Mallory G. Martin - SCH - NCWRC

0 North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission 0
Gordon S. Myers, Executive Director
MEMORANDUM
TO: Lyn Hardison, Environmental Assistance Coordinator
NCDENR Division of Environmental Assistance and Outreach
FROM: Mallory G. Martin li`26�
Chief Deputy Director
DATE: April 8, 2014
SUBJECT: Environmental Assessment for a Demonstration Project Showing the Impact of
Floating In -Lake Long- Distance Circulators in B.E. Jordan Lake, Chatham County.
DENR Project No. 14 -0378.
The Wildlife Resources Commission provided comments on the seeping document for the
Demonstration Project Showing the Impact of Floating In -Lake Long- Distance Circulators in B.E.
Jordan Lake (Bryant, 16 September 2013). In the seeping comments the Commission requested
specific information regarding aquatic habitat and fisheries, as well as boating traffic and safety, to
be included in the environmental assessment (EA). The EA is comprehensive and thoroughly
addresses many of the Commission's initial concerns regarding the demonstration project. We offer
the following comments and recommendations regarding the demonstration project's impacts to
aquatic and terrestrial wildlife resources and recreational boating on Jordan Lake.
• Section 4.0, Proposed Action (p. 19): "...signs explaining the project and information about
the circulators would be posted at boat ramps..." A telephone number to call for more
information or to report any issues would be posted on the signs.
In addition to signage, we propose implementing a public awareness campaign to inform the
public of the circulators as suggested in Section 5.4.6 p. 60. We recommend DWR
implement a public awareness campaign to inform the public of the circulators, their
function, their, purpose and the importance of keeping away from and not disturbing the
circulators thus reducing the likelihood that the circulators are disturbed, vandalized or
removed fr -om the lake. WRC is available to assist with staff and resources in implementing
such a campaign.
• Section 5.1.11, Aesthetics (p. 43): "A buoy or marker would be used to mark the anchor
point and give warning about the circulator."
We recommend each buoy is marked .for number and location, and GAS coordinates
reported to the WRC^ so each circulator can be relocated easily and quickly if it moves from
Mailing Addressa Director's Office • 1701 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699,1701
Telephone; (919) 707 -0010 - Fax, ON) 707-0020

its original location, WRC will report GPS coordinates of buoys to the Coast Guard, as
required byfederal law.
• Section 5.3.2.3, Fisheries (p. 46). "The circulators are expected to increase dissolved oxygen
in the water above the thetmocline."
Circulators could provide a summer refuge for striped bass due to the increase in dissolved
oxygen in the water above the thermocline. We recommend limiting the amount of time
circulators are out of service during the period of May to September, a critical time for
striped bass. We propose a WRC-funded fisheries research project in the area to determine
the impact of the circulators on striped bass and other fisheries.
• Figure 19, (p, 18) Location of Circulators in the Morgan Creek and Haw River Arms of
Jordan Lake.
The location of circulators HR3, HR4 and HR5 cause us significant concern. We
recommend slightly relocating these three units to greatly improve boating safety. HR5
could be moved a short distance to the West, past the boating access area and out of the
main boating trqfflic channel. HR3 could be moved a short distance North, past the Robeson
Creek entrance to the Haw River channel and out of the main boating traffic channel. HR4
could be moved slightly to the East or West to remove it from the main boating traffic
channel. WRC will continue to work with DWR and the contractor in locating all circulators
in positions that will provide for optimal circulation and safe boating conditions.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this project. If we may be of further
assistance, please contact our office at (919) 707 -0222 or sbannon.deaton@ newildlife.org.
cc: Bob Curry, NCWRC
Shannon Deaton, NCWRC
Chris Dillon, NCWRC