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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20161083_Bridge 254 NWP 14 Cover Letter revised_20161207;'; 1TTLUiSFJ01'tR�Ol! US Army Corps of Engineers Raleigh Regulatory Field Office Attn: Mr. David Bailey 3331 Heritage Trade Dr., Ste. 105 Wake Forest, NC 27587 PAT McCR�RY Covernar NICHOLAS J. TEI'�1NYSON Secretary November 3, 2016 NC Division of Water Resources Winston-Salem Regional Office Attn: Mr. Dave Wanucha 450 W. Hanes Mill Rd, Ste. 103 Winston-Salem, NC 27105 Subject: Nationwide 14 Permit and Jordan Lake Riparian Buffer Application for the Replacement of Bridge No. 254 on SR 3121 (Ferguson Road) over UT to South Prong Stinking Quarter Creek, Guilford County, North Carolina, WBS Element No. 17BP.7.R.87 Dear Mr. Bailey and Mr. Wanucha: The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is proposing to replace a functionally obsolete 35' X 25' single span timber bridge with a new double barrel 10' x 6' reinforced concrete box culvert with 1' and 2' sills with bevels. An off-site detour will be used to convey trafiic during construction. The project will also include minor approach work on the existing roadway. Please find enclosed a PCN application, USGS and Soil Survey vicinity maps, Stormwater Management Plan, permit drawings, buffer drawings and SHPO Concurrence Forms. The North Carolina Natural Heritage Database was checked for records of threatened and endangered species. The database lists two species for Guilford County that have federal status. Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is protected in every county in North Carolina under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. Small whorled pogonia (Isotria medeoloides) is listed as threatened. Cape Fear Shiner (Notropis mekistocholas) is not listed for Guilford County, but is found in the Cape Fear River basin. NCDOT assessed the potential far this species to be impacted by the subject project and determined the project would have no impact on this species. Habitat for bald eagle primarily consists of mature forest in proximity to large bodies of open water for faraging. Large dominant trees are utilized for nesting sites, typically within 1.0 mile of open water. A desktop-GIS assessment of the project study area, as well as the area within a 1.13-mile radius (1.0 mile plus 660 feet) of the project limits, was performed on January 13, 2016 using 2014 color aerials. Kimesville Lake (approximately 25 acres and 0.5 mile to the southeast of the subject bridge) was identified as a water body large enough and sufficiently open to be considered a potential feeding source. A field scoping meeting on February 20, 2014, determined that the subject project would have no effect on bald eagle. Additionally, a review of the NCNHP database on January 13, 2016 revealed no known occurrences of this species within 1 A mile of the project study area. The closest known occurrence is approximately 19.7 miles east of the project. Due to the lack of known occurrences and minimal impact anticipated for this project, it has been determined that the subject project will not affect this species. Small wharled pogonia generally occurs in open, dry, deciduous woods with acid soil, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. However, it is also known to occur in a variety of habitats in North Carolina, including along streams. The project site is maintained road right of way, with some �Nothing Comparesl...� State of North Carolina � Department of Transportation � Division of Highways, Division 7 Office 1584 Yanceyville Street, Crreensboro, NC 27405I P. O. Box 14996, Greensboro, NC 27415-4996 336-487-0000 t °, 1TTLUiSFJ01'tR �'[OT! PAT McCR�RY Covernar NICHOLAS J. TEI'�1NYSON Secretary forest area consisting of deciduous trees and pine species. The bridge site appears to have a very low potential to support small wharled pogonia. Records indicate the nearest known occurrence of small whorled pogonia is approximately 12.4 miles north of the project area. Additionally, a survey was performed on October 11, 2016 and no pogonia plants were found. Therefore, the subject project will not affect this species. This project was reviewed by NCDOT's Human Environment Unit in 2013 for potential affects to historical architecture and archaeology. It was determined that no survey was required