ver 1_Other Agency Comments_20031222

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® North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
Charles R. Fullwood, Executive Director
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mickey Sugg WETLANDS / 4101 GROUP
Wilmington Regulatory Field Office
United States Army Corps of Engineers DEC 2 2 2003
and
John Dorney, Manager MATER ()IIA07Y b` EcTION
401/Wetlands Unit, Division of Water Quality
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
FROM: David McHenry, Northeast Coastal Region Coordinator 'A.
Habitat Conservation Section
DATE: December 19, 2003
SUBJECT: Section 401 Water Quality Certification/404 Permit application for Paul Rotunda, 83 Sandy
Point, Merrimon, Carteret County, North Carolina.
DWQ No. 03-1485
Biologists with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (Commission) reviewed the
application with regard to impacts of the project on fish and wildlife resources. The project site was visited
on December 16, 2003. Our comments are provided in accordance with provisions of the Fish and Wildlife
Coordination Act (48 Stat. 401, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 661 et. seq.) and the Clean Water Act of 1977 (as
amended).
The applicant is developing lot 83 of the Sandy Point Subdivision near Merrimon for a single
family residence. The 22-acre lot fronts both Berry Creek and the Neuse River. Uplands are primarily
comprised of scrub vegetation and loblolly pine of various ages while the over 12 acres of wetlands on the
lot are comprised of coastal marsh and extensive coverage of palmetto, cedar, holly, water oak, and wax
myrtle. A NWP 14 is requested for four individual driveway fills that affect a combined 0.11 acre of
wetlands. As proposed, the home site would be situated near the extreme north end of an isolated upland
hummock that measures approximately 800 feet long and over 100 feet wide along much of its extent. At
the proposed home site the hummock is approximately 100 feet wide, but only about 25 feet wide at the
nearest proposed driveway fill, which, based on the plats, appears to encroach into the 50' Neuse River
Buffer. This fill, as well as the additional driveway fills, would affect palmetto swamp that experience
periodic, and possibly permanent, flooding as observed during the site visit.
Mailing Address: Division of Inland Fisheries • 1721 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] ext. 281 0 Fag: [phone]

401/404 Rotunda Page 2 December 19, 2003
DWQ 03-1485
The wetlands on the subject lot provide valuable functions, in particular, wildlife habitat. Because of
the large size of the lot, most of the proposed driveway should have a minor collective effect on the water
quality functions in the area. However, of concern is possible encroachment in the 50' buffer for the fill near
the homesite where future impervious surfaces and landscaping activity (e.g. fertilizing) would be expected to
be concentrated. The coastal marsh supports a variety of wildlife resources such as rails (Rallus sp.) and other
wading birds and waterfowl. A primary habitat concern is the proposed fills of palmetto swamp that likely
supports numerous species of birds including neotropical migrants.
It is the Commission's opinion that opportunities for avoidance and minimization of wetland impacts
have not been exhausted for the proposed project. We recognize that the applicant probably desires
construction of the residence as close to the Neuse River as possible, which resulted in the requested wetland
fill and possible driveway alignment within the 50' buffer near the home site. Nevertheless, these impacts can
be reduced by constructing the residence on a more southern (approximately 200 feet) and wider portion of
the hummock that would still provide an attractive view. We also request incorporating the following
additional wetland impact minimization measures in the project:
1. First, we recommend confirmation of the wetland delineations for this lot as no approval by the
Corps of Engineers was indicated in the application materials.
2. The driveway along the first three sequential wetland crossings should follow the existing
unimproved route where timber mats and the existing dirt drive already occur.
3. At a minimum, a culvert should be installed under the middle of the three sequential wetland
crossings to maintain hydrologic exchange around the hummock. Blocking this exchange would
promote conversion of wetland areas along the driveway to uplands over time.
4. An acceptable mitigation plan for unavoidable wetland impacts should be submitted.
We appreciate the opportunity to comment on the impacts of the project on fish and wildlife
resources. If you need to discuss these comments please call David McHenry at [phone] ext 345.
cc: Bowers, M. - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Raleigh