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Home My WebLink AboutGoldhill T&E .'W.7 Civil&Environmental Consultants,Inc. September 14,2020 ELECTRONIC SUBMITTAL j ohnsonto(d),vmcmail.com Mr. Tony Johnson Vulcan Materials Company 11020 David Taylor Drive, Suite 400 Charlotte,NC 28262 Dear Mr. Johnson: Subject: Report for Threatened and Endangered Species Survey for Schweinitz's Sunflower (Helianthus schweinitzii). Vulcan Materials Company, Gold Hill Quarry,North Carolina CEC Project 305-178 Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc. (CEC) is pleased to provide Vulcan Materials Company (Vulcan) with our assessment of potential habitat for the Federal and State Listed Endangered Species, Schweinitz's Sunflower(Helianthus schweinitzii), located at 5300 Gold Hill RD, GOLD HILL NC 28071 encompassing an approximately 143 acre tract of land corresponding to PIN # 66032629690000, (Project or Project Area) (Figures 1 through 5). 1.0 BACKGROUND As a result of a letter sent to Vulcan, from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NC DEQ) dated August 31, 2020 regarding comments from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), about the possible presence of Schweinitz's Sunflower (Helianthus schweinitzii) onsite, CEC was retained by Vulcan, to perform a targeted Threatened and Endangered Species Survey at the above referenced site. This survey was performed by qualified staff during the appropriate survey window as mandated by the USFWS office in Asheville,North Carolina. Figure 1: Vicinity Map; Figure 2: USGS Topo Map; Figure 3: Aerial Map; Figure 4A: Current Soils; Figure 4B: Published Soils; Figure 5: Species Survey Map; and Attachment A: Representative Photographs. 3701 Arco Corporate Drive, Suite 400 1 Charlotte, NC 28273 1 p: 980-237-0373 f: 980-237-0372 ' www.cecinc.com Mr. Tony Johnson-Vulcan Materials Company CEC Project 305-178 Page 2 September 14, 2020 2.0 MATERIALS AND METHODS Lead Investigator: David Campbell Education: BSc, Biology, Trent University, 1998 MS, Biology, University of Nebraska, 2021 Experience: Project Manager, Civil&Environmental Consultants,May 2020-present. Senior Scientist, Habitat Assessment &Restoration Professionals, 2003- 2020. Research Associate, North Carolina Natural Heritage Program (NCNHP), 20 1 0-present. Experience Surveying For Subject Species: • Over 17 years of experience surveying for Schweinitz's Sunflower (Helianthus schweinitzii) as Botanist and then Senior Botanist under the direction of Dr. James F. Matthews of Habitat Assessment& Restoration Professionals(HARP). Surveys and monitoring performed for private companies,North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT),North Carolina Natural Heritage Program(NCNHP), and South Carolina Department of Natural Resources(SCDNR). • Assisted the City of Rock Hill,in relocation and transplant of impacted populations of Schweinitz's Sunflower in York County, SC. Morphology and Habitat Description Morphology: Schweinitz's sunflower is a perennial that regularly grows approximately 6'/2 feet tall (though it can be shorter if young or injured) and can occasionally reach heights of 16 feet. It has thickened roots that are specially designed to store starch. The stem is purple, and the upper third bears secondary branches at 45-degree angles. The leaves are arranged in pairs on the lower part of the stem but usually occur singly on the upper part. Leaves grow out from the stem at a right angle, and the tips of the leaves tend to droop. The leaves are thick and stiff, with a rough upper surface. They have broad spiny hairs that are directed toward the tip, and soft white hairs cover the underside. The plant produces small yellow flowers. Schweinitz's