20080812 Ver 1_Other Agency Comments_20080715

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0 North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission 0

TO: David Baker, NCDOT Coordinator
Asheville Regulatory Field Office, USACE
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FROM: Marla Chambers, Western NCDOT Permit Coordinator""
Habitat Conservation Program, NCWRC

DATE: June 9, 2008

SUBJECT: Review of NCDOT's application for Section 404 and 401 permits to replace
Bridge No. 12 on SR 1329 (Warlick Road) over Boylston Creek, Henderson
County, North Carolina. TIP No. B-4148.

North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has submitted an application to obtain a
Section 404 Permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and a 401 Water Quality
Certification from the Division of Water Quality (NCDWQ). Staff biologists with the North
Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) have reviewed the information provided.
These comments are provided in accordance with the provisions of the National Environmental
Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(c)) and the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (48 Stat. 401, as
amended; 16 U.S.C. 661-667d).

The NCDOT proposes to replace Bridge No. 12 on SR 1329 (Warlick Road) over Boylston
Creek with a single span cored slab bridge on the same alignment as the existing bridge. Traffic
will be routed to an off-site detour. There will be a total of 26 feet of permanent impacts to the
creek for erosion control at ditch outlets and 0.02 acres of permanent wetland impacts due to the
fill and relocation of the existing ditches. Boylston Creek, Class WS-IV waters, is inhabited by
the blotched chub (Erimystax insiginis), Federal Species of Concern (FSC) and state
Significantly Rare (SR). Other listed species occur downstream in the French Broad River.
Sediment and erosion control measures that adhere to the design standards for sensitive
watersheds are recommended.

NCWRC can concur with the issuance of Section 404 and 401 permits provided that the
following conditions are implemented:

Mailing Address: Division of Inland Fisheries • 1721 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]

B-4148, SR 1329 (Warlick Road)
Boylston Cr., Henderson Co. -2- June 9, 2008
1. Stringent sedimentation and erosion control measures must be implemented and
maintained on the project site until project completion to avoid impacts to downstream
aquatic resources.

2. Herbaceous vegetation shall be planted on all bare soil as soon as possible following the
completion of permanent or temporary ground disturbing activities to provide appropriate
long-term erosion control.

3. Tall fescue should not be used in riparian areas. We encourage NCDOT to utilize onsite
vegetation and materials for bank stabilization when practicable. Erosion control matting
should be used on banks and steep slopes, instead of straw mulch and well anchored with
12" staples, wooden survey stakes or live stakes.

4. Stormwater, including deck drainage, should be directed to buffer areas or retention
basins and should not be routed directly into the stream.

5. Discharge of materials into the stream from demolition of the old bridge should be
avoided as much as practicable. Any materials that inadvertently reach the stream should
be removed.

6. The natural dimension, pattern, and profile of the stream above and below the crossing
should not be modified by widening the stream channel or changing the depth of the
waterway.

7. Removal of vegetation in riparian areas should be minimized. Native trees and shrubs
should be planted along the banks to reestablish the riparian zone and to provide long-
term erosion control.

8. Grading and backfilling should be minimized, and tree and shrub growth should be
retained if possible to ensure long term availability of shoreline cover for fish and
wildlife. Backfill materials should be obtained from upland sites.

9. Riprap placed for bank stabilization should be limited to the banks below the high water
mark, and vegetation should be used for stabilization above the high water elevation.

10. If concrete will be used during construction, work must be accomplished so that wet
(uncured) concrete does not contact surface waters. This will lessen the chance of
altering the water chemistry and causing a fish kill.

11. Discharging hydroseeding mixtures and washing out hydroseeders and other equipment
in or adjacent to surface waters is strictly prohibited.

12. Heavy equipment should be operated from the bank rather than in the stream channel
whenever possible in order to minimize sedimentation and reduce the likelihood of
introducing other pollutants into the waterway. All mechanized equipment operated near

B-4148, SR 1329 (Warlick Road)
Boylston Cr., Henderson Co. -3 - June 9, 2008
surface waters should be inspected and maintained regularly to prevent contamination of
surface waters from fuels, lubricants, hydraulic fluids or other toxic materials.

Thank you for the opportunity to review and comment on this project. If you have any questions
regarding these comments, please contact me at [phone].

cc: Troy Wilson, USFWS
Brian Wrenn, NCDWQ
Mike Parker, NCDWQ
Carla Dagnino, NCDOT
Elizabeth Lusk, NCDOT