20080471 Ver 1_Other Agency Comments_20080229

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9 North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission P
February 27, 2008
Mr. Dale Mosteller
Duke Power Lake Management
526 Church Street
Charlotte, North Carolina 28201-1006
RE: Duke Energy Conveyance Application, Widening SR 1100 (Brawley School Road, TIP R-3833, Unnamed
Tributaries Lake Norman (Catawba River, Class WS-IV, B, CA), Iredell County
Dear Mr. Mosteller:
This correspondence is in response to a letter dated February 14, 2008 from Ms. Kristina L. Solberg, PE with the
North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) concerning necessary approvals for the referenced highway
improvement project. The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) is authorized to comment
and make recommendations which relate to the impacts of this project on fish and wildlife through the Federal
License of Water Resource Project Act (Federal Power Act-16 U.S.C. 791a et seq.), and the Fish and Wildlife
Coordination Act (48 Stat. 401, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 661-667d).
Portions of the proposed project are located within a peninsula of Lake Norman, a Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission (FERC) licensed lake. Urban growth in the area has made the project necessary to ensure satisfactory
traffic flow. As part of the project, a bridge over an unnamed perennial stream will be replaced with a three (3)
barrel culvert. A crossing over Gibbs Road and this tributary will be accomplished by installation of a new bridge
(spanning) structure. No power boating activities are indicated for either site.
NCWRC has previously commented on the Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact
documents (comments dated 4/22/2004 and 6/29/2005) for this project expressing concerns regarding the project
and secondary and cumulative impacts. We will not, however, object to the conveyance permit for the proposed
project providing these activities comply with Duke Power Shoreline Management requirements and any Clean
Water Act Sections 404 and 401 requirements as well as other applicable federal, state and local government
requirements, including any water supply and Catawba River buffer requirements.
This correspondence is being shared with the US Army Corps of Engineers and the NC Division of Water Quality
for their consideration during 404 Permitting and 401 Certification. The following recommendations should
improve the project and promote aquatic and terrestrial habitats, protect environmental quality, and protect the
general public:
Bridges are recommended for all permanent crossings of streams, floodplains and associated wetlands
to eliminate fill in active streams and floodplains. Floodplain capacities and floodplain functions
should be maintained or restored. If culverts must be used, culverts should be designed and
constructed to ensure passage of storm events and passage of aquatic organisms during low flow
conditions. Culverts should be as short as possible and culverts should not be used for non essential or
non linear crossing purposes. Culverts 48" diameter or larger must be buried at least a foot (12")
below the streambed. Culverts less than 48" diameter must be buried to a depth equal to or greater
Mailing Address: Division of Inland Fisheries - 1721 Mail Service Center - Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] - Fax: [phone]

NCDOT Duke SRI 100 Conveyance -Page 2 -
February 27, 2008
than twenty (20) percent of their diameter. Depth of burial must be based on the stream's natural
thalweg depth. Culverts should be aligned and situated so that no channel realignment or widening is
required unless such modification will improve natural conditions. Widening of the stream channel at
the inlet or outlet of the culvert structure causes a decrease in water depth and velocity causing
sedimentation impacts and reduction of aquatic passage. Piping should be large enough to prevent
high velocity erosion (faucet effect) on the downstream end and erosive swirling on the upstream end.
Flat concrete aprons between wing-walls must not be used. Riprap must not be placed in the
streambed unless absolutely necessary and if used in channel, it must provide natural channel
dimensions. If multiple barrels are installed, base flow barrels should be installed as indicated above
while additional barrels should be placed with floors located at the active floodplain or bank full
elevation. These elevated barrels should be connected to the active floodplain or bank full benches to
ensure natural stream dimensions for the base flow channel with sufficient water depth during low
flows and drought conditions to accommodate normally anticipated aquatic movement. If culverts are
long and/or sufficient slopes exist, alternating baffles should be provided in the base flow barrel in a
manner to conform to channel bends upstream and downstream, to mimic natural meanders, to prevent
upstream scour and downstream deposition, to move and contain typical bed load materials, and to
provide resting areas for aquatic species. When multiple barrels are used, at least one barrel should be
designed and constructed with a floor material easily used by terrestrial wildlife. Plastic pipes should
be corrugated (not smooth or slick) on the inside so that bed load materials can be established to
provide and maintain natural substrates.
2. Stormwater from bridges should not be directly discharge to surface waters. Stormwater should be
conveyed through vegetated buffers, preferably through undisturbed forested buffers.
3. Work must be accomplished so that wet concrete does not contact stream water.
4. Stringent erosion control measures should be installed where soil is disturbed and maintained until
project completion. Sediment and erosion control measures should adhere to the design standards for
sensitive watersheds (15A NCAC 413.0024).
5. Where practicable and safe, sediment and erosion control devices should remain in place and be
vegetated to provide long-term water quality benefits for the lake.
6. Any existing Environmental Areas, Natural Areas and shoreline buffers should not be disturbed
directly or indirectly by the project.
7. Work within the buffer zone or in the lake should be accomplished outside the fish spawning season of
March 1 through June 1 (or as otherwise stipulated by Duke Power) to prevent off-site sedimentation
from impacting aquatic life.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this project during its planning phase. If you have any questions
regarding these comments, please contact me at 336-769-9453.
Sincerely,
Ron Linville
Regional Coordinator
Habitat Conservation Program
Cc: Cyndi Karoly, 401 Certification Unit Central Office
Kristina L. Solberg, NCDOT
E-copy: Mike Parker, DWQ-MRO
Allan Johnson, DWQ-MRO 401 Unit
Steve Chapin, USACOE-ARO
Marla Chambers, NCWRC