20100826 Ver 1_WRC Comments_20101118

0 North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
Gordon Myers, Executive Director
MEMORANDUM
TO: Steve Kichefski, Raleigh Regulatory Field Office
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
FROM: Shari L. Bryant, Piedmont Region Coordinator
Habitat Conservation Program
DATE: 18 November 2010
SUBJECT: Public Notice for North Carolina DENR, Division of Parks & Recreation for Repair of an
Earthen Dam, Mayo River State Park, Rockingham County, North Carolina. Corps
Action ID #: SAW-2010-00716.
Biologists with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) have reviewed the
subject document and we are familiar with the habitat values of the area. Our comments are provided in
accordance with provisions of the Clean Water Act of 1977 (as amended), Fish and Wildlife Coordination
Act (48 Stat. 401, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 661-667d), and North Carolina General Statutes (G.S. 113-131
et seq.).
The applicant proposes to permanently impact 892 linear feet of stream channel, 1.17 acres of
wetlands, and 0.054 acre of open water, and temporarily impact 30 linear feet of stream channel. The
proposed impacts are associated with the repair of an earthen dam for the lower pond within the Mayo
Mountain Access Area of Mayo River State Park. The purpose of the proposed project is to restore an
amenity pond within the park. Mitigation for project impacts will be by payment to the N.C. Ecosystem
Enhancement Program.
The pond is located on an unnamed tributary to Mayo River in the Roanoke River basin. There
are records for the federal and state endangered James spinymussel (Pleurobema collina) and Roanoke
logperch (Percina rex); the federal species of concern and state endangered green floater (Lasmigona
subviridis); the state threatened bigeye jumprock (Moxostoma ariommum); and the state special concern
notched rainbow (Villosa constricta) in Mayo River. Also, there are records for the state special concern
mole salamander (Ambystoma talpoideum) near the project site. There is a Significant Natural Heritage
Area - Mayo River Aquatic Habitat - downstream of the site.
Should the permit be issued, we offer the following comments or recommendations to minimize
impacts to aquatic and terrestrial wildlife resources.
Mailing Address: Division of Inland Fisheries • 1721 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]
Page 2
18 November 20 10
Mayo River State Park
Corps Action ID #: SAW-2010-00716
1. A minimum release from the dam may be required and the applicant should coordinate the project
with the N.C. Division of Water Resources at [phone]. If a minimum release is not
required, a natural flow regime downstream of the dam should be maintained. Therefore, inflow
into the impoundment should equal outflow.
2. If the pond has a minimum release flow, it should be maintained during repair/construction and
filling of the pond to protect downstream aquatic resources. However, turbid water should not be
discharged. Until water in the impoundment is clear, flexible pipe should be used to maintain any
stream flow around the impoundment.
3. The outflow pipe should be designed to draw water from near the bottom of the pond. Coldwater
bottom withdrawal devices should be within 1-2 feet of the bottom, but not on the bottom. This
design will prevent buildup of poorly oxygenated water and improve water quality in the pond.
The discharge should be aerated to enhance dissolved oxygen levels.
4. Any sediment that is removed should be deposited in upland areas or disposed of at an approved
facility.
5. Native woody vegetation should be re-established wherever possible around the impoundment,
but not on the dam. For watersheds that support federally listed species, we recommend a 100-
foot forested buffer on intermittent streams and a 200-foot forested buffer on perennial streams.
6. If the pond will be restocked after the repair work is completed, only native piedmont species
should be stocked in the pond. A stocking permit from the NCWRC is required to stock any
species of fish, mollusks or crustaceans in the public, inland fishing waters of North Carolina.
Applications for a stocking permit are available at http://www.ncwildlife.orL,,. There is no fee
associated with the permit application process.
7. All mechanized equipment operated near surface waters should be inspected and maintained often
to prevent contamination of stream waters from fuels, lubricants, hydraulic fluids or other toxic
materials.
8. Concrete is toxic to aquatic life and should not be allowed to come in contact with surface waters
until cured.
9. Sediment and erosion control measures should be installed prior to any land clearing or
construction. These measures should be routinely inspected and properly maintained. Excessive
silt and sediment loads can have numerous detrimental effects on aquatic resources including
destruction of spawning habitat, suffocation of eggs, and clogging of gills of aquatic species.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this project. If we can be of further assistance,
please contact our office at [phone].
cc: Ian McMillan, NCDWQ (DWQ ID #: 20100826)