20010318 Ver 1_NCDOT-ECU CSI WALKWAY PROJECT FIELD REPT_20160523

DIVI5ION OF COASTAL MANAGEMENT
FIELD INVESTIGATION REPORT
1. APPLICANT'S NAME: North Carolina Department of Transportation, and East Carolina
University Coastal Studies Institute.
2. LOCATION OF PROJECT SITE: The project is two sections totaling 1,7371inear feet of
a proposed pedestrian and bicycle pathway over Collins Creek and a manmade ditch, in the
Town of Manteo between the NCDOT Roanoke Island Visitor Information Center and
Rest Area (adjacent to US 64/264 Manteo Bypass) and the Coastal Studies Institute
(adjacent to NC 345) in Dare County.
Photo Index - 2006: 182-7237: L-20 2000: 182-2156; M-5
State Plane Coordinates - X: 2,987,032 Y: 793,655
Latitude: 35°53'06.48" N Longitude: 75°40'02.24" W
3. INVESTIGATION TYPE: CAMA and D&F
4. INVESTIGATIVE PROCEDURE: Date of Site Visit - August 26, 2015 & March 9, 2016
Was Applicant Present - Yes; No
5. PROCESSING PROCEDURE: Application Received Complete: March 4, 2016
Office - Elizabeth City
6. SITE DESCRIPTION:
(A) Local Land Use Plan - Daze County
Land Classification from LUP - Community/Conservation
(B) AEC(s) Involved: CW, PTA, EW, CS
(C) Water Dependent: Yes
(D) Intended Use: Public
(E) Wastewater Treatment: Existing - N/A
Planned - N/A
(F) Type of Structures: Existing - N/A
Planned - Pedestrian and bicycle pathway for public use
(G) Estimated Annual Rate of Erosion: N/A
Source - N/A
7. HABITAT DESCRIP'I'ION: [AREA]
(D) Total Area Disturbed: 9,490 sq. ft.
(E) Primary Nursery Area: No
(F) Water Classification: SA;HQW Open: No

FIELD INVESTIGATION REPORT:
NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE PATHWAY — MANTEO, DARE COUNTY
PAGE #2
S. PROJECT SUMMARY: The applicant proposes to construct two sections of a pedestrian
and bicycle pathway totaling 1,7371inear feet that would help to connect the Coastal
Studies Institute (CSI) to the Town of Manteo through the NCDOT Roanoke Island
Visitor Information Center and Rest Area in Dare County. The project would consist of
approximately 1,4141inear feet of gravel pathway and two elevated wooden ramps that
tota13231inear feet over Collins Creek and a manmade ditch.
9. NARRATIVE DESCRIPTION:
Project Setting
The southern end of the project azea is bounded by the Coastal Studies Institute (CSI), and the
northern end of the project area is bounded by the NCDOT Roanoke Island Visitor Information
Center and Rest Area. Adjacent land to the east and west of the project area, there are mixed uses
including State of North Carolina property in conservation use, residential property, and NCDOT
state road right of way. The two proposed sections of pathway would be constructed entirely on
undeveloped land. The forested areas are comprised of plant communities associated with a coastal
plain pine flat and salt shrub (Pinus taeda, Myrica cerifera, Juniperus virginiana, Baccarus
halimifolia, Smilax spp., Quercus virginiana). Coastal Wetland species (Juncus roemerianus,
Distichlis spicata, Cladium jamaicense) aze located along Collins Creek and the manmade ditch, and
in the mitigation area adjacent to the NCDOT Roanoke Island Visitor Information Center and Rest
Area. Elevations in the project azea range from 0 to 6 feet above the normal water level. The
existing soil pathway through State of North Carolina property in conservation use that would be
incorporated into the pedestrian and bicycle pathway was built from soil borrowed from the land that
it immediately borders.
The northern ternunus of the pedestrian and bicycle pathway is a NCDOT rest area. The
NCDOT Roanoke Island Visitor Information Center and Rest Area was constnxcted under a Minor
Modification to CAMA Major Development Permit #7-98 issued on June 5, 2001. During
construction of the visitor center the Roanoke Island Visitor CenterBest Area Mitigation Plan dated
May 2001 (revised July 2001) was incorporated into the project due to impacts on jurisdictional
wetlands and approximately 1.77 acres of impacts aze mitigated for onsite.
Currently,, there is a canoe/kayak public access location (launch pier) downstream of the
culvert removal point. This is located on the southwest border of the NCDOT Roanoke Island Visitor
Information Center and Rest Area and was constructed in 2003 under a Minor Modification to
CAMA Major Development Permit #7-98 issued on December 3, 2002.
The southern terminus of the pedestrian and bicycle pathway is a public education facility.
CAMA Major Development Permit #24-08 was issued to East Carolina University (transferred from
Skyco Development) on February 8, 2010 for the development of the Coastal Studies Institute (CSI).
Collins Creek and the unnamed manmade ditch have not been classified by the Environmental
Management Commission in the area of the proposed construction, but ultimately connect to the
Croatan Sound which has been classified as SA;HQW. This project is located within the Pasquotank
River Basin. Collins Creek is approximately 18' - 20' wide and 2' - 3' deep in the area of the
elevated wooden pathway and is utilized by the general public for certain recreational activities,

