20150915 Ver 1_NCWRC Comments_20150928

North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
Gordon Myers, Executive Director

TO: Steve Kichefski, NCDOT Regulatory Project Manager
Asheville Regulatory Field Office, USACE

FROM: Marla Chambers, Western NCDOT Coordinator
Habitat Conservation Program, NCWRC

DATE: September 28, 2015

SUBJECT: Review of NCDOT’s application for Section 404 and 401 permits to impact an
unnamed tributary to Helton Creek as part of their project to improve SR 1527
(Helton Road), Ashe County, North Carolina.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has submitted an application to
obtain a Section 404 Permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and a 401 Water
Quality Certification from the NC Division of Water Resources (NCDWR). Staff biologists with
the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) have reviewed the information
provided. These comments are provided in accordance with the 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), as applicable.

The NCDOT proposes to pave and upgrade SR 1527 (Helton Road) for a distance of 1.2 miles,
except for a small gap. One wet pipe, carrying an unnamed tributary to Helton Creek (Class C,
Trout, ORW), will be replaced and existing bridges will be retained. The pipe will not be buried
due to being on a slope greater than 15%. We appreciate the avoidance of the wetland at the
beginning of the project. Permanent impacts include 25 linear feet (lf) of stream for the pipe and
10 lf for riprap stabilization. Temporarily impacts total 40 lf for dewatering the work areas.
Several State-listed fish species, rare crayfish species and Brown Trout are expected to occur in
the project area, therefore a moratorium prohibiting in-stream work and land disturbance within
the 25-foot trout buffer should apply from October 15 to April 15 to protect the egg and fry
stages of trout. Sediment and erosion control should adhere to the Design Standards in Sensitive
Watersheds and be strictly maintained. Measures should be taken to avoid potential impacts to
the federally listed Northern Long-eared Bat, in consultation with the USFWS.

Mailing Address:
N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission • 1701 Mail Service Center • Raleigh NC 27699-1701
Telephone:
[phone]

SR 1527, Helton Rd.
UT to Helton Cr., Ashe Co. 2 September 28, 2015
There will be 3.7 acres of new land disturbing activities, including approximately 2 acres of tree
clearing. We are concerned with road paving projects that have significant terrestrial impacts.
These projects typically upgrade lightly traveled, low-speed roadways to specific standards with
wide travel lanes, shoulders and ditch lines, often straightening curves and removing adjacent
hillsides. Greater amounts of tree and vegetation removal and earthmoving activities constitute
greater wildlife habitat destruction and increase the likelihood of sediment entering the
waterways. While the road design standards are intended to improve safety, we are concerned
that the increased traffic and higher speeds will have a negative effect on the safety of motorists,
pedestrians and wildlife along these types of roadways. We encourage NCDOT to use context
sensitive designs to minimize aquatic and terrestrial impacts and address safety issues in
upgrading gravel roads. Smaller, less intrusive projects will have the added benefit of reducing
construction and right-of-way costs.

NCWRC does not object to the issuance of the Section 404 and 401 permits provided that the
following conditions are implemented:

1.In-stream work and land disturbance within the 25-foot wide buffer zone are prohibited
during the trout spawning seasons of October 15 through April 15 to protect the egg and
fry stages of trout.

2.Sediment and erosion control measures shall adhere to the Design Standards in Sensitive
Watersheds and be strictly maintained until project completion.

3.Herbaceous vegetation shall be planted on all bare soil as soon as possible following the
completion of permanent or temporary ground disturbing activities to provide appropriate
long-term erosion control.

4.Tall fescue and straw mulch shall not be used in riparian areas. We encourage NCDOT
to utilize onsite vegetation and materials for bank stabilization when practicable. Erosion
control matting shall be used on steep slopes and for establishing permanent vegetation in
riparian areas. The matting shall be well anchored with staples or wooden stakes and,
whenever possible, include live stakes of native trees. Matting in riparian areas should
not contain plastic mesh, which can entangle and trap small animals.

5.Stormwater should be directed to buffer areas or retention basins and should not be
routed directly into the waterway.

6.The natural dimension, pattern, and profile of the waterway above and below the crossing
should not be modified by widening the channel or changing the depth of the waterway.

7.Removal of vegetation in riparian areas should be minimized. Native trees and shrubs
should be planted along the banks, as appropriate to the setting, to reestablish the riparian
zone and to provide long-term erosion control.

SR 1527, Helton Rd.
UT to Helton Cr., Ashe Co. 3 September 28, 2015

8.Grading and backfilling should be minimized, and tree and shrub growth should be
retained if possible to ensure long term availability of shoreline cover for fish and
wildlife. Backfill materials should be obtained from upland sites.

9.Where practicable, riprap placed for bank stabilization should be limited to the banks
below the high water mark, and vegetation should be used for stabilization above the high
water elevation.

10.If concrete will be used during construction, work must be accomplished so that wet
(uncured) concrete does not contact surface waters. This will lessen the chance of
altering the water chemistry and causing a fish kill.

11.Discharging hydroseeding mixtures and washing out hydroseeders and other equipment
in or adjacent to surface waters is prohibited.

12.Heavy equipment should be operated from the bank rather than in the channel whenever
possible in order to minimize sedimentation and reduce the likelihood of introducing
other pollutants into the waterway. All mechanized equipment operated near surface
waters should be inspected and maintained regularly to prevent contamination of surface
waters from fuels, lubricants, hydraulic fluids or other toxic materials.

Thank you for the opportunity to review and comment on this project. If you have any questions
regarding these comments, please contact me at [e-mail] or (704) 982-
9181.

cc: Amy Chapman, NCDWR
Dave Wanucha, NCDWR
Heath Slaughter, NCDOT