20081377 Ver 1_WRC Comments_20080929

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North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
Gordon Myers, Executive Director
MEMORANDUM
TO: Amanda Jones, USACOE p (? U \`J L5 ?j?]
Asheville Regulatory Field Office
SEp ? 9 2008
FROM: Ron Linville, Regional Coordinator
Habitat Conservation Program QUWV
YrET ODS DATE: September 10, 2008
SUBJECT: Town of Cajah's Mountain Sewer Project Impacts, Unnamed Tributary/Wetlands
Gunpowder Creek, Caldwell County
The Town of Cajah's Mountain is proposing to impact wetlands during installation of public sewer
facilities. 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).
The project is to install 14,500 linear feet of 8-inch PVC sanitary sewer using open cut methods. Impacts
to 0.06 acres of wetlands and 160 linear feet of stream are indicated. No listed species are indicated for
the area; however, Gunpowder Creek is known to be a very productive aquatic nursery for warm water
fisheries in the area.
Based on our review of the submittal and our knowledge of area habitats, we will not object to the project
providing directional boring is used (if practicable) and anti-seep collars are installed exterior to any
wetlands to prevent permanent wetland drainage. If open cut trenching must be done instead of
directional boring, stringent erosion control measures should be installed where soil is disturbed and
maintained until project completion. Wetland top soils should be stockpiled and restored to their original
elevations (top of wetlands) upon project completion. This will allow natural regeneration of wetland
plants. Otherwise, only native plant species or annual stabilization plants should be used for the project.
Natural fiber matting is recommended over plastic matting that can impinge and entrap small animals.
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: Kevin Barnett, Linda Wiggs, DWQ-ARO
Mailing Address: Division of Inland Fisheries - 1721 Mail Service Center - Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] - Fax: [phone]