NCWRC Comments - Mallard Creek Interceptor - Phase I - Mecklenburg Co_

Baker, Caroline D
From: Munzer, Olivia
Sent: Tuesday, February 27, 2024 11:15 AM
To: [e-mail]
Cc: [e-mail]; Pitner, Andrew; [e-mail]
Subject: NCWRC Comments - Mallard Creek Interceptor - Phase I - Mecklenburg Co.
Attachments: NC Native Plant Alternatives_October2018.pdf
Good morning,
I have a few comments on the Mallard Creek project to minimize impacts to aquatic and terrestrial resources.
1. Tree clearing activities should occur outside the "active season" (April 1—November 14) for the tricolored bat
(Perimyotis subf7ovus), a federal proposed endangered bat. Conducting tree clearing activities during the winter
avoids impacting bats roosting in trees, particularly during the maternity season (June —July). Tricolored bats are
known to roost in culverts and in bridges, including in the winter in the Piedmont of North Carolina. Therefore,
any existing culverts greater than 3 feet wide should be surveyed for bats within 15 days of construction.
Surveys should be conducted in accordance with the National White -nose Syndrome Decontamination Protocol
and the NCWRC Culvert Survey Protocol.
2. We recommend at least a 10-foot, but ideally a 50-foot, native and non -disturbed buffer between top of
streambank and the limit of disturbance. Removing vegetation near the top of the bank may destabilize the
bank and lead to erosion.
3. We recommend jack and boring, but if jack and boring cannot be used on all streams and trenching is
determined to be the only viable method, every effort should be made to ensure that impacts to in -stream
features are minimized and stable upon completion of the project. Open -trench crossings have been found to
increase the likelihood for future lateral movement of the stream (which could undercut or erode around the
utility line), and the correction of such problems could result in costly future maintenance and devastating
impacts to natural resources. Therefore, as much work as possible should be accomplished in the dry, and the
amount of disturbance should not exceed what can be successfully stabilized by the end of the workday. In -
stream work should consider forecasted high -flow events.
4. Streams should be restored to their natural function. Native vegetation, state-of-the-art natural channel design,
and restoration techniques should be used for stream stabilization at stream crossings.
5. Use native plants for seeding disturbed areas. Avoid using invasive and/or non-native species such as
Sudangrass, redtop, tall fescue, Kobe lespedeza, and sericea lespedeza. A list of alternatives to non-native
species has been attached. Alternatively, use a grain, such as oats, wheat, or rye for temporary cover and native
seed mixes for permeant seeding. We recommend planting native, wildflower seed mixes that will create
pollinator habitat within the project boundary.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Olivia Munzer
Western Piedmont Habitat Conservation Coordinator
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Rogers Depot
1718 NC Hwy 56 W
Creedmoor, NC 27522
Office: 919-707-4056 (note new number)
Cell: 336-269-0074
[e-mail]

www.nmildlife.org
D M M
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