20160571 Ver _Information Letter_20101025

Stantec Consulting
801 Jones Franklin Road, Suite 300
Raleigh, NC 27606
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Stantec
October 25, 2010
File: 171001211
Ms. Beth Barnes
NCDENR, Division of Water Quality
1650 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1650
Dear Ms. Barnes:
Reference: Start of Study for the Proposed Extension of the Deep River Greenway in the City of
High Point, North Carolina located in Guilford County. Project No. EL-5104.
The City of High Point has retained Stantec Consulting Services Inc. to prepare a Categorical
Exclusion (CE) for the proposed extension of the Deep River Greenway from Deep River Road to
Penny Road.
The purpose of this letter is to provide notification of the start of study and to solicit
comments regarding potential concerns or data within the project study area. Please send
any comments or questions to Paul Koch at the address on this letterhead by November 30,
2010.
The following paragraphs provide the purpose and need for the project, the project description and
the general characteristics of the project study area.
Purpose and Need: To date, the City of High Point has completed approximately 2.7 miles of a
planned overall 3.8 mile greenway. The remaining 1.1 mile section would provide connection to
two locally significant recreational destinations; University Park and the Piedmont Environmental
Center. It would also provide a connection to the larger Bicentennial Greenway, which provides
bicycling and pedestrian connections to the Guilford Courthouse National Military Park. The
proposed greenway would provide a high-quality, healthy alternative for mobility and connectivity in
the High Point area. ,
Project Description: The greenway extension is proposed as an asphalt trail suitable for jogging,
walking, bicycling and other recreational activities. The proposed extension begins at the existing
High Point Greenway along Deep River Road, crosses the Deep River, and then runs roughly
parallel to the river ending at Penny Road. The project location and study area are shown on the
attached exhibit.
General Characteristics of the Project Study Area: The study area is located in the City of High
Point between Deep River Road and Penny Road. The study area runs parallel to the Deep River
through a primarily undeveloped corridor characterized by relatively dense forest and floodplain
areas. On the east end, the undeveloped corridor is adjacent to existing residential subdivisions.
Land Use: The land use adjacent to the study area is a combination of undeveloped land and
residential subdivisions. The surrounding land is the urban/suburban fringe of High Point, so
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undeveloped property is anticipated to be under relatively high pressure for continued residential
and commercial development.
Natural Resources: The project lies within the Randleman Lake watershed (USGS Hydrologic Unit
.03030003) (DWQ Sub-basin 03-06-08) within the Cape Fear River Basin and is, therefore, subject
to the Randleman buffer rules. Stream and wetland delineations are currently being conducted
within the study area for this project. It is anticipated that the proposed extension will cross the
Deep River and two of its tributaries. Alternative crossing locations and bridging options will be
investigated during the preliminary design phase to avoid and minimize impacts to the maximum
extent possible.
In accordance with provisions of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, the project study area is
being evaluated for protected species habitat. Threatened and endangered species listed for
Guilford County include the bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) which is protected under the
Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (BGPA) and the small Whorled Pogonia (Isotria
medeoloides) which is classified as Threatened [T].
Archeological and Historic Architectural Properties: A record search will be performed at the
State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) to determine the existence of any record of cultural
resources within the study area. This letter serves as initiation of coordination efforts to determine
the presence of significant archeological or historic architecture or the need for additional surveys.
Best regards,

STANTEC CONSULTING SERVICES INC.
4 .
Paul R. Koch, PE, AICP
Project Manager
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
[e-mail]
Attachment: study area map
cc: File