sunflower blooms from late August until frost. It's able to colonize through the dispersal of seeds that readily germinate without a dormant period. In good conditions, it can grow 3 to 6 feet in a year and can live for decades (https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/Rare_Plants/profiles/). Habitat: Clayey soils of woodlands and roadsides, in areas formerly with Post Oak-Blackjack Oak savannas, xeric oak-pine woodlands, or "Piedmont prairies," now primarily on mowed road or powerline rights-of-way. Piedmont of nw. NC and nc. SC, primarily within 100 km of Charlotte, NC (Weakley 2012); the project area conforms to the region outlined by Weakley and Houk, (1994) (Figures 1, 2, and 3). In addition, Smith (2008), noted that among the various series Civii & Environmental Consultants, Inc. Mr. Tony Johnson-Vulcan Materials Company CEC Project 305-178 Page 3 September 14, 2020 preferred by Helianthus schweinitzii, one of those is Enon, which does occur in one relatively small section of the project area, but does not overlap with any of those open areas that were deemed to contain plausibly suitable habitat(Figures 4A, 4B & 5). Reference Sites Prior to the onsite visit of September 4, 2020 CEC staff acquainted themselves with Schweinitz's Sunflower appearance in the field and habitat preferences by visiting known reference sites at the Blackjacks Heritage Preserve in Rock Hill, South Carolina. 3.0 ONSITE VISIT On September 4, 2020 CEC Scientist David Campbell, Botanist, and CEC Field Technician Caleb Cantrell, performed an onsite assessment of the project area. The approximately 143 acre tract is comprised mostly of wooded areas undergoing secondary succession;there are also some Loblolly Pine(Pinus taeda)plantings occurring throughout. Dominant tree species in upland areas include Tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera), Southern Red Oak (Quercus falcata), Black Oak (Quercus velutina), White Oak (Quercus alba), Mockernut Hickory (Carya tomentosa), Red Maple (Acer rubrum var. rubrum), and Black Gum (Nyssa sylvatica). Shrubs and smaller tree species present are Flowering Dogwood (Corpus florida), Redbud (Cercis canadensis), Black Huckleberry (Gaylussacia baccata), and Beaked Hazel (Corylus cornuta). Herbaceous diversity is moderate with Christmas Fern (Polystichum acrostichoides), Ebony Spleenwort (Asplenium,platyneuron), Southern Ground-cedar (Diphasiastrum digitataum), Spotted Wintergreen (Chimaphila maculata), Indian Pipes (Monotropa uniflora), Roundleaf Tick-trefoil (Desmodium rotundifolium), and Green Needlegrass (Piptochaetium avenaceum). A large pond with several species of emergent plants including Rushes (Juncus spp.), Sedges (Carex spp.), and Water-lilies (Nymphaea spp.) occurs in the northern section of the project area(Please see Attachment A). Embedded within the wooded areas were four sites of open glade/old field successional habitat types (Open Sites 1-4) (Figure 5). As these were areas of abundant sunshine, special survey emphasis was placed on them as being potentially suitable for Schweinitz's Sunflower(Helianthus schweinitzii). All four open areas were dominated by graminoids such as Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense), Purpletop (Tridens flavus), Orchard Grass (Dactylis glomerata), Crowngrass (Paspalum spp.), and Broomsedge (Andropogon virginicus). Non-graminoid herbaceous species were also present in lower numbers and included Chinese Lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata), Goldenrod (Solidago spp.), Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), and Yellow Goatsbeard (Tragopogon dubius). Although there was a very small area of potentially suitable habitat around the margins of