20150435 Ver 1_WRC Comments_20150601

1�1 North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
Gordon Myers, Executive Director
May 15, 2015
Ms. Tasha Alexander
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Regulatory Branch
151 Patton Avenue, Room 208
Asheville, North Carolina 28801 -5006
SUBJECT: Vannoy Stream Restoration Project
Old Fields Creek and UTs, Ashe County
Dear Ms. Alexander:
Biologists with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission ( NCWRC) reviewed an application to
restore 760 feet of Old Fields Creek and two unnamed tributaries (UTs) in Ashe County. Our comments
on this application are offered for your consideration under provisions of the Clean Water Act of 1977 (33
U.S.C. 466 et. seq.) and Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (48 Stat. 401, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 661 -
667d).
There are Brown and Brook Trout populations in the vicinity of the project. We request that work on the
project be avoided from October 15 to April 15 to protect egg and fry stages of trout.
We are supportive of the project as described and offer the following recommendations to minimize
impacts to the aquatic community:
1. Work on the project should be avoided between October 15 and April 15. However, supplemental
planting can occur during this period.
2. In- channel work should be accomplished as quickly as possible and vigilance used in sediment and
erosion control during site preparation, construction, and clean up.
Thank you for the opportunity to review and comment on this project. Please contact me at (828) 400-
4223 if you have any questions about these comments or need further assistance.
Sincerely,
Andrea Leslie
Mountain Region Coordinator, Habitat Conservation Program
ec: Adam Williams, Brushy Fork Environmental Consulting, Inc.
Kevin Hining, NCWRC
Mailing Address: Division of Inland Fisheries • 1721 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699 -1721
Telephone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]