20221364 Ver 1_B-5898_DWR 20221364_Bridge 71_Madison_GP Application__NCWRC Comments_20221014

9 North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission 9
Cameron Ingram, Executive Director
October 14, 2022
Lori Beckwith
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Asheville Regulatory Field Office
151 Patton Avenue, Room 208
Asheville, NC 28801
Kevin Mitchell
NCDEQ, DWR
2090 U.S. Hwy. 70
Swannanoa, N.C. 28778
SUBJECT: Comments on GP/WQC Application for Replacement of Bridge 71 on Walnut Creek
Road (SR 1395) over Big Laurel Creek, Madison County (B-5898)
DWR 20221364 ver.I
Dear Ms. Beckwith and Mr. Mitchell,
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) applied for a General 404 Permit and 401
Certification for the subject project. I am familiar with the wildlife resources in the area and visited the
project site on March 31, 2022. Comments on the application from the North Carolina Wildlife
Resources Commission (NCWRC) are offered to help conserve wildlife resources affected by the project
and to promote wildlife -based recreation in accordance with applicable provisions of the state and federal
Environmental Policy Acts (G.S. 113A-1through 113-10; 1 NCAC 25 and 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(c),
respectively), the Clean Water Act of 1977 (33 U.S.C. 466 et seq.), and the Fish and Wildlife
Coordination Act (48 Stat. 401, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 661-667d).
The project will impact Big Laurel Creek (C ORW) and an unnamed tributary. Temporary access and
work bridges will be constructed. Multiple piers will be placed in the creek to support these temporary
structures.
Mailing Address: Habitat Conservation • 1721 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]

B-5989 Page 2 October 14, 2022
Madison County
The project will affect a known roost for gray bat (Myotis grisescens, US Endangered). Section 7
coordination has been completed. The NCWRC appreciates, in part, inclusion of conservation measure
11 in the Biological Opinion and the opportunity to participate in the preconstruction meeting. I, and
possibly other staff, intend to attend the meeting.
Big Laurel Creek at the project site is designated by the NCWRC as "hatchery supported". In scoping
comments, the NCWRC noted the need to adhere to a short trout moratorium for rainbow trout for the
bridge construction. However, after additional coordination, NCWRC biologists determined that the trout
moratorium can be waived for this project.
Big Laurel Creek supports eastern hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis), which is listed as an NC
Special Concern species. There will be a considerable amount of temporary disturbance in the creek.
Therefore, NCWRC biologists would appreciate advance notice of construction such as an invitation to
the preconstruction meeting (noted above) so that hellbenders within the project footprint can be relocated
before construction commences, as deemed necessary. Please contact Lori Williams
(lori.willliamskncwildlife.org) and me in advance of construction and/or the preconstruction meeting.
As designed, the final road and bridge work will preserve a gravel pull -off near the north side of the
bridge. The NCWRC appreciates NCDOT preserving the parking here because it is likely used by the
NCWRC trout stocking crew (this bridge is a stocking point) and it is certainly used by fishermen.
The NCWRC does not recommend additional conditions for the 404/401 authorizations.
Thank you for the opportunity to review and provide recommendations on this project. Please contact me
at david.mchenrykncwildlife.org or [phone] if you have any questions about these comments.
Cordially,
Dave McHenry, NCWRC Western DOT Coordinator
ec: Michael Turchy, NCDOT ECAP
Roger Bryan, NCDOT Division 13 Environmental Officer
Lori A. Williams, NCWRC Wildlife Diversity Biologist
Katherine Etchison, NCWRC Wildlife Diversity Biologist