FIELD INVESTIGATION REPORT:
NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE PATHWAY — MANTEO, DARE COUNTY
PAGE #3
including canoeing/kayaking. There were no SAV's expected or observed in the proj ect area during
the site visit.
The NCDOT Archaeology Group reviewed the subject project and determined there are no
National Register listed archaeological sites within the projecYs area of potential effects and there
are no National Register Eligible or Listed azchaeological sites present or affected by this project.
Subsurface investigations did not reveal the presence of any archaeological resources.
Project Proposal
Currently, there are no pedestrian and bicycle sidewalks or pathways that link the CSI campus
to the Town of Manteo. Students and faculty would have to walk/bike down NC 345 and through the
US 64/NC 345 intersection to proceed to the Town of Manteo. NCDOT reviewed pedestrian and
bicycle traffic on this route and has decided it is not a viable option. NCDOT proposes to construct
two sections of a pedestrian and bicycle pathway that include a total of 1,4141inear feet of gravel
pathway on high ground, and a total of 323 linear feet of elevated wooden pathway over Collins
Creek and a manxnade ditch, for a total of 1,7371inear feet of new pathway. The two sections are
part of a longer pathway that would provide a walking/biking pathway for students and faculty at CSI
to the Town of Manteo through the existing pedestrian and bicycle pathways and secondary roads in
the azea, including an existing soil pathway on adjacent state property, the NCDOT Roanoke Island
Visitor Information Center and Rest Area, and the Dare County Justice Facility. The total distance
from CSI to the Town of Manteo is approximately two miles one-way. The total distance of the
pathway within the project area from CSI to the Roanoke Island Visitor Center and Rest Area is
approximately 0.8 miles.
The northern access point to the proposed pathway would be located on the south side of the
NCDOT Roanoke Island Visitor Information Center and Rest Area. From the rest azea, an elevated
wooden pathway (designated L2) approximately 190 ft. long and 5 ft. wide would span an existing
mitigation area, a proposed wetland restoration azea and Collins Creek. The elevated wooden
pathway would average 7-8 ft. in height above the wetland mitigation areas and approximately 6 ft.
in height above the creek/cana1. The existing mitigation azea is the Roanoke Island Visitor
Information Center and Rest Area mitigation site. This existing mitigation area was buildconstructed
in conjunction with the Visitor Center in 2001 (Minor Modification to CAMA Major Permit #7-98
issued on June 5, 2001) and is currently in State of North Carolina ownership, within a conservation
use. There is no proposed wetland fill associated with this wooden pathway, other than the footprint
of the pilings. In order to offset any potential negative impacts from crossing the existing mitigation
site, NCDOT is proposing on-site wetland restoration and hydrologic enhancement to upstream
forested wetlands. NCDOT would remove 1200 sq. ft. of existing soil roadway from within Collins
Creek and the adjacent Coastal Wetlands, including the removal of three (3) existing culverts
embedded within the soil that would be removed. The culverts that would be removed are located at
the upper reaches of Collins Creek. According to the applicant, the restored wetland would be
vegetated with native marsh grasses (Juncus roemerianus, Spartina patens, Cladium jamaicense).
The applicant states that by removing the culverts and restoring the wetland elevations that tidal
flows would be able to move with less restriction and increase upstream tidal flooding from the
Croatan Sound.

