20080350 Ver 1_WRC Comments_20080331

~ North Carolina V~ildlife Resources Commission ~
MEMORANDUM
TO: Cyndi Karoly, 401 Certification Unit p `"" ~ ~~~i ~'
NC Division of Water Quality:'
MAR 3 ~ ~"'~,~;
M: Ron Linville, Re 'oral Coordinator /~
FRO ~
Habitat Conservation Program ©ENR - WA ~~ n ~~~A ~~ ~~NCH
ll-'hTtAN~S AND sT. ;,,.~:. ,
DATE: March 27, 2008
SUBJECT: Erickson Retirement Communities Campus, DWQ No. 20080350, Four Mile Creek subbasin of
the Catawba River, Mecklenburg County
The applicant proposes convert an agricultural property to a multi-unit retirement community. Biologists with the
North Carolina. Wildlife Resources Commission are familiar with habitat values in the area. These comments are
provided in accordance with the provisions of the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (48 Stat. 401, as amended; 16
U.S.C. 661-667d) and the North Carolina Environmental Policy Act (G.S. 113A-1 through 113A-10; NCAC 25).
Impacts are proposed to 0.3 acres of wetland and 1.3 acres of open water. The existing pond will have sediment
removed and then be reshaped. These impacts are indicated as necessary to "maximize developable space."
Payment to the Ecosystem Enhancement Program is proposed plus enhancement of SWIM buffers with woody
species. The Eastern creekshell, Carolina creekshell, and the Carolina. heelsplitter (listed species) are known for the
Yadkin River basin, which is across the ridgeline from this development. The Carolina heelsplitter, ~asmigona
decorata is listed as Endangered by state and federal agencies.
Based on our review of the application package, we recommend the following:
All sediment devices and stormwater discharges from this facility should be discharged into the
Catawba basin. Post development runoff conditions should preferably mimic current conditions.
Remaining jurisdictional waters should be buffered through enhancement and protection of
undisturbed forested buffer zones. Buffers should be permanently preserved as common contiguous
forest areas. For areas that do not support listed aquatic species, we recommend 50' intermittent and
100' perennial stream buffers. Irregardless, maximum available undisturbed forested buffers should be
provided.
Thank you for the opportunity to review and comment on this project during the early planning stages. If you have
any questions regarding these comments, please contact me at 336-769-9453.
E-copy: Steve Chapin, USACOE-RRO
Allan Johnson, DWQ-MRO
Mailing Address: Division of Inland Fisheries 1721 Mail Service Center Kaleign, NL ~ ib~y-i «i
Telephone: (919} 707-0220 Fax: [phone]