Open Site 3, despite intensive searching, no Schweinitz's Sunflower (Helianthus schweinitzii)were located at Open Site 3.In addition,no Schweinitz's Sunflower or suitable habitat were found within or around Open Sites 1, 2, and 4 (Attachment A). Finally, open roadside areas along the south-western portion of the project area along Gold Hill Road East were investigated for the presence of sunflowers or suitable habitat. Sites along the roadside were either intensively maintained with planted Fescue Grass (Festuca spp.) or were Civii & Environmental Consultants, Inc. Mr. Tony Johnson-Vulcan Materials Company CEC Project 305-178 Page 4 September 14, 2020 heavily shaded and dominated by woody species such as Chinese Privet (Ligustrum sinense), Winged Elm (Ulmus alata), Shining Sumac (Rhus copallinum), and Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua). No Schweinitz's Sunflower(Helianthus schweinitzii) or suitable habitat were found at these sites (Please see Attachment A). 4.0 FINDINGS As a result of the present investigation,no Schweinitz's Sunflower(Helianthus schweinitzii),were found onsite. Although very small areas of potentially suitable habitat exist in one area(Open Site 3),no sunflowers (Helianthus spp.)of any kind were found to occur there(Figure 5 &Attachment A). Special emphasis was placed on the investigation of potentially suitable areas of habitat such as roadsides and open fields, but these were found to be unsuitable due to shading, and/or overcrowding by woody transgressives as well as the presence of many non-native and aggressive herbaceous species occurring in large numbers,to the detriment of the native flora. Therefore,we feel that work undertaken in the project area will produce no effect in regards to the potential presence of Schweinitz's Sunflower(Helianthus schweinitzii) at this site (Please see Table 1). Table 1. Findings from Field Investigation Se tember 4, 2020 Species Name Status Habitat Potential Effect/No Habitat Present Effect or Absent in Project Area Schweinitz's Federal and Open woods, Yes (marginal) No effect Sunflower State roadsides, rights-of- (Helianthus Endangered way schweinitzii) References: Smith, T.C. 2008. Spatial Analysis of Helianthus schweinitzii (Schweinitz's Sunflower), An Endangered Species Endemic to the Piedmont of North Carolina. M.A. Thesis, University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Weakley, A., and Houk, D. 1994. Recovery Plan for Schweinitz's Sunflower(Helianthus schweinitzii). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Atlanta, Georgia. Weakley, A. 2012. A Flora of the Mid-Atlantic States. University of Chapel Hill,North Carolina. hqps://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/Rare Plants/profiles/ Civii & Environmental Consultants, Inc. Mr. Tony Johnson-Vulcan Materials Company CEC Project 305-178 Page 5 September 14, 2020 5.0 CLOSING CEC appreciates the opportunity to provide you with this letter report to assist you with your project. Please contact Mr. David Campbell at 704.310.6345 or dcampbellAcecinc.com if you have any questions. Sincerely, CIVIL &ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS, INC. David Campbell, Botanist Kevin A. Thomas, PWS,NC LSS Project Manager Senior Project Manager CC: gn 5OIL S% Adam Parr adam.parr&ncdenr.gov I Byron Hamstead boron hamsteadAfws.gov 0 ��4� ,p�. T HO ��'J► �tV 'yN y O,a 9f KEIIEN A.THIiMA6 1282 ,�� Nd�G¢` Os 2935 PWS ((r�� st WE?4�N��G Civii & Environmental Consultants, Inc. FIGURES � GN eo REFERENCE si HT-rP:HGOTO.ARCGISONLINE.COM/MAPS/ ESRI_STREETMAP,ACCESSED 9/14/2020 n m NORTH �a �r o' r° °Q ii y A\ p1d 0°atq F N 4a` Aviation Ln pin B°aftyp �'a F°td old geattl o aRu Gsgo y'rr ?i 0 5 P6 aWa It V ____ __ ___ c' anus U Go°°°t ad ell L52 enx N N C/O7 MOlB 0/-y Ry one Ry Q Z. 9 F N IN,ad Y a`� Q Lo O O N O N W d, a K a e x o Q g 'z U S CAI SCALE IN FEET d Li sport CUta a 0 1,000 2,000 4,000 c c r. coLEGEND a PROJECT AREA(143 ACRES) APPROXIMATE SITE LOCATION AVWIA Aw [1A VULCAN GOLD HILL QUARRY Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc. CABARRUS COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA 3701 Arco Corporate Dr.,Suite 400-Charlotte, NC 28273 980-237-0373 800-365-2324 VICINITY MAP cc www.cecinc.com w cK DRAWN BY: MAK I CHECKED BY: DRAFT APPROVED BY: DRAFT FIGURE NO: DATE: 9/14/2020 1 SCALE: 1 " = 2,000' 1 PROJECT NO: 305-178 *Hand Signature on file REFERENCE //J HT-rP:HGOTO.ARCGISONLINE.COM/MAPS/ :I USA—TOPO MAPS,ACCESSED 9/14/2020 USGS 7.5 MINUTE TOPOGRAPHIC MAP: Sandn9dpitF. RICHFIELD,NORTH CAROLINA QUADRANGLE ! NORTH PUBLISHED 1981. 0 GOLD HILL,NORTH CAROLINA QUADRANGLE 'Vigo O PUBLISHED 1979. j/ \/I\ ry0 S Gold Hill O O:�• •..Ch•:� \ �/. Gay •' 7es / cam„ T O y� N S P �,`' 7 g „` ' BM f/ \1F 6� CU c, a l•�I � + J(O (� �8� / / �� / •// • 1\ �� //�Q �g� @ate. �/ CL CRI � I N, f r u, lV o LEGEND '�` SCALE IN FEET aPROJECT AREA(143 ACRES) �, 0 1,000 2,000 4,000 APPROXIMATE SITE LOCATION flV"g GOLDV F/ co w7 1AULCAN HILL QUARRY Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc. CABARRUS COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA 3701 Arco Corporate Dr.,Suite 400-Charlotte, NC 28273 980 237 0373 5 2324 www.cecinc.com USGS TOPOGRAPHIC MAP cc nc.co w DRAWN BY: MAK CHECKED BY: DRAFT APPROVED BY: DRAFT FIGURE NO: DATE: 9/14/2020 SCALE: 1 " = 2,000' PROJECT NO: 305-178 L *Hand Signature on file REFERENCE �♦ �' 1.ESRI WORLD IMAGERY/ARCGIS MAP SERVICE: 4 http://goto.arcgisonline.com/mapsMorld_lmagery, ACCESSED 9/14/2020,IMAGERY DATE:2019. 'k 1� 2.PARCEL BOUNDARIES OBTAINED FROM NCONEMAP, NORTH DATED 2020 low ♦ ► a Y ♦ ♦ r ♦ 1 r � ♦ r' =4► N ` l,•- E Lij � � 1 co • a � • a 1 c ;l LEGEND o PROJECT AREA(143 ACRES) SCALE IN FEET CABARRUS COUNTY PARCEL 0 325 650 1,300 a 5 Co VULCAN 16 co [1AF,7,M GOLD HILL QUARRY Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc. CABARRUS COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA 3701 Arco Corporate Dr.,Suite 400-Charlotte, NC 28273 980-237-0373 800-365-2324 www.cecinc.com CURRENT AERIAL MAP cc w DRAWN BY: MAK CHECKED BY: DRAFT APPROVED BY: DRAFT I FIGURE NO: ^ DATE: 9/14/2020 SCALE: 1 " = 650 ' PROJECT NO: 305-178 3 *Hand Signature on file REFERENCE 1.ESRI WORLD IMAGERY/ARCGIS MAP SERVICE: 1 http://goto.arcgisonline.com/maps[World_lmagery, ♦ ACCESSED 9/14/2020,IMAGERY DATE:2017. 1 ♦ 1 ♦ 2.USDA,NRCS SOIL SURVEY GEOGRAPHIC(SSURGO) NORTH 1 ♦ DATABASE.2018. 1 1 CM ♦ - ---w �r 1 ♦ Mo 1 ♦ r' _ 1 1 1 CM ♦ ' J 1 Y3►L7 1 QM i :GO ♦ ram, ' 1 ' IED ' ' CAI•' �c Mf3 e�p ♦ ' 2 ' QED o • ;I CM 4 N f vUPf uj uj , 1, U SCALE IN FEET v l Map �- Unit Description Hydric Status Acres Wi 0 350 700 1,400 s1�� * Symbol a BaB Badin channery silt loam,2 to 8 percent slopes No 69.7 mEnB Enon sandy loam,2 to 8 percent slopes No 12.2 00 LEGEND KkB Kirksey silt loam,1 to 6 percent slopes No 47.6 c Lo MsA Misenheimer channery silt loam,0 to 4 percent slopes No 9.3 o PROJECT AREA(143 ACRES) 22 w ;►' ' Ud Udorthents,loamy No 0.9 a SOIL MAP UNIT ;� W Water 3.4 Adii- VULCAN ,�,�,� GOLD HILL QUARRY Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc. CABARRUS COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA 3701 Arco Corporate Dr.,Suite 400-Charlotte, NC 28273 980 237 0373 5 2324 www.cecinc.com NRCS CURRENT SOILS MAP cc nc.co w DRAWN BY: MAK CHECKED BY: DRAFT APPROVED BY: DRAFT I FIGURE NO: A DATE: 9/14/2020 SCALE: 1 " = 700 ' PROJECT NO: 305-178 L� *Hand Signature on file REFERENCE 1.USDA,NRCS PUBLISHED SOIL SURVEY DATED 1980 16 1 r