for historical architecture or archaeological resources and that no cultural resources will be affected by this project. The project study area is comprised mostly of maintained/residential land with hardwood forest along the stream banks and nearby agricultural fields and residences. There are no additional jurisdictional features associated with Bridge 254 other than UT to South Prong Stinking Quarter Creek. NCDOT best management practices (BMPs) will be used to minimize and control sedimentation and erosion. The construction foreman will review the BMPs daily to ensure erosion and sedimentation is being effectively controlled. If the foreman determines the devices are not functioning as intended, they will be replaced immediately with better devices. Impacts to Waters of the United States UT to South Prong Stinking Quarter Creek [DWR Class: WS-V; NSW; 16-19-8-2-(2)] is shown on the USGS topographic map as a perennial stream. The channel is well defined with a substrate primarily composed of sand, cobble, bounder, and bedrock, and is approximately 4-8 feet in width. From the project site, UT to South Prong Stinking Quarter Creek flows approximately 0.7 miles to its confluence with South Prong Stinking Quarter Creek. South Prong Stinking Quarter Creek then flows approximately 8.1 miles to its confluence with Stinking Quarter Creek. Stinking Quarter Creek flows approximately 4.8 miles to Big Alamance Creek. Big Alamance Creek flows approximately 4.4 miles to its confluence with the Haw River. The Haw River meets the definition of a Traditional Navigable Water. For these reasons, we believe South Prong Stinking Quarter Creek Tributary #2is a Relatively Pertnanent Water and is under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. In order to construct the project, it will be necessary to impact waters of the United States in the Cape Fear River Basin (HUC 03030002). Specifically, NCDOT is requesting to replace Bridge No. 254 with a reinforced concrete box culvert. The impacts are listed in the table below. There are no temporary impacts listed in the table since temporary impacts were less than 101f (5 lf each at inlet and outlet pipe) and were therefore rolled into the permanent impact summary. See below: �Nothing Comparesl...� State of North Carolina � Department of Transportation � Division of Highways, Division 7 Office 1584 Yanceyville Street, Crreensboro, NC 27405I P. O. Box 14996, Greensboro, NC 27415-4996 336-487-0000 1TTQIiSFJ01'tR �'[OI! PA7 McCR�RY Covernar NICHOLAS J. TEI'�1NYSQN Secretary Jurisdictional Impact Summary Perm. Temp. Perm. Temp. Existing Existing Station Structure Size / Type SW SW Channel Channel Impacts Impacts Impacts Impacts (ac) ( ac) 1� (lfl 13+01 to 13+24 Double 10'X7' RCBC 0.01 0 56 0 13+01 to 13+24 Bank Stabilization 0.01 0 51 0 13+01 to 13+24 temporary pipe and impervious dikes 0 <0.01 0 3 Jordan Lake Buffer Impact Summary Station Type Zone 1(ft2) Zone 2(ftZ) 12+38 to 13+51 Roadway Crossing 2,587 970 Total 2,587 970 Permits Requested NCDOT is hereby requesting authorization under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act to proceed with the construction project outlined above. We are also requesting a 401 Water Quality Certification and Jordan Lake Riparian Buffer Authorization from the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Division of Water Resources (DWR). If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Jerry Parker at (336) 256- 2063 or jparker(a�ncdot. o�v. Your review and consideration are greatly appreciated. Sincerely, J.M. Mills, PE Division Engineer, Division 7 Enclosures cc: Gary Jordan, USFWS (electronic copy) Travis Wilson, WRCS (electronic copy)0 �Nvthing Compares� State of North Carolina � Department of Transportation � Division of Highways, Division 7 Office 1584 Yanceyville Street, Crreensboro, NC 27405I P. O. Box 14996, Greensboro, NC 27415-4996 336-487-0000 t:'; Trans,portatinn PAT McCRORY Gcwernor NICHOiLAS J. TENNY50N Seeretary Tim Powers, NCDOT (electronic copy) Kim Whitley, Roadside Environmental Field Operations Engineer, NCDOT Jeremy Wanen, NCDOT Bobby Norris, District 2 Engineer, NCDOT File CopyO �Nothing Campares�.� State of North Carolina I Department of Transportation I Division of Highways, Division 7 Office 1584 Yanceyville Street, Crreensboro, NC 27405I P. O. Box 14996, Greensboro, NC 27415-4996 336-487-0000