20081270 Ver 1_Scoping Comments_20050801

MEMORANDUM
TO: Ms. Stacy Baldwin, NCDOT
~~ Michael F. Easley, Governor
~~ William G. Ross Jr., Secretary
'QG 0~/~North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
G /_N Alan W. Klimek, P.E. Director .
~T~9ti ~F.y,~, ~I ~7~ Division of Water Quality
c~O~srgTFR ~~~S l.%
op~~q~R~ July 22, 2005
e~
cy
FROM: Sue Homewood, NC Division of Water Quality, Winston-Salem Regional Office
SUBJECT: Scoping Review of NCDOT's Proposed Bridge Replacement Projects:
B-3806, Ashe County
B-3924, Watauga County
B-4406, Alleghany County
B-4676, Wilkes County
B-4677, Wilkes County
In reply to your correspondence dated May 10, 2005 (received May 18, 2005) in which you requested comments for the
above referenced projects, the NC Division of Water Quality offers the following comments:
I. Project-Specific Comments
B-3806, Bridge No. 456 on SR 1573 over Asheworth Creek, Ashe County
It appears that this bridge is over Phoenix Creek. Phoenix Creek is classified as C, Tr + Waters of the State. The +
indicates waters subject to special management strategy per 15A NCAC 2B .0225 the Outstanding Resource Water
(ORW) rule, in order to protect downstream waters designated as ORW. DWQ requests that road design plans
provide treatment of the storm water runoff through best management practices as detailed in Best Management
Practices for the Protection of Surface Waters. Refer to 15A NCAC 2B .0224(2) and 15A NCAC 2H .1006.
B-3924, Bridge No. 33 on SR 1335 over Meat Camp Creek, Watauga County
Meat Camp Creek is classified as C, Tr + Waters of the State. The + indicates waters subject to special
management strategy per 15A NCAC 2B .0225 the Outstanding Resource Water (ORW) rule, in order to protect
downstream waters designated as ORW. DWQ requests that road design plans provide treatment of the storm water
runoff through best management practices as detailed in Best Management Practices for the Protection of Surface
Waters. Refer to 15A NCAC 2B .0224(2) and 15A NCAC 2H .1006.
B-4406, Bridge No. 9 on US 221 over an Unnamed Tributary to Prathers Creek, Alleghany County
Prathers Creek and its tributaries are classified as B, Tr + Waters of the State. The + indicates waters subject to
special management strategy per 15A NCAC 2B .0225 the Outstanding Resource Water (ORW) rule, in order to
protect downstream waters designated as ORW. DWQ requests that road design plans provide treatment of the
storm water runoff through best management practices as detailed in Best Management Practices for the Protection
of Surface Waters. Refer to 15A NCAC 2B .0224(2) and 15A NCAC 2H .1006.
None Carolina
~afara!!y
North Carolina Division of Water Quality 585 Waughtown Street Phone [phone] Customer Service
Internet: h2o.enr.state.nc.us Winston-Salem, NC 27107 FAX [phone]
An Equal OpportunitylAffirmative Action Employer - 50% Recycled/10% Post Consumer Paper

~ Page 3
12. Heavy equipment should be operated from the bank rather than in stream channels in order to minimize
sedimentation and reduce the likelihood of introducing other pollutants into streams. This equipment should be
inspected daily and maintained to prevent contamination of surface waters from leaking fuels, lubricants,
hydraulic fluids, or other toxic materials.
III. General Comments if Replacing the Bridge with a Culvert
The culvert must be designed to allow for aquatic life and fish passage. Generally, the culvert or pipe invert
should be buried at least 1 foot below the natural streambed (measured from the natural thalweg depth). If
multiple barrels are required, barrels other than the base flow barrel(s) should be placed on or near stream
bankfull or floodplain bench elevation. These should be reconnected to floodplain benches as appropriate.
Sufficient water depth should be provided in the base flow barrel during low flows to accommodate fish
movement. If culverts are longer than 40-50 linear feet, alternating or notched baffles should be installed in a
manner that mimics existing stream pattern. This should enhance aquatic life passage: 1) by depositing
sediments in the barrel, 2) by maintaining channel depth and flow regimes, and 3) by providing resting places
for fish and other aquatic organisms. In essence, the base flow barrel(s) should provide a continuum of water
depth and channel width without substantial modifications of velocity.
2. If multiple pipes or cells are used, at least one pipe or box should be designed to remain dry during normal
flows to allow for wildlife passage.
3. Culverts or pipes should be situated along the existing channel alignment whenever possible to avoid channel
realignment. Widening the stream channel should be avoided. Stream channel widening at the inlet or outlet
end of structures typically decreases water velocity causing sediment deposition that requires increased
maintenance and disrupts aquatic life passage.
4. Riprap should not be placed in the active thalweg channel or placed in the streambed in a manner that precludes
aquatic life passage. Bioengineering boulders or structures should be professionally designed, sized, and
installed.
In most cases, we prefer the replacement of the existing structure at the same location with road closure. If road closure is
not feasible, a temporary detour should be designed and located to avoid wetland impacts, minimize the need for clearing
and to avoid destabilizing stream banks. If the structure will be on a new alignment, the old structure should be removed
and the approach fills removed from the 100-year floodplain. Approach fills should be removed down to the natural
ground elevation. The area should be stabilized with grass and planted with native tree species. Tall fescue should not be
used in riparian areas. If the area that is reclaimed was previously wetlands, NCDOT should restore the area to wetlands.
If successful, the site maybe used as wetland mitigation for the subject project or other projects in the watershed.
Thank you for requesting our input at this time. The DOT is reminded that issuance of a 401 Water Quality Certification
requires that appropriate measures be instituted to ensure that water quality standards are met and designated uses are not
degraded or lost. If you have any questions or require additional information, please contact Sue Homewood 336-771-
4600 extension 287.
cc: John Thomas, USACE Raleigh Field Office
Chris Militscher, USEPA
Marla Chambers, NCWRC
Marella Buncick, USFWS
DWQ Wetlands Transportation Unit
File Copy