L i NORTH ; ♦♦ - 1 ♦ room Bob saa 1 ` 1 ` 1 ` � A � I � r 1 1 ♦ d f � 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 , M i + t _ z Q o r _ K I Q + N a � a w Ir m' SCALE IN FEET v " a Symbol i 0 350 700 1,400 Map Unit Description Hydric Status Acres m BaB Badin channery silt loam,2 to 8 percent slopes No 63.1 �i LEGEND EnB Enon sandy loam,2 to 8 percent slopes No 7.3 o PROJECT AREA(143 ACRES) KkB Kirksey silt loam,1 to 6 percent slopes No 45.4 MsA Misenheimer channery silt loam,0 to 4 percent slopes No 24.9 NRCS PUBLISHED STREAMNI Ud Udorthents,loamy No 2.4 a ff C coULCAN � [IAV -� GOLDVHILL QUARRY 7 Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc. CABARRUS COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA 3701 Arco Corporate Dr.,Suite 400-Charlotte, NC 28273 980 237 0373 5 2324 www.cecinc.com NRCS PUBLISHED SOILS MAP cc nc.co w DRAWN BY: MAK CHECKED BY: DRAFT APPROVED BY: DRAFT FIGURE NO: w ;E DATE: 9/14/2020 1 SCALE: 1 " = 700 ' I PROJECT NO: 305-178 4 *Hand Signature on file NORTH P, airV� �� Open Site 4 �' Open Site 3 �� 1 C 3' C 1 o _ Open Site 1 s Open Aw as Q Co 14 Lu LEGEND r — — — — — — PROJECT AREA(143 ACRES) C" - - - - - 10 INDEX CONTOUR SCALE IN FEET Cn O r' 2' CONTOUR 0 325 650 1,300 J 06 AFVULCAN co [1-1WI—A IA GOLD HILL QUARRY E Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc. CABARRUS COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA T 3701 Arco Corporate Dr.,Suite 400-Charlotte, NC 28273 CU 980 237 0373 5 2324 www.cecinc.com SPECIES SURVEY ASSESSMENT AREA cc nc.co w DRAWN BY: MAK CHECKED BY: DRAFT APPROVED BY: DRAFT I FIGURE NO: DATE: 9/14/2020 SCALE: 1 " = 650 ' PROJECT NO: 305-178 `Hand Signature on file ATTACHMENT A Photo Number: 1 Date: September 4 2020 r e Description: Gold Hill Road East,View Looking East T"TEs" r 1 x f F` xa hE tY ai�' Photo Number: 2 Date: September 4, 2020 '3 Description: . Gold Hill Road East,Roadside Edge I •p +'!,R� k Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc. Vulcan Gold Hill QuarryCabarrus County, North Carolina Charlotte,NC Phone 980/237-0373 • Toll Free: 855/859-9932 www.cecinc.com CEC Project#305-178 1 1 P a g e Photo Number: 3 �'7-4 „ Date: September 4, 2020 Description: Open Site 1, View Looking East - ! 1 1 N 1 F l N YEi' I �ni K1r F' i � r r �r I Photo Number: 4 I Date: September 4, 2020 Description: Open Site 2, View Looking North >, JA M IFA A/i Vulcan Gold Hill Quarry Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc. Cabarrus County,North Carolina Charlotte,NC CEC Project#305-178 Phone 980/237-0373 • Toll Free: 855/859-9932 www.cecinc.com 2 1 P a g e Photo Number: 5 Date: September 4, 2020 Description: Open Site 3, View Looking North-West Photo Number: 6 Date: September 4, 2020 Description: Open Site 4, View Looking North-East 4 Y i 4 a,+ r r r Vulcan Gold Hill Quarry Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc. Cabarrus County,North Carolina Charlotte,NC CEC Project#305-178 Phone 980/237-0373 • Toll Free: 855/859-9932 www.cecinc.com 3 1 P a g e Photo Number: 7 Mr Date: September 4,2020 E` Description: Pond, View Looking North N. Photo Number: 8 Description: Reference Site 1 —Blackjacks Heritage Preserve, Rock Hill, SC Vulcan Gold Hill Quarry Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc. Cabarrus County,North Carolina Charlotte,NC CEC Project#305-178 Phone 980/237-0373 • Toll Free: 855/859-9932 www.cecinc.com 4 1 P a g e Photo Number: 9 1T Description: Reference Site 2—Blackjacks Heritage Preserve,Rock Hill, SC • Photo Number: 10 Description: Vulcan Gold Hill Quarry Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc. Cabarrus County,North Carolina Charlotte,NC CEC Project#305-178 Phone 980/237-0373 • Toll Free: 855/859-9932 www.cecinc.com 5 1 P a g e