20221711 Ver 1_R-3430B_DWR 20221711v1_Burke and Caldwell 10_GP Application_NCWRC Comments_20221219

9 North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission 9
Cameron Ingram, Executive Director
December 19, 2022
Lori Beckwith
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Asheville Regulatory Field Office
151 Patton Avenue, Room 208
Asheville, NC 28801
Dave Wanucha
NCDEQ, DWR
450 Hanes Mill Road, Suite 300
Winston Salem, NC 27105
Kevin Mitchell
NCDEQ, DWR
2090 U.S. Hwy. 70
Swannanoa, N.C. 28778
SUBJECT: Comments on GP/WQC Application for Replacement of Bridge 110010 on SR 1001 over
Catawba River, Burke and Caldwell Counties (R-340313)
DWR 20221711 ver.1
Dear Ms. Beckwith, Mr. Wanucha, 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 but did not visit
the project site. Comments on the application from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
(NCWRC) are offered to 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).
Mailing Address: Habitat Conservation • 1721 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]

R-3430B Page 2 December 19, 2022
Burke and Caldwell
The project will impact Lake Rhodhiss for temporary causeways to construct the new bridge to the west
of the existing bridge. The bridge design largely avoids impacts to the popular Castle Bridge boat access
area (BAA) that the NCWRC maintains for Duke Energy. The NCWRC appreciates the NCDOT's
efforts and ability to avoid disruption to the use of the BAA. The NCWRC also supports the proposed
removal of the old bridge piers east of the existing bridge because they are a navigational hazard for
boaters.
Rare mussels including creeper (Strophitus undulatus, NC Threatened) and rayed pink fatmucket
(Lampsilis splendida, NC Significantly Rare) have been documented relatively recently in Catawba River
lakes. There are records for these mussels in Lake Hickory but not upstream in Rhodhiss. While mussels
are likely not present near the proposed work, NCWRC biologists would appreciate the opportunity to
relocate mussels from the project footprint before construction, if deemed necessary. Advanced
notification of the construction start date, preferably at least two months, would be much appreciated. My
contact information can be used in any contract notes, "green sheet commitments", or other project
documentation that may be used to help alert NCDOT staffs and contractors about the requested
coordination.
In accordance with the prepared safety plan there will be temporary closures to portions of the lake during
construction. NCDOT has coordinated with some NCWRC staffs regarding this, most notably the
Enforcement Division. The lake closure will require enactment and approval of a temporary rule by the
NCWRC. The NCWRC's No Wake Zone Coordinator Ms. Betsy Haywood
(betsy.haywoodAncwildlife.org) should be contacted at least 3 months in advance of the closure need to
facilitate the approval process. Also, the regional supervisor for the NCWRC's Land and Water Access
Division Mr. Ryan Jacobs (rvan.jacobsAncwildlife.org) should be contacted before construction to
coordinate buoy purchase, preparation, and placement. As with coordination for possible mussel
relocations, contract notes, "green sheet commitments", or other project documentation are recommended
to help alert NCDOT staffs and contractors about the needed coordination for the partial lake closure and
buoy deployments.
Thank you for the opportunity to review and provide recommendations on this project. Please contact me
at david.mchenrya,ncwildlife.org or [phone] if you have any questions about these comments.
Cordially,
Dave McHenry, NCWRC Western DOT Coordinator
cc: Michael Turchy, NCDOT Environmental Coordination and Permitting Group Leader
Kevin Hining, NCDOT Division 11 Environmental Officer
Roger Bryan, NCDOT Division 13 Environmental Officer