FIELD INVESTIGATION REPORT:
NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE PATHWAY — MANTEO, DARE COUNTY
PAGE #4
After the 1901inear feet of elevated wooden pathway, NCDOT would construct 821 linear feet
of new gravel patttway. The new gravel pathway would be S feet wide, and would be borderedby 4
x 6 ueated timber borders. The pathway would then connect to existing secondary roads between the
NCDOT Roanoke Island Visitor Information Center and Rest Area and the Coastal Studies Institute
(CSI). These roads include Toler Road and Skyco Road. According to the applicant, this alignment
was coordinated with CSI and Dare County and these roads would not be altered/improved in
relation to the construction of the pedestrian and bicycle pathway.
Off of Skyco Road NCDOT would continue construction of the pedestrian and bicycle
pathway into undeveloped woodland as a new gravel pathway for approximately 272',and connect to
an elevated wooden pathway (designated Ll). This wooden pathway would be approximately 133'
long by 5' wide and span a manmade ditcki/ that connects to CSP s boat launch canal approximately
350' downstream. There is a proposed 2.5' of vertical clearance between the structure and the normal
water level. There are no wetland or surface water impacts associated with this crossing, except for
the footprint of the pilings. The pathway would then continue as a new gravel pathway for
approximately 322' and connect to the boat ramp/marina facility on the CSI campus.
According to the applicant the project would be constructed using small scale clearing and
grading equipment. The new gravel pathways would consist of a 5' wide gravel pathway bordered by
4x6 ueated timbers. Concrete drainage outlet pads (approximately 5'x4'x4' ) would be field located
by the project engineer at pathway low points. Concrete pads (approximately 5'x4') would also be
located at the transitions from elevated wooden pathways to gravel pathways. Pathways would be
cleazed and gnzbbed using a combination of mini excavator/backhoe and bulldozer. The placement of
gravelltimbers would be done by hand and backhoe. The equipment and supplies would be stored on
State of North Carolina property, within the project area.
Anticipated Impacts
The proposed elevated wooden pathway at Site L2 would permanently shade approximately
300 sq. ft. of Coastal Wetlands. There is no proposed wetland fill associated with this wooden
pathway, except for the footprint of the pilings. The proposed elevated wooden pathway at Site Ll,
would permanently shade approximately 75 sq. ft. of surface water. There aze no wetland or
permanent surface water impacts associated with this crossing. Wetland and surface water impacts
have been avoided and minimized by designing elevated wooden pathways that would span the
entire length of the specific surface water and wetland boundary limits.
The 1,4141inear feet of new gravel pathway would result in approximately 7,070 square feet
of fill in high ground areas, including state owned lands under conservation use.
There is approximately 1,800 sq. ft. of high ground excavation associated with this project due
to the removal of the existing soil roadway and associated three culverts that crosses Collins Creek at
Site L2 within the Roanoke Island Visitor Information Center and Rest Area mitigation site. The
applicant also proposes to plant the wetland restoration area with native marsh grasses (Juncus
roemerianus, Spartina patens, and Cladium jamaicerese.)
According to the applicant, the removal of the three culverts and existing soil roadway fill
from Collins Creek as new wetland restoration at Site L2 would enhance the estuarine influence of

FIELD INVESTIGATION REPORT:
NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE PATHWAY — MANTEO, DARE COUNTY
PAGE #5
approximately 50 aces of forested wetlands located upstream of the current location of the culverts.
The applicant is proposing this work to compensate for the proposed pathway's location within an
existing successful wetland mitigation site.
There is no proposed excavation of wetlands or waters of the State.
The proposed elevated wooden pathway at Site L2 would allow 6 feet of vertical navigational
clearance for kayak and canoe access to Collins Creek upstream of the culvert removal point, which
is currently not available. The proposed elevated wooden pathway at Site Ll would allow 2.5 feet of
vertical navigational clearance for kayak and canoe access on the manmade ditch upstream of the
pathway. This proposed pedestrian and bicycle pathway would increase recreational usage in the
project area, which would have positive impacts for the pathway users, but could also have negative
impacts for the existing human and natural resources within the project area through the introduction
of additional human disturbance.
The current project proposal was selected as a less damaging alternative in comparison to
another alternative that would have directed students and faculty to walk/bike from CSI down NC
345 and through the US 64/NC 345 intersection to the Town of Manteo. Widening of these existing
roads to accommodate a pedestrian and bicycle lane would have resulted in much greater impacts to
business properties, residential properties, utilities, and wetlands in comparison with the current
project proposal.
Submitted by: Greg Daisey — Elizabeth City District — Mazch 28, 2016