MICHAEL F. EASLEY
GOVERNOR
Ms. Cynthia Van der Wiele
Division of Water Quality
NCDENR
1650 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-5694
~yT~ tA' ~A~ O V
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STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA ~s~~paG ,pp3, 0
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DEPART7VIEEN'T OF TRANSPORTATION ~,~~.
YNDO TIPPETT
SECRETARY
May 10, 2005 ~ -~ ~-~J ~ ~(~i'
~~ ~~ ~l
Dear Ms. Van der Wiele:
SUBJECT: Request for Comments for Group 58 Bridge Replacement Projects
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is in the process of preparing the planning and
environmental studies (Federal Categorical Exclusions) for eight (8) bridge replacement projects. The bridge replacement
projects are included in the 2004-2010 North Carolina Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).
The purpose of this letter is to solicit input concerning the potential impact of the proposed projects upon social,
economic, demographic, land use, and environmental conditions near the projects. Attached is a vicinity map for the following
projects:
SQL
S~
~/'1. B-3806, Ashe County, Replace Bridge No. 456 on SR 1573 over Asheworth Creek
~ 2. B-3924, Watauga County, Replace Bridge No. 33 on SR 1335 over Meat Camp Creek
~ B-4406, Alleghany County, Replace Bridge No. 9 on US 221 over A Creek
4. B-4580, Mecklenburg County, Replace Bridge No. 177 on SR 2804 over Reedy Creek
5. B-4650, Union. County, Replace Bridge No. 221 on SR 1315 over West Fork Twelve Mile Creek
6. B-4652, Union. County, Replace Bridge No. 118 on SR 1937 over Lanes Creek
7. B-4676, Wilkes County, Replace Bridge No. 29 on SR 1001 over Cub Creek
B-4677, Wilkes County, Replace Bridge No. 99 on SR 1317 over A Creek
Please note that there will be no formal interagency scoping meeting for these projects. This letter constitutes
solicitation for scoping comments related to these projects. To allow us to fully evaluate the impacts of the proposed project,
please respond in writing by June 11, 2005, concerning any beneficial or adverse impacts of the proposed project relating to the
interest of your agency.
If you have any questions or comments concerning these projects, please contact Ms. Stacy Baldwin, of this branch at
(919)-733-7844 ext. 264 or mail to: [e-mail].
Sincerely, z
Gregory J. e, PhD.,
Environmen al Management Director
Project Development and Environmental
Analysis Branch
Attachments
MAILING ADDRESS:
NC DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
1548 MAIL SERVICE CENTER
RALEIGH NC 27899-1548
TELEPHONE: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
Weesire: www.NCDOT.ORG
LOCATION:
TRANSPORTATION BUILDING
1 SOUTH WILMINGTON STREET
RALEIGH, NC

B-3806
Replacement of Bridge
No. 456 on SR 1573
Over Asheworth Creek
Ashe County
FIGURE 3

BRIDGE DEMOLITION AND REMOVAL
T.I.P. No. B-3806
Structure No. 04 0456
Bridge No.456 on SR 1573 over Asheworth Creek
Ashe County
Division 11
Federal-Aid Project No. BRSTP-1573(2)
State Project No. 33262.1.1
Description: This project contains a bridge removal over Waters of the U.S. Bridge
No. 456 is located on SR 1573 over Ashworth Creek in Ashe County. The
superstructure consists of an asphalt wearing surface on a timber floor on I-beams. The
substructure consists of reinforced concrete abutments. There is potential for components
of the deck to be dropped into the Waters of the U.S. during construction. The resulting
temporary fill associated with the deck and caps is approximately 7 yd3.
Bridge No. 456 was built in 1962. The structure includes 1 span totaling 41 feet in
length. The bridge has a sufficiency rating of 4 out of 100. The posted weight limit is 15
tons for single vehicles and 19 tons for truck-tractors semi-trailers.
Calculation: (see attachments)
• Superstructure: 0.25 ft x 41 ft x 18.83 ft = 193.04 ft3
Say 7 yd3 from superstructure
Total: 7 yd3
Moratorium: The Stream Crossing Guidelines for Anadromous Fish Passage will be
implemented, as applicable.
Section 7 Consultation: None anticipated.

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LEGEND
$~~^ Studied Detour
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Route
NORTIf CAROLINA
~ DBPARTMBNT OP TRANSPORTATION
a~ PROIBCT DBVBLOPMBNT
.. .w•'~ & BNV~20NMBlYTAL ANALYSIS
ASHE COUNTY
BRIDGE N0.456 ON SR 1573
OVER ASHEWORTH CREEK
TIP NO. B-3806
VICI11lITY MAP
FIGURE 1