20100289 Ver 1_Information Letter_20100427

Lo- G Z77?(
Ha ?n`'9 ??JO D
® North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
Gordon Myers, Executive Director
MEMORANDUM
TO:
FROM
Liz Hair, Tasha McCormick, USACOE
Asheville Regulatory Field Office
Ron Linville, Regional Coordinator
Habitat Conservation Program
DATE: April 27, 2010
ZWW
SUBJECT: SR1370, Kirby Mountain Road, Kirby.Creek & Rush Branch (C-Trout & C- -
HOW), Caldwell County
North: Carolina Department of !Transportation (NCDOT), 'proposes to stabilize eroding, .
streambank's. Biologists with the North Carolina Wild] ife'Resources,Commission are familiar
with habitat values in the area. The NCWRC is authorized to comment and make
recommendations which relate to the impacts of this project on fish and wildlife pursuant to
Clean Water Act of 1977, North Carolina Environmental Policy Act, US National Environmental . '
Policy Act, Endangered Species Act (16 U. S. C. 1531-1543; 87 Stat 884), the Fish and Wildlife
Coordination Act (48 Stat. 401, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 661-667d) and/or Federal License of
Water Resource Project Act (Federal Power Act-16 U.S.C. 791 a et seq.) as applicable.
The NCDOT proposal is to stabilize with armor plate about 82 linear feet of Kirby Creek (site 1) .
and armor plate about 112 linear feet of Rush Branch (site 2). These projects are necessary to
stop active erosion in close proximity to the roadway. Rainbow trout are known from the
Roaring and Mulberry Creeks downstream of Rush Branch (site 2). No trout are indicated for
the area affected at Kirby Creek (site 1).
Based on our review of the submittal and our knowledge of area habitats, we recommend the
following (non-prioritized) for the projects:
1. Where practicable, natural channel design methodologies should be used to minimize
ancillary impacts to streambanks and improve habitat values.
Mailing Address: Division of Inland Fisheries • 1721 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]
SRI 370: Kirby Mtn. Road Page 2 April 27, 2010
2. Where natural channel design methodologies can't be used entirely, modified
methods should be evaluated. The project should be accomplished in a manner that
minimizes ancillary or secondary impacts, including the provision and installation of
matting and native deep rooted plants, such as warm season grasses and riparian herbs
and trees.
3. Natural fiber matting is recommended over plastic matting that can impinge and
entrap small animals.
4. Instream work and land disturbance within the 25-foot wide buffer zone should be
prohibited during the Rainbow trout spawning season of January I through April 15
to protect the egg and fry stages of trout (applies to Rush Branch, site 2 only).
5. 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 4B .0024).
6. Stormwater from the roadway should pass through vegetated buffers if practicable to
reduce. pollutant loading and slow stormwater.
' -
Thank y6u for the opportunity to review and comment on this project during the early: planning
stages. If-pu have any questionsregarding these comments, please contact me at 336-769-9453.
E-copy Kevin Barnett, Linda^Wiggs, DWQ ARO
Heath Slaughter, NCDOT
Becky fox, USEPA f
Marla Chambers, NCWRC
Marella Buncick, USF.WS
Sonya Gregory, DWQ-Raleigh